The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-09-01


and it requires a majority of all the
votes cast at the election to carry it.
Again, in my biennial report to the
legislature of 1908 1 recommended that
the bill be re-enacted and once more
submitted to the people for approval
Or rejection at the polls. The ques
ton will be voted upon again next
November, and I sincerely hope that
the voters will ratify the action of the
legislature. The increase, equivalent
to 80 1-3 per cent of the present taxes
paid by the railroad companies, means
that the other taxpayers of the State
will be relieved of the burdens of
taxation to the extent of 5000, 900 an
nually, and no injustice will be done
the railroad companies.
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
The amendment and extension of
our present primary election law is a
matter which deeply interests the vot-
ers of the State, and if I am placed in
a position to do so I will earnestly
endeavor to impress upon the legisla-
ture the necessity for Improvements
which will, I trust, tend to remedy
some of the defects in the present sys-
TEN. In applying the primary system
to the nomination for State officers we
will have to devise means to give
geogra phical representation and to
prevent minority rule. There also
appears to be a demand that the
names of the candidates of all parties
shall be placed on the same primary
ballot the same as at the general cleo
tions, so that the voter may vote for
any candidate he may choose. These
questions will require careful consid-
GRAFTON in order to devise law which
will be practical and operative. I be-
lieve that political party organiza-
tions are essential to the welfare of the
country and in extending the primary
election law to State officers, that
should be borne in mind
SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE. r..
All of northern Minnesota, and Du-
luth in particular, is deeply interested
in the reclamation of the hundreds of
thousands of acres of swamp lands
owned by the State. The original
purpose Of the grant BY congress was
for retaining these lands. Our legis-
latures seemed to think that aiding in
the construction of railroads was a
compliance with the terms of the
grant for about three million acres
have been diverted to that purpose.
By virtue of a constitutional amend
ment, adopted in 1881, the proceeds of
the sales of swamp lands remaining or
that may hereafter accrue to the State,
are devoted to the educational and
charitable institutions. One small
tract of swamp land containing about
thirty-six acres will swell the State
institutions fund, it is estimated, by
half a million dollars. That tract
is located in St. Louis county, and it
was owing to the initiatory steps taken
by me that it was secured to the State.
The State could we'll afford to spend
large sums annually in retaining it's
swamp lands, and the increased SELL
ing price of the lands thus benefited
would amply repay for the outlay;
besides, it would materially aid the
upbuilding and development of
northern Minnesota. The counties in
which these swamp lands are mainly
situated are naturally tributary to
Duluth.
GOOD ROADS.
The only State fund available for
the Improvement of roads is the inter-
est derived from the internal improve
ment land fund of about $3.50, 900 and
the five per cent of the poceeds of the
sale of government lands: the receipts
from the latter source will diminish
gradually as the area of public lands
decreases. This fund is frittered
away among the several counties of
the State by piecemeal appropriations
and the public derives but very little
therefrom. In my judgment this fund
should be used for the construction of
roads in the sparsely settled districts.
A constitutional amendment adopted
in 1898 which provides for tax of
not to exceed one-twentieth of one mill
was a bungling piece of legislation
and the legislature has failed to act
under it,
TAX LEGISLATION.
The operations of our present tax
laws are very unsatisfactory. A large
proportion of the intangible personal
property escapes taxation altogether.
Gross irregularities exist which must
be corrected sooner or later. How
ever, believe it is impossible to Sc
cure a decent tax code under our pres
ent constitution. T am a firm he1iavo,,