The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-01-13

1CS Va
gathered in general assembly at noon
the 3rd
1t was the first session in the hand
some, new capitol and the solons
seemed duly impressed by the fact that
they were really dwelling in marble
halls
The sole business of the day was
that of organization. No other ousl-
ness was transacted and the tedious
preliminaries were disposed of in an
hour and a half.
Wednesday, the 4th, the two bodies
assembled in the legislative chamber,
and after listening to the message OF
Retiring Governor Van SAINT, Governor
elect johnson was sworn in. He at
once delivered his first message, which
is as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House OF
Representatives:
Having taken the oath Of office as re-
quired by the constitution, my trst ON
ciaI duty is the communication by mes
sage to the legislature such suggeStiit92ais
and information concerning the conqitlon
OF the state as ! have deemed eXpedlent
The message Of the incoming governor
tion in Office must necessarily deal with
state questions in general rather than in
specific way. At the outset wish to
discuss a question which, during the past
few weeks has impressed me as being Of
much importance. / refer to the tenure
of office Of the governor; IN ne WY eleGte go
selecting his official family that he finds
little time for the study OF the conditions
Of the several state instltu5lGns ana tao
he goes into office with the conVening OF
the legislature, so that his admlnlstra-
ton finds its greatest work at the begin
ming of his term For these and other
reasons. 1 believe that the tenure OF TINS
Office should be extended to four years years
should not be eligible for REELECTION. IN
der these conditions he would certainty
I be enabled to give the state his pest pos ;sI
sible service unhampered by any ofnclal
view of perpetuating himself in office
The suggestion is not new one, ana ma e is
in which the tenure Of four years has ac-
complshed the best and most SATISFACTORY
approval. I offer the added suggestion
that in thus amending the constitution
the change; be made effective at the con-
clusion OF the present term, with the pro-
vision that the present executive would
not then be eligible to term Of four
In acknowledging my appreciation of
the honor conferred upon me In the cleo.
ton to this high office by the people s.s,,S OF
lions. 1 wish to. assure you that In the
administration of state affairs. l shall be
OF serving the state as whole. and to
that end I ask the CO operation OF The
state government 1t should be your pur-;
pose and mine to place the state above
party or personal interest. and as chosen
servants of all the people, we should strive
io sesys save interest Of the Whole
state. and TO this end 1 pledge you all
the support which the executive can give.
STATE FINANCES.
The state auditor has presented his re-
rev. OF the financial cOlsdit t3Io Of the
called His total estimate of the revenue
fund for 1905 is 81, coo f6s.40. and the esti-
si.Sis1os 5S For 1906 the income G is s est,
mated e $3.50. 900, with expenditures at
.sS 81 1920; and for 1907 the revenue is
expenditure dp of $4,379,0O0. The estimate for
aSOo Is based on tax of one mill, yielding
Sa revenue bas be Of $500 OOo For 1906 and 1907.
or one-half cnill, yielding $4,000 and
ktZ2.oo0 per year respectively. In his esti
mate OF revenues for 1906 and 1907, he has
calculated the income of railway taxes at
I0GT per cent. yielding revenue of 81
100000 for 1906, and s2,600,000 for 1907.
In his estimated expenditures for the lat
ter two years no allowance is made for
buildings at the state institutions. You
Wlr observe that this leaves very close
raised, a condition which should be met
with a great deal of care. 1 heartily con-
cur IN the suggestion of the state auditor
that the appropriations be kept within the
estimated receipts, believing that the tax
levy should not be increased We are
confronted with new situation which
requires your attention. The new capitol
building. being a larger and more COM
modious structure than the old, requires
larger working force to care for it. The
OLD capitol building is still the property
OF the state, and some provision should be
MADE for its future use and care
-, according to the report of the auditor,
the permanent trust funds are in a most
saaIiyng condltlon, and are rapidly in
Since the publication of the auditors
report the state debt has been decreased
TO the extent of 500 900, there now re-
naming but $3.50, 900 of the unpaid re-
fundment bonds.
TAXATION.
The subject of taxation Is always of
vital interest, and of more direct import
ance to the people than any with which
you nave to deal. Our present system is
In many respects very unsatisfactory. A
large portion of property. which is prop
duty entirely. The question of taxation
was very thoroughly discussed at the ex-
ira session of the legislature of 1902, and
although nothing tangible resulted from
that investigation the public mind was
educated In some measure to a need of
change in our system Of taxation:
Under our present constitutional limi-
tations there is but little opportunity for
change in the situation. All classes of
portion of the taxes for the raising of
the public revenue. I would recommend
the passage of a bill providing a consti-
tutional amendment giving greater lati-
tude to the legislature IN the regulation
of our tax system. I believe a partial So
luton of this yexatious problem lies in
an income tax, and especially in an in
come tax upon credits. To secure this
there must be an amendment to our con-
stitution.
The taxation OF inheritance Is matter |
which should be considered at this ses-
sion. Efforts hive been made along this |
line by preceding legislatures, but in every /
Instance such legislation has been found |
unconstitutional. The defects having been
pointed out by the supreme court IL is
possible to pass a law which will be APP
proved by that court. An inheritance tax
law which is proper and just would in
crease our revenue fund. and would not |
be a serious burden to the class of prom
erty coming under the provisions of such
law.
EDUCATION.
Minnesota has just reason to be proud
of her splendid school system, and easily
takes rank with progressive states such |
as New York, MaSsa chusetts and others |
In fact. our public school system is nm
eXcelled In the nation. Our high and
graded schools are well established and
We'll organized.
The branch of our educational system |
which demands the most careful atten-
ton. and in which there is yet great room
for Improvement and advancement is the
rural school. In these schools at least