The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-04
Governor Johnson Takes Up the Live
Problems That Confront
the State.

( son = ina1lgural message, delivered to-
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives: -, M. |
required by the constitution, my hrs 1,
official duty is the communication by
message to the legislature such suggees-
tions and information concerning the
condition of the state as l have deemed
expedient. The message Of the incom,,
prior to his installation in office, must
necessarily deal with state questions IN
q general rather than in a speclhc way.
At the outset, I wish to discuss ques-
ton which, during the o! past few M Mee im
portance. I refer to the tenure OF office
Il Of the governor. A newly elected execu,,
tive is 50 burdened with the duty of
4 selecting his official famil ~, that ne
finds little time for the s stafs OF the
tions and matters Of state concern gen
orally. Then, too, he goes into office
with the converting Of the legislature,
30 that his administration finds it's great
est work at the beginning OF his term.
that the tenure of this office should be
extended to four years, with the pro,
vision that the executive should not
be eligible for reelection. Under these
conditions he would certainly :; y be cen en-
ID
BILE service unhampered by any official
duty which might be performed with
view of perpetuating himself in office.
The suggestion is not new one, and IS
based upon the experience OF other
Z has accomplished the best and most sat
isfactory results. If the suggestion
meets with your approval, [ offer the
added suggestion that in thus amend
z ing the constitution the change be made
ent term, with the provision that the
present executive would not then be
eligible to term Of four years.
In acknowledging my appreciation. of
the honor conferred upon me IN the
election to this high office by the People
affiliations, I wish to assure you that
in the administration Of state affairs I
shall be guided by one and only one
purpose; that Of serving the state as
operation Of the legislature with the
executive arm Of the state government
It should be your purpose and mine tc
place the state above party or persona!
interest, and as chosen servants OF al
the people, we should strive to serve
the state without regard to any inter
est save the interest Of the whole state
and to this end I pledge you all the
support which the executive can give.
8 STATE FINANCES.
IA The state auditor has presented hi:
report of the financial condition Of the
state, to which your earnest attention
is called His total estimate of thu
revenue fund for 1905 is $4,000, 1859. 40
and the estimated expenditures for thu
same year, $4,546, 1O6.50. For 1906 tn.
income is estimated d1a at 49, $a451o9Qo T dt
the revenue is estimated at $4,745, 900
with estimated expenditure of $4,379,
900. The estimate for 1906 is based OF
aot tx oo Of mll o yielding aoG revenue o
based his estimate on tax levy of !!
mill, yielding $1,000 900 and $425,oo0 pc
year, respectively. In his estimate o
revenues for 1906 and 1907, he has cal
= culated the income of railway taxes a
per cent, yielding revenue Of $4,000
his estimated expenditures for the lat
ter two years, no allowance is mad
for buildings at the state institutions
3 You will observe that this leaves yer
close working margin unless the tax lev
is raised, a condition which should b
met with a. great deal of care. I heart
lily concur in the suggestion of the stat
- auditor, that the appropriations be ker
within the estimated receipts, believin
that the tax levy should not be il
creased. We are confronted with a ne,
situation which requires your attention
The new capitol building, being lars
err and more commodious structure tina
the old, REQUIRES a larger working fore
to care for it. The old capitol buildin
lis still the property Of the state, an
= some provision should be made for i
future use and care.
&i According to the report Of the aud
tor, the permanent trust funds are in
most gratifying condition, and are ra
Since the publication Of the auditor
report, the state debt has been decrease
Ito the extent of 100000, there now r
5 naming but $859,00O Of the unpaid r
fun dment bonds.
TAXATION.
The subject Of taxation is always
pertance to, the people than any wit
which you have to deal. Our prese1
system IS in many respects very unsa
isfactory. A large portion Of proper
ton escapes this duty entirely. II
question, OF taxation was very thoro
discussed at the extra session Of Il
legislature In 1902, and .altho nothi1
tangible resulted from that investig
tion, the public mind was educated
some measure to a need Of change
our system OF taxation.
Under our present constitutional Iii
ttations there is but little opportuni
for change in the situation.
E5tCAHSSeS u piOpeILy SuOulQ certainty De
Ia just proportion Of the taxes for t
raising Of the public revenue. T won
recommend the passage Of bill p1
viding constitutional amendment 81
Ing greater latitude to the legislatu
in the regulation of our tax system.
believe a partial solution of this vex
ltious problem lies in an income te
land especially in an income tax up
- credits. To secure this there must
an amendment to our constitution.
The taxation of inheritanoes is
matter which should be considered
this session. Efforts have been ma
along this line by preceding Legislature
but in every instance such legislati
has been found unconstitutional T
defects having been pointed out by t
supreme court, it is possible to pass
= law which will bv approved by tl
court. An inheritance tax law which
proper end just would increase our re
enue fund, and would not be seriC
burden to the class of property conf
under the provisions Of such a law.
EDUCATION.
Minnesota has just reason to be pro
other splendid school system, and cas-
- takes rank with progressive states 81
as New York, Massachusetts, and othe
In fact, our public school system is ,
Reycelled in the nation Orr hiph q