The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-04
LEGISLATURES GET
STARTED IN DAKOT As
Cows. Herreid and EIrod, of the
South State, Attack Taxa
ton System
Special to The Globe

Special to The Globe
PIERRE, S. d., Jan. Arrange.
ments for the inaugural ceremonies at
the opening of the ninth legislative as
sembly were never better made and
the weather was as nearly perfect as
could be for the season of the year
Assistant Secretary of State Graves,
acting in the absence of Secretary
Berg, called the house to order, and the
senate was presided over by Lieut..
Gov. Snow. The oath of Office was adj
ministered to the senate members by
Justice Fuller and to the house mem
bers by Justice Haney. In the pres
ence of the joint session the oath was
administered to the state officers ELECT
by Presiding Justice Corsen. The SEN
ate organization was completed before
the joint session, while the house or
ganization went only as far as the
necessary officers for the joint meet
ing, the rest of the caucus selections
going over to the session tomorrow.
The joint session convened immedi-
ately after the organization and the
retiring and incoming governors were
notified that the assembly was ready
to hear their communications. The
state officers ELECT were sworn in in
the presence of the assembly, and Gov.
Herreid read his message as his retir-
ing act as governor. He was followed
by Governor elect Elrod in short
message, after which an adjournment
was taken until o'clock tomorrow.
Tonight was given over to the inau-
gural ball.
Assessment Inadequate
Gov Herreids message gives a full
nv of oct
years operations of all departments of
the state government, but is devoted
chiefly to the question of assessment.
and taxation. He does not recommend
any radical changes in the law. The
following shows his keynote:
The equalized assessment for 1904 is
$214, 100000. While the increase from
1883 to 1890 was about $40, 100000, the in
crease during the next fourteen years
was only about ST., 000,G0 1 am not I'M
mindful of the hard tines prevailing
during the early days of statehood. Never
theless these absurd valuations are the
result of differentiation, and failure to
list for taxation very large share of the
taxable property of the state. 1t is the
judgment of men who have given this
matter great deal of consideration that
s II all property in the state subject to taxa
ton was listed at its full value instead
total approximating 1000, 100000 or more
than four times the amount now upon the
assessment books.
Gov. Elrod Seconds Him
Gov. Elrod also devotes space to this
same question in his message. = He
says:
Some scheme should be devised whereby
an equitable part of all property shall APP
brought about it would swell the revenue
Very materially and it would reduce the
rate OF taxation. The money loaner will
will the. man that has $50 on deposit
In bank drawing 4 per cent. We have
little faith that a costly tax commission
can bring about reasonably satisfactory
adjustment
Gov. Elrod says telegraph and teIe-
phone rates are too high and the legal
interest rate should be reduced from II
per cent. He favors a Irvine plant at
the penitentiary and argues in favor of
primary election law, recommends
that a. state capitol be built and warns
the legislature to keep appropriations
within the revenues.
North Dakota Houses Organize
Special to The Globe
BISMARCK, N. D., Jan. 3.@The or
ganiZation of the two houses of the leg
islature was perfected today along the
lines agreed upon in caucus. Pierey,
OF Stutsman county, was elected speak
- - uAiuel Stoou lHd I NlsiJ. bulIZ, OF
ransom county, goes to the chairman
ship of the committee on judiciary, and
Sweet, OF Cass, to the Craftsmanship of
appropriations. After the formal or
ganlzatlon was completed an adjourn
ment was taken until Wednesday after
noonsswhen the inaugural ceremonies
will be held in the joint assembly of
the two houses and the messages of
the retiring and incoming governors
will be read.
An adjournment will probably be
taken on Thursday until the following
Wednesday. A banquet will be given