The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-01-06

GOYefnOr JOhnSOnS inaugural mes
sage to the legislature is as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House OF
Representatives
Having taken the oath of Office as
required by the constitution my first
official duty is the communication by
message TO the legislature such sug-
gestions aIsl information concerning
the condition of the state as / have
deemed expedient The message of the
incoming governor, having been pre-
pared prior to his installation i'll office,
must necessarily deal with state ques-
tons in a general rather than in spe-
cific way AT the outset | wish to dis
cuss a question which, during the past
few weeks, has impressed me as being
Of much importance. | refer TO the
tenure Of onice OF the governor. a
newly elected executive is so burdened
with the duty OF selecting his oIicial
family that he findS little time for the
study of the conditions OF the several
state institutions and matters or state
concern generally. Then, too, he goes
into Office with the convening Of the
Legislature SO that his administration
tlndS its greatest work at the Begin
ming OF his term. For these and otRer
reasons l believe that the tenure Of
this Office should be extended to tour
years, with the provision that the eX-
ecutive should not be eligible for re-
election. Under these conditions he
would certainly be enabled 10 give the
state his best possible service unham-
pered by any Official duty which might
be performed with view OF perpetual
ing himself in office. The suggestion
is not new one and is based upon
the experience OF other states i'll which
the tenure of four years has accom-
plished the best and most satisfactory
results. If the suggestion meets with
your approval | oner the added sug
gestion that in thus amending the con-
stitution the change be made effective
al the conclusion OF the present 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 III the
election to this high Office by the reo
pie of the state, irrespective OF poiii'
ical affiliations, | wish to assure you
that III the administration OF state at
fairs | shall be guided by one and only
one purpOse-that OF serving the state
as a whole, and to that end | ask the
cooperation of the legislature with the
executive arm OF the state govern
ment. 1t should be your purpose and
mine to place the state above party OF
personal interest and as chosen Serv-
ants of all the people we should strive
to serve the state without regard to
any interest save the interest oil the
whole state, and to this end | pledge
you all the support which the execu-
tive can give.
STATE FINANCES.
The state auditor has presented his
report OF the financial condition OF the
state, TO which your earnest attention
is called. His total estimate OF The
revenue fund Tor 1905 is S4,609, lG9.4U
and the estimated expenditures tor the
same year 81, SAG, 106.50. For 1906 the
income is estimated at S4,570,0G0, with
expenditures at $4,044,0Go; and for
1871 the revenue is estimated at S4,-
745,000, with estimated expenditure OF
S4,379, 900. The estimate for 1906 is
based on tax OF l mill, yielding a
revenue of 100000. For 1906 and
1907 he has based his estimate on a
tax levy of one-half mill, yielding
100000 and $425,00O per year respec-
lively. In his estimate OF revenues
for 1906 and 1907 he has calculated
the income of railway taxes at 4 per
cent, yielding a revenue of $2,500,0O0
for 1906 and $2,600,000 for 1907. In
his estimated expenditures for the lat
ter two years no allowance is made for
buildings at the state institutions. You
will observe that this leaves a very
close working margin unless the tax
levy is raised, condition which should
be met with q great deal Of care.
heartily concur. in the suggestion OF
Inc state auditor that the appropria-
tions be kept within the estimated re-
ceipts, believing that the tax levy
should not be increased. We are con-
fIonted with a new situation, which
requires your attention. The new cap
itol building, being larger and more
commodiOus structure than the old
requires a 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 it's flu
ture use and care.
According to the report of the audi.
tor the permanent trust funds are in
most gratifying condition and are
rapidly increasing.
Since the publication of the auditors
report the state debt has been de-
creased TO the extent of 100000, there
now remaining but s859,OO0 of the an
paid refundment bonds.
TAXATION.
The subject of taxation is always
of vital interest and OF more direct
importance to the people than any
with which you nave to deal. Our pres
ent system is in many respects very
unsatisfactory. A large portion oil
property which is properly the sub
5aet of taxation escapes this duty en-
tirely. The question of taxation was
very thoroughly discussed at the extra
session of the legislature in 1902 and
although nothing tangible resulted
from that investigation, the publ,
mind was educated in some measure
to a need of change in our system
of taxation.
Under our present constitutions
limitations there is but little oppor
tunity for change in the situation
= All classes of property should Ger
tainly bear just proportion of the
taxes for the raising of the public rev
enue. would recommend the passage
OF a bill providing Q constitutions
amendment giving greater latitude u
fbos loUi clat,,ra in the regulation of OIL