The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-20
GOVERNOR OPENS
- --.'. = A'S
STATE CAMPAIGN
MIR. JOHNSON, AT RED WING, RE-
VIEWS ADMINISTRATION.
Prosecution of Timber Trespass and
ore-Land Cases, and Move for Lower
Freight Rates, Pointed to with Pride
Insurance and Other Departments
Are Especially Commended.

gun or MS campaign at Red Wing last
night. Referring at the outset to the
suited IN his election two years ago,
he. recalled his promise in that cam
palgn that, if elected governor, he
would abide by and enforce the laws
of the state for the protection of the
right and the heritage of the people.
He takes pride in number of achieve
ments in which he and his associates
have just cause for satisfaction, but,
a abiSea al. in in the fact that they have
they have enforced the laws as they
found them, and that, to the best Of
their knowledge and belief, there has
been no violation on their part Of the
spirit or letter of the law.
The speech is a review of the acts
of the administration and treats first
of timber trespass. The governor al
ment, after official investigation of a
system which had come into vogue in
this state, under which it was cheaper
to steal timber from a public domain
and settle for it with state officials,
than it was to buy the timber at legal
public sale.
Gets After Trespassers.
One of his first official acts, he says,
"dS " SuOlAlU u CAuuoCl4pU VI CACoO
charges to the attorney general and
ask that officer whether his depart
ment was prepared to bring suit for
longing to the state. The attorney
general having advised him that the
legal department had sufficient current
business to employ it's time fully, the
leg ai1i was asked to provide o for
yYcf If1,fn of or
tedious litigation, the supreme court
has upheld the constitutionality of the
law against trespass.
A partial list Of the amounts claimed
by the state aggregate. more than $780,
900. In addition many other cases re-
ferred to in the official reports have
been settled by the timber board &C.
cording to law. and still others settled
subject to ratification by the next legis-
lature. The governor accords to the
attorney general and the state timber
board the credit to which they are en-
titled for their cooperation.
Protecting the State.
He cites his message to the legisla-
for an examination Of the timber
lands of the state in order that losses
to the state might be recovered. I'm
der direction of the timber board these
examinations have been made and in a
single county on less than half a dozen
sections there have been found dlscrep-
ancies of millions of feet Of timber. He
thinks proper steps in future will lead
to the recovery of hundreds of thous-
ands, and perhaps millions of dollars
belonging to the school children of the
state. Cases now pending will bring
in half million dollars.
The Railroad Situation.
The address calls attention to the
fact that the railway mileage in Min
nesota is nearly equal to that of New
England and that with it's $35,000,000
annual railway. net earnings, the state
is profitable field for, railway enter
prise. He found, however, that rates
in this state were too high and e ompar-
ing them with Iowa finds them from rs
to 40 per cent above those Of the neigh.s
boring state. He took, the position
that the failure to secure reasonable
rates was not due to want of legal au
thority, but because Of the lack Of az
gressive administration. He recon-
mended the appointment Of a joint leg
islative committee to make an investi-
cation of rates with a view to estab-
fishing a maximum tariff based upon
reasonable rate of interest and profit
on the investment in railroads. -
Lowers the Rates.
Pursuant to this recommendation, the
legislature in the session of 1905 passed
a joint resolution directing that the
railroad and warehouse commission un-
dertake the work of securing a read
iustment of, railroad rates in this state
in order to give a more uniform scale
of percentages which each class rate
should bear to the first class, the read
ton to existing merchandise rates. -~
This investigation has been made and
on Sept. s, 1906, the commissioners Or
dered a general reduction of merchan-
disc rates. While this inquiry was
pending the railroads voluntarily pro-
posed reduction in grain rates on con-
dition that the hearing on the question
Of merchandise rates be suspended.
The governor declares that upon his
suggestion and as a result Of a confer
ence with him, the commissioners or
dered the railroad companies to show
cause why. there should not be, a gen
eral reduction Of commodity rates. in
Guiding grain, coal and other staples
AS result, the railroads requested per-
mission to make Immediate reduction
On rates for grain and the hearing on
commodity rates is still pending.
The governor declared his, belief in
governmental ~- regulation and control
and for fiat 2-cent passenger fare and
for the abolition of passes. ... H..
Insurance Work Cited.
On the question: - Of insurance fhe
governor spoke at some length, calling
attention to the amount of premium
paid annually by insured people in Min
nesota as over $l0,0Q0,000. He referred
to the action of the insurance depart
ment in securing the reorganizatide Of.
one of the great life, insurance COM
panies having it's home office in this
state and the leading part played by
Commissioner O'Brien in the national
movement for reform in life insurance
management. He also cited his recon-
mendation to the legislature that the in
surance commissioner be paid a salary
and called attention to the increase in
net revenues to the state in consequence
of that action @"
The governor then took up the record
Of different departments under his adj
ministration, claiming superiority, of
public service for the dairy and food
department, the board of grain appeals.
the department of public education, the
labor department, the board Of control
public examiner and the administration
Of various state institutions.