The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-10-12

= STATE POLITICS. -.


- st. Paul, Oct. 1O.-I notice that
State Auditor Iverson has made the
announcement that the state tax is
reduced from 800 mills to 2.7S mills.
Notwithstanding the fact that $42,500
for roads and bridges has been added
Do the regular taxes it has been posi-
bic to make this reduction and under
stand Mr.. Iverson expects to make 1t
still lower next year. In time 1t will,
no doubt, be possible to abolish state
taxes altogether, the revenue derived
from taxes on the gross earnings and
franchises taking its place. I wonder
II the people understand how all this
came about. It Is due in large measure
to the gross earnings tax on railroads
and other corporations, which was a
distinctly Republican measure, pushed
through the Republican legislature by
Republicans. To this might be added
the wise management Of the men in
charge Of the executive department
whom Governor Johnson in his key.
note speech and, understand, In other
speeches when Republicans predd(ni-
nate, charactegizes as the most eff.
cient in the history of the state"
Governor Johnson. made a boast in
accepting the denomination at the con-
vention, that he had appointed board
Of equalization that would equalize
taxes. That board has had an inning
and the governors appointees are in
full swing. The real estate assess
ments have been reviewed and in
more than half of the counties there
have been increases of from five to
fifty per cent. The town of Brooten
gets 100 per cent raise, while Min
neapolis. with it's growth and develop
ment and the large increase In COM
mercial enterprises, gets . reduction of
i've per cent. In the last year, it is
safe to predict, that real estate values
In the Twin Cities have increased from
1fteen to twenty-five per cent.
I have been amused. - every one
must have been who has had 1 chance
Etosacan the country press, at the re-
ieeption it has given Governor John!
Ieon's speech. It 10: the same, speech
he delivers everywhere he goes except
that sometimes he transposes the
ends and mixes up the middle q little.
But II. II essentially the same speech.
Most Of the rapers have failed TO- treat
II seriously It has seemed to them
Ike . huge Joke. The Mortified News
perhaps approaches az near as any Of
them to a serious aspect and 'isj not
without its vein of humor at the gov
errors pretensions. The News is the.
foremost champion Of railroad reform
Of any paper in the state and It re-
fuses to be comforted at the attitude
Of Mr.. johnson as to railroad legislar
ton, The fact that paper which. has
given the matter 80 much considers
ton and which IL so decided upon the
question of the necessity for further
railroad legislation. should ba . reason
why the voter should consider the sub
3sct carefully before committing him
sslf to the support OF I man who
takes tho same ground 40 tho railroad
attorney docs thatsthe laws are now
~emcient and SUFFICIENT" The TOY,
srnor's attitude 10 being criticized .
ineonsistsnt with bis party platforms:
II: .S}7s'THE'7 60 g -~eH*,' GlH' IL
That brings to mind til, :: factt tiihi.t
Mr.. John Lind, once an accidental gov.
ernor Of: tho, stats BY . mistake ottha
Republican 'psrty, has come, q. the
rescue Of the governor IN hls attitude
q railroad legislation. The only two
msn in recent yeals whom thai pGstt
has been able GtosI alScti - ny ystat1
oMtes a1e each arrays4 o. TIE .a1dSys -
~ railroads and both take the same
View which ths railroad atternSSy3
taks, >tAst ths >lsws are Good enough
0evsenor Lind ~ II pAes stwosysaf1
inmsdiatsly preceding ~ SAINTS
lninistration. What a. n AZ r, rem;
~ The rate oviir N thoss heanali
t1ea ana disoaflnlaattont ii, sfitSS u!
IetsA whap IN wss >Govstasfp but ~
IL nothing. His attitude nov IN COM
laS 70 the rescue Of the railroads q.
ylains Ais attltnd4 psn;A6 was gov
ssner aaA had Il IN hi pover 70 cone
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