The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-28

"The vi gorous enforcement of our
laws cannot be emphasized too strongly.
Not only should there be a vigorous
enlargement Of our state laws, but we
should at all times endeavor to create
public senti ment which may insure the
utes.
Declares Against Passes.
"The practice Of giving free passes
to public officials and favored individ-
uals not in the continuous employment
of the railroad companies is vicious
and harmful to the public welfare.
Therefore, =! believe law should be
placed in the statute books prohibit
ing the giving and receiving of such
passes, and this will open a: way to the
enactment Of law fixing maximum
price for the transportation of passen-
gers at 2 cents per mile. IN
"Great abuses have grown up and
wrongs have been perpefrated under
what can, perhaps properly be charac-
terized 'the private car nuisance by
which uniustifable rebates have been
secured. The right Of eminent domain
is given to railroads on account Of
their being. quasi-public corporations.
T The ! use Of private cars along these
highways Is not contemplated and is
harmful to the public welfare, and it
seems to me their further use should
be prohibited by law. Relating to IA
yored shippers is one Of the most harm.
full practices in which the railroads
have ever engaged. That practice
tends to stife competition and breed
monopol y.. The legislature has already
aimed to reach these abuses by law,
but l am in favor of strengthening our
statutes on that subject so that this
odlous and demoralizing practice will
be crushed out, or those who attempt it
be sent to jail.
"During recent years great abuses
have been practiced by the railroads
under what Is known as 'demurrage
charges and for many years shippers
of our. state have been compelled to
needless delays in getting cars to be
loaded. These abuses can only be cor
rected by the strong and vigorous arm
Of the state. In my opinion, law
these evils. 1923
ssIn all ways that are practicable
and beneficial to the shipper should the
statutes of our state on the question of
railroad supervision be made to con-
form to the regulation rate law re-
ment. In the event Of my my Ell aion. I
will not only recommend to the legis-
lature the passage of such laws as I
have suggested, but will use all honor
able means in my power as governor to
secure their enactment. - ..
Taxation. =, r., I
con the tax question have decided
views. The state has developed to a
point where the expenditures for govern
mental purposes have reached an enor-
nous figure. In 1905 more than twenty
two million dollars was, taken by direct
taxation from the earnings of our peo-
pie and spent to run the various de-
partments OF our state and municipal
administration. -.
ga large part Of our public expendi-
lures Is for objects as to which it is
the states policy to exercise liberality.
More than 40 per cent Of the total
spent goes in one shape or another for
the cause of popular education. Our
people believe in good schools, and
approve OF their maintenance and i'm
provement. [ think in other directions
pledge myself, if elected, to investigate
thoroly every avenue Of possible waste
and extravaganza, and to use my infu-
ence to reduce and influence OUTLAWS
wherever this can be done without
prejudice to efficient service. But the
burden will be heavy, notwithstanding
all that can be done in this way, un-
less we Improve, our methods Of taxa
ton. We have now in operation sys-
tenn which came into existence when
business conditions were much different
from what they are at present. New
forms Of wealth have been created and
accumula tions are held in shapes which
were then unknown and which our laws
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