The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-01-16

that time TO KNOW JndJ Iney were IN
no danger at all, but we really scared
the Ramsey forces almost into panic,
and that was all we got out of the
short campaign.
In WINDOWS case the early caucus
worked more smoothly and no excite
ment was gotten up after his nomina-
ton. Political affairs were more tran
quill than in the earlier Ramsey days
and it was not SO easy to stir up trou-
BILE as 1t was when Ramsey was In the
field 1t is still more difficult to make
a fight at the present time, SO without
pant or have any bias in the present
case, I think I can say to Nelson,
Grimshaw, ct al. that they can cheer
up and rest easy as to the result.
What is being done does not surprise
me in the least; in fact, | should be
greatly surprised if something of this
kind was not attempted. 1t depends
a good deal upon the outcome of this
early caucus whether Senator Nelson
comes on or not, and it will not sur
prise me either way, whether he comes
or remains in Washington. He does
not seem to be in any danger, but he
will not breathe absolutely easy until
the thing is over. Mr.. Rich, who is
now working for Nelson, was Senator
Clapp's factotum two years ago and
the campaign which he ran was about
the smoothest any senatorial contest
has ever experienced in Minnesota.
He is now aide-de-camp to Marshal
Grimshaw and will undoubtedly prove
an able one Mr.. Won Baumbach. the
collector of internal revenue, will also
be a formidable sentinel on the ground
to avert trouble.
To Abolish Direct Taxes.
Advance copies of State Auditor
VERSIONS report will convey the graft
flying intelligence to the public that
the state is rapidly approaching the
time when no direct taxes will have to
be levied to support the state govern
ment for the future. The taxes paid
by the railroad corporations and other
public service corporations, as we'll as
the inheritance tax and the receipts
from the iron mines In royalty, will
pay the entire expenses of the state
within the next three years and the
auditor does not think that there will
have to be a direct tax levy made
after the year 1909 He estimates the
expenses of the state for 1907 at
S6,S76, 897.93; in 1908 he puts it at
s4,766, 900; in 1909 at s5,061, 600, The
wonderful increase OF revenue from
the iron mines is something almost
startling. Ten years ago the iron
mines were assessed like other real
property ard the valuation was placed
at $3,92"T21; in 1898 this was In
creased TO S6,000,0O0; in 1900 it was
SIG ,04 600; in 1902 it was $3O,000,000;
in "a $42,O00,000; in 1906 it in
creased to s70,000,000. This enormous
advance in valuation, of course. in
creases to a great extent the amount
of taxes paid and goes to bring the
gratifying results OF abolishing our
direct tax. The income to the state
from the S70000.000 valuation will be
81 ESQ, 00Cs per annum from the Vermil-
lion and Mesaba ranges alone. The
of these mines is one of
the greatest factors in the state for
the reduction of taxation and it is only
a short period when not only all the
expenses of the state will be paid
for, but a large sum will accumulate
annually as a sinking fund to meet the,
of other Indebtedness
already created
Prudent Management of. Affairs.
The prudent management of the
state affairs is well illustrated by the
report of Auditor Iverson and Demon
strates that a prudent and economical
method has been in vogue in caring
for the public business of the state.
The legislature will no longer have to
very about the amount of the direct
preserving what is coming into the
state in the regular order of business.
The increase in the per capita tax
from 1880 until 1905 has been from
$3.50 per person to $11.29 per person.
There is some danger that this SPLEEN
did showing for the state may lead to
extravaganza ON the part of the legis-
lature in making appropriations, but
it is believed that the members have
too much sound. and good business
sense to go to- anticipating the future
by making rash and improper appro-
priations.
Another gratifying feature is the
aroused public sentiment in favor of a
reduction of railroad passenger fares
as well as freight rates, The gov
ernors of Michigan. Iowa and Nebras-
ia have already sent messages; to
their respective legislatures in favor
OF 2-cent per mile passenger rate
and Governor Johnson will come in
line with his message this week with
the same demand. All this shows an
aroused public sentiment which has
greater moral force than all the laws
which all the legislatures combined
can enact. Public sentiment is strong
er than an army and there is no doubt
that this harmonious demand simply
voices the feelings OF the people and