Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-16

|ss!arS q himself candidate for nomination
81 as mere dii1E q nomination Zee
unit and unworthy man to become the
nominee OF the political party with which
ia s ata1e; 9. a suggestion worthy Of con
mary lection, or the right Of a citizen to
nave his name placed upon the ballot.
s q nafi+ b.. by petition only. The number
required should be SUFFICIENT
hisa as TO bar worthy aspirants. ,
Ssa@s~y GOOD ROADS. 49,
me subject Of better highways and of
tn hhaA ing, good roads is still prominent In
is be Rneli tsl mind and much more interest
lore: we have come to recognize that the
Improvement mp Of our public highways
n msaaT better and more economical trans
me constitution proposed by the last
legislature relating to this question failed
E5 passage by reason of the failure Of a
urge "a en- number Of the people Of the state
70 vote upon this question. There was
some opposition to the amendment by rea-
son or the fact that the proposed amend
ment Imposed certain limitations upon the
| be made for the submission to the people
OF another amendment to the constitu-
t tiGn, and that restrictions heretofore con-
TOT instance, the legislature is now au-
thorlzed to add to the state road and
orlose 1und by providing in it's discretion
the state n tax levy the property Of
twentieth of one mill on all the taxable
property in the state. This limitation
be and an it's she
| levy a tax sufficient to accomplish good
results along the line Of better highways.
| me provision now in the constitution that
| than three per cent. or less than one-half
| OF one per cent of the total fund thus pro-
| vlded should also be changed by striking
! county shall not receive not less than
! certain amount. All Of the legislative
restrictions should be removed with the
exception Of possible restriction pro-
Vldlng maximum amounts. I believe the
legislature understands the Importance of
this subject, and that further comment
! Is unnecessary.
DRAINAGE.
The subject Of drainage is one proper
| for your consideration at this time. APP
pp r13;ny 2.s6s, 900 acres Of the state
state institutional land, which do not in
state, are too wet for agricultural pur-
poses. This large area is confined to
| thirty counties In northern Minnesota: 80
Cass, Itasca, St. Louis, Aitkin. Lake and
Cook counties. With this immense area
of low lands which the state is able to
reclaim at a comparatively small cost, it
icy that the most advanced methods for
their reclamation be adopted and that
Minnesota o Cooperate with any satisfac-
ISL nSsr TsWy s sn Se BY c6 de
lands. The report Of this work will be
submitted to you, and win show the mum
ase st eas e IF cea ands the sefgsn to
and the cost of their reclamation by sys-
tematic drainage. This report will show
that the average, cost per acre for their
drained the lands will become productive
and their present value increased many
times the cost Of such drainage. It Is a
be drained. It is unjust to other business
improvements in these counties that the
states wet lands be allowed to stand as
barriers aaIa .h in the way Of ProgresS In
pei the reclammation Of thousands Of
acres Of low lands now held by railroad
and land companies. and the country will
now seeking homes elsewhere. ~
am glad to be able to say that there
! is in Minnesota but one sentiment on the
question Of the wisdom Of some plan Of
apPropria tons to this end: would also
at this time call your attention to the plan
| now in operation in many Of the other
the, federal government undertakes to
| make a complete survey of the state,
with perfect maps important data, etc.
For each dollar expended by the state.
the geological survey appropriates an
equal amount, and the result is event.
ually to secure a survey made along the
most approved lines at an expense which
undertake the work alone. This matter
is at least worthy Of your thoughtful in
UNIFORM DIVORCE LAW.
During the past year divorce CON
ch d haa an as fy
gathered with a view Of framing uni
form divorce statute relating to the an
adoption by the several legislatures Of
the various states In the Union. The
case with which some states permit an
come to be an American Scandal. and it
it earnestly hoped that there will be a
complete corporation by all Of the sew
ant question. At the congress named,
Minnesota was represented. by a duly ac-
credited representative, who assisted in
the, preparation Of a proposed uniform
Of this proposed statute win be submitted
to this body, and your earnest considera-
ton of the matter is desired. trust that
Minnesota will be among the first states
important question.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
I would call your attention to the mer-
its of the. advisory initiative and refer
endum This permits the people Of a,
state. county, city, village or town to
fecting their org g and is fast
, gaining ground upon the theory that the
duly elected officers. are the servants Of
the people who eeetea them and will be
jority The advisory initiative and ref
erendum is but a step farther than the
right Of petition. and is not binding upon
providing for an advisory Initiative and
referendum can be accomplished without
a constitutional ,amendn,ent, and I am
firmly Of the opinion that such legtsla-
sure. no valid reason against the sub
mission to the people Of proposed con-
stitutional amendment providing for q d.
would give the people an opportunity to
vote on the question whether or not they
want the right to instruct their repre-
1ad % so the r nth e Jeh to
lature. But whether or not YOU would
care to go so far in this direction. I
would urge your consideration Of plan
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
Public ownership Of public utilities is
state. II a city, village or town desires
to conduct its. public utilities by. and for
the public, after having so decided by a
majority vote, there can be no Objec-
ton to allowing the municipality to raise
the money necessary to purchase and op-
crate in any way it sees flt Under our
the property Of the community for this
purpose. II, on the other hand, 1t can
find persons who are willing to loan the
money upon the property Of the public
the .nrQpertY of the public utility loaned