The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-01-10

occurred i'm this state during the last
three years, and be chargeable with hav-
ing disregarded the plain mandates thus
received from the people"
In urging particularly the enactment or
a primary law the governor dwelis upon
the subject at much length. All the rea-
sons for the enactment Of such a measure
are most, thoroughly
Primary avn covered. He says:
The demand for
legislation of this
character arises from the abuses which
have become intolerable under the old
caucus and convention system. The aim
of this legislation is to overthrow the
party boss and dictator and TO shake on
the hold of the corporation upon the
great political organizations OF the state.
The great enterprises or to-day are car
ried on by artificial creations of law
known as corporations, and combinations
OF corporations. Frequently they become
control the prices of the necessaries Of
life. the prices OF what the masses have
TO sell. as well as the prices OF what the
masses must buy in order to live.
I'VE have come to the point where they
have destroyed healthful and legitimate
competition, and where they stubbornly
resist al attempts upon the part of the
la~w-making power to check abuses of
which they are guilty. or to place them
under regulation and control. They enter
the field OF politics for the purpose Of
controlling the declarations of political
platforms and the selection of candidates
for public office and by many and divers
ways use their vast power to corrupt the
action of public officials.
The political machine and the public
service corporations are in partnership
everywhere. The purpose of the primary
election In nominating a ticket Is to get
a strict expression OF choice of candi-
dates from the people.
THE duty is upon you, gentlemen, with
all the light and assistance you can get,
to formulate and enact a practical and
comprehensive primary election law. II
should be made effective by an emer-
gency clause, because it's enactment has
been demanded from authoritative
sources without conditions. Nearly nine
thousand of your constituents petitiOned
for its enactment and submission two
years ago. Its enemies were opposed TO
submission then. This year every polit-
ical organization in the state by over
whelming majorities in party conventions
has emphatically declared in favor not Of
the enactment and submission of the law,
but, in favor Of the enactment OF the law.
Its enemies who two years ago opposed
IT'S submission now attempt to defeat Its
enactment with an emergency clause on
the plausible claim that the right to in
yoke the referendum should not be
barred by such a clause.
Enemies of the referendum two years
ago may now-if they receive encourage
ment-pose as it's most zealOu defenders.
Under the cloak of pretense, however,
will be found enmity on their part to the
proposed law and a desire to defeat the
demands made in party platforms by de-
lay and covert opposition. You were
tOlllIiilSSlolltu IOl 10 enact "a primary ana
allow its enemies to suspend it's effect
for two years, but to enact a primary and
make 1t at once a live and effective stat
ute
The passage of a fellow servant law is
strongly recommended. as is also a law
regulating the hours OF labor of railway
employees.
The subject of freight and passenger
rates is next taken up by the governor.
He says:
Under the law of 1897 the board Of
railway commissioners has full and COM
Freight and Pas R h most poWer t i% @HEs
inspection and in
seHSeF nsNes' N~eStigatiOn OF eX-
listing rates and 10
promulgate and enforce a new schedule
OF charges for both freight and passenger
,rafttc, 1t is unfortunate that the board
has delayed action in the matter until
the last mOment. and did not enter upon
1t in lime to give the results to the nub-
lie before this legislature convened, so
that 1t might supplement the action of
the board with any further legislation
that might appear necessary.
1T is TO be hoped that the board will
take action sufficiently early to enabIs
you to thoroughly examine the results
and to take such further steps as the sit
uation may require.
THE demand for a revised rate sched-
ule is growing stronger and a very thor
ough investigation of the whole subject
must be made by the board OF railway
commissioners at once. and a new sched-
I'N ~ Will ShNll INuttilcilS III
freight and passenger charges as present
conditions require. Otherwise. the duty
OF taking the necessary steps for relief
VIII rest upon you
The governor calls attention TO the fact
that the law requiring railroads to build
connecting tracks at points of intersec-
ton is in need of amendment to make IL
effective. The present law has been held
by the supreme court to be invalid for
fatal uncertainty. The governor recon-
mends the enactment Of the Minnesota
la w mn fhiG Cnhinnt trhtoh bao l,nAn NC
tanned by a decision OF the United States
supreme court.
Our revenue laws are crude and in
adequate and the governor believes that
the time for action has come. He says:
The franchise of public service corpor-
atoms organized in this state and the
privileges to do bust
Assessment Laws. ness and hold proo-
erty in this state
granted by its laws to nonresident pub
lie service corporations are of verv great
value and the law prescribing a rule for
assessing the property of these corpora
tons whose property is a kind possessed
of marvellous earning power, omlts all
reference TO the value OF the franchises,
and in fixing values, no reference is made
10 increased value of that part of the ptoJ-
erty OF these companies lying within
towns and cities. where they have depots,
machine shops, enlarged grounds, side
tracks. general offices and personal prop
erty OF great value.
The statements which railway compa-
MES are required to furnish as a hLSIS
for An assessment, init all side. passing
and switching tracks, warehouse lots
and terminal grounds and franchises.
The assessment must be made by fixing
the value per mile Of the main line and
branches and by a pro rata distribution
per mile of such assessment among the
counties through which the road passes.
THE state board levies all the tax
which Is at all levied upon the property OF
telegraph. telephone. express and sleeping
car companies in the state.
THE statute says that the tax so levied
shall be equal to the average assessment
Of the state. county. school and municipal
taxes levied upon other property for the
preceding year, and shall be apportioned
by the state treasurer between the state
and the various counties in which the
company SO assessed is doing business,
the amount to which each comfy is en-
titled being determined by the state board
Of equalization. The statute does not au-
thorize the board to include the average
equivalent of the road tax lev,ed upon
other property the preceding year. AT this
time. when a cry Is coming up from all
over the state for better roads, these Ger
porations are enjoying absolute immunity
from road taxes. IT Is a we'll known fact
that local assessors fail to assess moneys
and credits and a vast amount of property
never gets pom the tax rolls.
The law enacted two years ago, giving
the state board of assessment authority
to take such means and measures as may
be necessary TO ascertain. discover ana
place upon the assessment rolls taxable
property omitted therefrom or concealed,
should be made effective by making an
appropriation which would enable this