The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-01-11

legislature relating to this question failed
large number of the people Of the state
to vote upon this question. There was
some opposition to the amendment by rea-
ment imposed certain limitations upon the
legislature. l trust that provision will
be made for the submission to the people
of another amendment to the constitu-
ton, and that restrictions heretofore con-
tanned in the constitution be removed.
For instance, the legislature is now au-
thorized to add to the state road and
bridge fund by providing in its discretion
an annual tax levy upon the property of
the state not to exceed in any year one
twentieth of one mill on all the taxable
should be removed and the legislature
should be permitted at its discretion to
levy a tax sufficient to accomplish good
results along the line of better highways.
no county shall receive in any year more
than three per cent, or less than one-half
of one per cent of the total fund thus pro-
vided should also be changed by. striking
out that portion of it which provides that
a county shall not receive not less than
certain amount. All of the legislative
exception of a possible restriction pro-
viding 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
proximately 2,36S,000 acres of the state
state Institutional land, which do not in
clude $4,000 acres not yet patented to the
state, are too wet for agricultural pur-
poses. This large area is confined to
thirty counties in northern Minnesota; 80
per cent of the land being in Roseau.
Cass, Itasca, st. Louis, Aitkin. Lake and
Cook counties. With this immense area
of low lands which the state is able to
reclaim at comparatively small cost, it
would seem to be an excellent public pol
icy that the most advanced methods for
Minnesota cooperate with any satisfac-
tory plan proposed by the federal gov
eminent for drainage.
Under authority granted by Chapter
159, General Laws 1905. the state drain
age commission, has caused Topographic
cal survey to be made of state swamp
lands. The report of this work will be
submitted to you, and will show the num-
Der of acres of wet lands belonging to
the state, their location, the feasibility
and the cost of their Reclamation by sys-
tematic drainage This report will show
that the average cost per acre for their
reclamation will be s1.40 and that when
drained the lands will become productive
and their present value increased many
times the cost of such drainage 1t is a
good business proposition that these lands
be drained. 1t is unjust to other business
improvements in these counties that the
states wet lands be allowed to stand as
barriers in the way of progress. In
creased activity along this line will COM,
pei the reclamation of thousands Of
acres of low lands now held by railroad d
and land companies, and the country will
provide homes for those of our citizens
now seeking homes elsewhere.
I 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
drainage, and 1 would urge liberality In
appropriations to this end. I would also
at this time call your attention to the plan
in in me-
states by which the geological survey OF
the federal government undertakes to
make complete survey OF the state,
For each dollar expended by the state.
the geological survey appropriates an
equal amount, and the result is event.
most approved lines at an expense which
would be prohibitive were the state. to
undertake the work alone. This matter
is at least worthy of your thoughtful in
veStigation.
UNIFORM DIVORCE LAW.
During the past year divorce con-
gress was held in the city Of Philadelphia
to which duly accredited representatives
of the various states of the Union were
gathered with view of framing uni
form divorce statute relating to the an
nulment of marriage and divorce for
adoption by the several legislatures of
the various states In the Union. The
case with which some states permit an
| nulment of marriages and divorces has
come to be an American scandal. and 1T
it earnestly hoped that there will be a
complete cooperation by all Of the sew
era1 states Of the Union on this import
ant question. At the congress named,
Minnesota was represented by duly ac-
credited representative. who assisted in
the preparation Of proposed uniform
statute covering this question. Copies
of this proposed statute will be submitted
to this body, and your earnest considera.
Minnesota will be among the first states
Of the Union to put herself right on this
important question.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
1 would call your attention to the mer-
its of the advisory initiative and refer
endum. This permits. the people of N
state. county, city, village or town to
express their views upon questions af-
fecting their organizations and is fast
duly elected officers are the servants of
the people who elected them and will be
guided by. the expressed views of ma
jority. The advisory initiative and ref
right of petition. and is not binding upon
their officers The enactment of a law
providing for an advisory initiative and
referendum can be accomplished without
constitutional amendmsnt and 1 am
firmly of the opinion that such legisla-
ton is desirable. There can be. I am
sure. no valid reason against the sub
mission to the people of proposed con
stitutional amendment providing for a di-
rect initiative and referendum. This
would give the people an opportunity to
vote on the question whether or not they
want the right to instruct their repre-
sentatives and also the further right to
pass upon the laws enacted by their legis-
| 1ature. But whether or not YOU would
| care to go so far in this direction. ]
would urge your consideration of plan
| for an advisory initiative and referendum.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
Public ownership Of public utilities is
| fast becoming an accomplished fact in
| many of the cities and villages of the
state If a city, village or town desires
to conduct it's 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 OPP
crate in any way it sees fit: Under, our
present laws it is permitted to bond all
the property Of the community for this
find persons who are willing to loan the
! money upon the property of the public
utility desired to operate, pledging only
the property of the public utility loaned
on, there can be no objection on the part
of owners of other and general property.
DAIRY AND FOOD DEPARTMENT.
In the field of production our greatest
dependence is upon agriculture. In it's
several branches none has made greater
progress in this state during recent years,
than the dairy industry. Minnesota but
ter occupies in the markets of the United
States position in which it commands a
decided premium over the product of any