The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-04-24

NAA ~ th'at ulutai ne Ola not ket u
but the United States Steel Corpora
ton bound itself az a substitute 10
establish a 10000. 900 steel plant AZ
Duluth.
The neWly created tar commission.
together with the state board OF equal.
ization. which preceded II 1.-THE mem
bers 0f which were appointed by
Governor Johnson. have IN the four
years of Governor Johnson's admins
tration increased the assessed yalua-
lion of The steel corporation iron ore
holdings IN Minnesota from So. 600. 600
70 $4,000. 900.
The sleeping companies Of Min
nesoia had never paid taHcs IN Min
nesoia In proportion TO their earnings.
The governor recommended a change
IN the system OF taxing these oompan.
les and a satisfactory Law vas enacted.
Similarly, a rational law a. TO mort.
gage taxation vas enacted.
Railway Reputation.
Taxing up freight rates. Governor
Johnson In a powerful speech 30 e1-
hausiively and conclusiveiy barred *.
isung unequal and erorbltant rates
that the railway companies voluntarily
made a reduction Of ten per cent on
grain rates on their lines In northern
Minnesota BY order Of the railway
commission. reinforced BY subsequent
Hesitation. this voluntary reduction
vas followed by a horizontal roduc-
ton In maximum frsqght rates of about
IL per cent. and there was created
a new class Of merchandise tahn In
which the rates we're reduced about
~ per cent The railways took these
reductions into the United states
courts. By enjoining the attorney gen.
eral of Minnesota from enforcing the
law This action has opened up some
Of the most important litigation In.
volTlng constitutional Interpretation
that has come before the aupreme
court In this generation.
The Two-ceat Law.
Tho enactment Of the two-cent pas.
senser tarih Law was an example of
Governor Johnsons celebrity OF action.
Invited 20 address the Minnesota Edi-
;oriai association. instead Of making
the usual platitudinous address on
such occasions. he exploded the two
cent bomb" and urged that an end BE-
put 20 the giving Of passes lie talked
on the same subject 70 a convention
81 commercial travellers. Immediate
~ the state vas aname with this inno-
walton In railway legislation. When
the legislature met. he asked for a law
embodying this idea and the legisla.
ture quickly responded. Nelghboring
states followed with reductions. ana
nov throughout the middle northwest
the tvocent rate prevails
About the time Governor Johnson
came into once there vas a vide
spread agitation for reciprocal demur~
rage laws. which would compel rail-
ways 20 allow shippers demurrags
charges for failure to deliver cars on
tine. Governor Johnson. ever abreast
Of popular progress. recommended
such a Law and got IL
Thanks 20 his initiative. the orders
az the Minnesota Railroad and Ware
house commission are now Immediate
" effective. pending appeal
In Defense Of Labor.
Governor Johnson. IN consonancs
With bis thorough democracy. and
believing In equal rights has not been
nsglectfui Of thu interests OF labor. lie
desired a free state employment bu-
reau designed 70 eliminate the many
abuses that have marked private EN-.
ploymsnt bureaus IN the great labor
centers % Minnesota. Such a bureau
vas created and has been thoroughly
helpful and widely snicient.
Since time immemoriAi. that reiIe
OF feudalism. the common Law doc
trine OF noa.llabiiity OF employer 10
employe for injuries occurring
thfough the negligence OF fellow.
servant has prevailed IN Minnesota. a.
well a. IN many other states. This
ancient rule Of the common Law said
Gov. Johnson. coupled With the other
rule generally referred 20 a. the doc
trine OF the assumption OF rick BY
employees. has cast upon the individ-
ual laboreF a risk and responsibility
out OF proportion % the wages he 70
During his term Of once Gov. John.
son has had 70 deal With one great
conflict between labor and capital.
namely. the strike OF the miners on
The Minnesota iron ranges. by direct
Intervention. By advice 20 the
employers on the one hand and tho |
strikers on the other. the governor sue
sesded. Wishout the use Of state troops,
In preventing violence and bloodshed. |
In the forests and prairies OF north /
srn Minnesota are great extents Of /
fertile land. which, owing 20 lack of |
drainage have not been available for /
Thanks 70 Gov. Johnson, /
additional legislation on this subject /
NAs secured, and hundreds OF thou /