The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-05-07

come from the wealth OF the privately
owned iron mines. The governor
a royalty tax on the out
put of these mines. He did not get 1t,
but the United States Steel Corpora
ton bound itself as substitute to
establish a $4,000, 900 steel plant at
Duluth.
The newly created tax commission,
together with the state board OF equal
ization, which preceded 1t (the men,
bers Of which we're appointed by
Governor Johnson, have In the four
years OF Governor Johnson's admins
tration increased the assessed Valua-
ton Of the steel corporations iron ore
holdings In Minnesota from 1000, 900
to $19O,O00,000.
The sleeping-car companies OF Min
nesota had never paid taxes in Min
nesota in proportion to their earnings.
The governor recommended q change
in the system of taxing these compan'
les and satisfactory law was enacted.
Similarly. rational law as to mort
gage taxation was enacted.
Railway Regulation.
Taking up freight rates, Governor
Johnson in powerful speech so ex'
haustively and conclusivsly barred ex-
listing unequal and exorbitant rates
that the railway companies voluntarily
made reduction OF ton per cent, on
grain rates on their lines in northern
Minnesota. BY order Of the railway
commission, reinforced by subsequent
legislation, this voluntary reduction
was followed by horizontal reduc-
ton in maximum freight rates Of about
Is per cent, and there was created
new class Of merchandise tariff In
which the rates were reduced about
20 per cent. The railways took these
reductions into the United States
courts, by enjo!ning the attorney gen.
eral of Minnesota from enforcing this
law. This action has opened up some
Of the most important litigation in
volving constitutional Interpretation
that has come before the supreme
court in this generation.
The Two-Cont Law.
The enactment of the two-cent pas
senger tariff law was an example Of
Governor Johnson's celebrity OF action.
Invited to address the Minnesota Ed.
torial association, instead OF making
the usual platitudinous address on
such occasions, he exploded the two.
cent bomb" and urged that an end be
put to the giving Of passes He talked
on the same subject to convention
Of commercial travellers. Immediate
ly the state was afame with this limo.
walton In railway legislation. When
the legislature met, he asked for law
embodying this idea and the legisla.
ture quickly responded, Neighboring
states followed with reductions, and
now throughout the middle northwest
the two-cent rate prevails.
About the time Governor Johnson
came into Office there was a wide.
spread agitation for reciprocal demur.
rage laws, which would compel rail-
ways to allow shippers demurrags
charges for failure to deliver cars on
time. Governor Johnson, ever abreast
OF popular progress. recommended
such law and got It,
Thanks to his initiative, the orders
of the Minnesota Railroad and Ware
house commission are now immediate
ly effective, pending appeal.
In Defense Of Labor.
| Governor Johnson, In consonanct
with his thorough democracy and
believing In equal rights, has not beer
neglectful OF the interests of labor. Hi
desired a free state employment Blu
reau designed to eliminate the many
abuses that have marked private EN-
ployment bureaus in the great labol
centers of Minnesota. Such bureau
was created and has been thorough!
helpful and widely efficient.
Since time immemorial, that reli,
|
trine of non-liability of employer t.
employe for injuries occurrin,
through the negligence of fellow
servant has prevailed In Minnesota, a
well as in many other states. "Thi
ancient rule Of the common law" sal,
Gov. Johnson, coupled with the othe
rule generally referred to as the doc
trine Of the assumption of risk b,
employees, has cast upon the fndivid
ual laborer risk and responsible,
out of proportion TO the wages he re-
ceives."
| During his term of office Gov. John
son has had to deal with one grea
conflict between labor and capital
namely, the strike of the miners o.
the Minnesota iron ranges. BY direc
personal Intervention, by advice to tn
employers on the one: hand and tn
strikers on the other, the governor sue
ceeded, without the use of state troops
In preventing violence and bloodsheC
In the forests and prairies of nortf
ern Minnesota are great extents Q
fertile land, which. owing to lack q
drainage, have not been available 10
cultivation. Thanks to Gov. johnson
additional legislation ON this subjec
was secured, and hundreds of tho,
sands Of acres Of fertile land will b
added to the rolls of the state
wealth. 4~.
Gov. johnson believes in the nun
cipal ownership Of public utilities, ant
following his suggestion, a modifie
form Of the Illinois Mueller law wa
adopted by the Minnesota Legislature
Under its provisions a municipalit
may bond its street railways or othe
public utilities to pay the cost OF tn
, p-fchase and operation Of the same.
, Minnesota, leading agriculture
h. 20