Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-04-15

OWncu lIOu iHlACh Lug bONOAAOA
recommended 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 $20.0OO,0OO steel plant at
Duluth
The newly created tax commission,
together with the state board Of equal
ization, which preceded it (the menE
bers Of which were appointed by
Governor Johnson), have in the four
years of Governor Johnsons admins
tration increased the assessed valua-
tion Of the steel corporation iron ore
holdings in Minnesota from $50, 600. 900
to $3.50, 100000.
The sleeping-car companies of MIN
nesota had never paid taxes I'M Min
nesota In proportion to their earnings.
The governor recommended 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 conclusively barred ex-
listing unequal and exorbitant 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
legislation, this voluntary reduction
was followed by a 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
30 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
volving constitutional Interpretation
that has come before the supreme
court in this generation.
The Two-cent 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 Edi-
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 a convention
of commercial travellers. Immediate-
| ly the state was afame with this inno-
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 prevaffw.
| 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 demurrage
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 consonance
with his thorough democracy, and
believing in equal rights, has not been
neglectful Of the interests Of labor. He
desired free state employment bu'
reau designed to eliminate the many
abuses that have marked private EN-
ployment bureaus in the great labor
centers of Minnesota. Such q bureau
| was created and has been thoroughly
helpful and widely efdcient.
Since time immemorial. that relic
Of feudalism, the common law doc
trine Of non-liability Of employer ia
employee for injuries occurring
through the negligence OF q fellow,
servant has prevailed in Minnesota, as
well as in many other states This
ancient rule Of the common law" said
Gov. Johnson, coupled with the other
rule generally referred to as the doc.
trine of the assumption of risk by
employees, has cast upon the fndivid.
ual laborer a risk and responsibility
out of proportion TO the wages he. re-
ceives"
During his term of office Gov. John.
son has had to deal with one great
conflict between labor and capital
namely, the strike OF the miners on
the Minnesota iron ranges. BY direct
| personal Intervention, by advice to the
employers on the one hand and the
strikers on the other, the governor sue,
ceeded, without the use of state troops
in preventing violence and bloodshed
In the forests and prairies OF north.
ern Minnesota are great extents Of
fertile land which, owing to lack 81
drainage, have not been available for
cultivation. Thanks to Gov Johnson,
additional legislation on this subject
was secured, and hundreds Of thou
sands of acres OF fertile land will be
J added to the rolls Of the state
wealth.
Gov. Johnson believes in the mum.
cipal ownership Of public utilities. and.