Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1908-06-18

recommended The govc-,ov
INV. y, these mines ~ n on the Cut
\uor me United State cru 'u hot get II,
ep,a,,v ound itself as eei Corpora
DuiusN $4,000 600 s,aa, u'e 10
. together w, y created tax comu,s.,o
izat,on WIN, me state board =. sion.
hara ~ vvh,aA Teeeded n (,ha ~
We're auoo,o,asr
Governor Johnsnns. h.v appo'nted by
years OF Governor Johnso.. me Tour
tration increased the asse..ss ninis-
ton Of the steel corporations ,ror -
holdings In Minnesota from ga. 900 ooo
to $3.50. 100000
The sleepdng-car companies OF Min
nesota had never paid taxes in Min
nesota in proportion to their earnings.
The governor recommended a change
IN the system OF taxing these compans
les and satisfactory law was enacted.
Similarly. a rational law as to mort
gage taxation was enacted
Railway Regulation.
Taking up freight rates. Governor
johnson in powerful speech 80 ex.l
haustirely and conclusive.y barred exc
listing unequal and exorbitant rates
that the railway companies Voluntarily
made 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
IL 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 enjdning the attorney gen.
eral OF Minnesota from enforcing the
Law. This action has opened I'D some.
OF the most important litigation In
voivins constitutional Interpretation
that has come before the supreme
court In this generation.
Ths Two-cent Law.
The enacfment Of The tvocent pas
senses tagfn Law vas an example OF
Govsrnor tohneons cafsrtty Of action
Invited to address rhe Minnesota Edi.-
toril assDcfatinn, instead Of making
the usual platitndfnous address on
such ccraeauns. ne exploded the two
cent hpmb" and urged that an end Do,
pat To Ge giving q pnsses- He taIks6
on ths sans subject to q eunzentions
Of commercial tazatsrx. Immediate,
ly the state wa sdsme with this inuo.l
vation IN railway legislation. When
the Legislature met. he asked for a law
ND ~
ture quickly responded. Ne4ghoorfne
states followed With reductions, and
now tnrunsfpm The middle northwest
the tuo-csnt rate prevails.
About thu tims Governor johnson
came intD once there wNs a wide.
spread agitation tur reciprocal dsmurst
rage laws, which would compel rail-
ways 70 allow shippers demurraxs
charges Tor faffue To deliver cars on
time. Governor johnson. ever abressU
OF popular progress. recommends
such law and got L.
Thanks 10 his initiative. the ORDER,
OF the Minnesota Railroad and Ware
house commission are now immediate.
ly effective, pending appeal.
In Defence Of Labor.
Governor johnson. IN consonauce
with his thorough democracy, and
believing In equal rights, has not been
neglectful OF the interests Of labor. Hs
desired free state employment bu-
reau designed 10 eliminate the many
abuses that have marked private emf
ploynent bureaus In the great labor
centers OF Minnesota. Such a bureau
was created and has been thoroughly
helpful and widely efficient.
Since time immemorial, that relic
OF feudalism, the common law doc
tHne OF non-liability OF employer to-
employe for injuries occurring
through the negligence OF fellow.
servant has prevailed In Minnesota, a.
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 ~.
ceives."
During his term Of ONCE Gov John.
son has had to deal with one great
conflict between labor and capital.
namely. the strtte Of the miners on
the Minnesota frog ranges. BY direct
Intervention. by advice TO th(/
employers on the one hand and the
strikers on the other. me governor sue
ceeded. without the oss OF state troops,
In preventing vtossnce and bioodshed.
In the forests and prairies Of north
arm Minnesota are great extsnts Of.
fertile laod, which giving 70 lack Of
irainage, have not been available for
cultivation Thanks to Gov. Johnson,
additional Legislation on this subject
vas secured, and hundreds Of thou-
'ands OF acres Of fertile land will b.
added to the rolls Of the states
wealth. ... ~ -
Gov. johnson believes In the muni.,
tpal ownership Of public utilities. and.