New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-01-06
MESSAGE TO
LEC|SLAT uRE
Governor Johnson Submits Views
on Various Subjects.
TAXATION GIVEN MUCH SPACE

State Executive Declares No Other
Question Is Of Wider or More Con-
tinuous Interest to the People.
Says Necessity for Proper ReguIa-
ton and Control of Common Car
riers Becomes Every Day More Ap-
parent-ReneWs Previous Recon-.
mendations Regarding Labor Lees-
Iation.
st. Paul, Jan. 6.-Governor Johnson
today delivered to the legislature his
third biennial message. The document
is of great length and treats fully all
matters of general concern to the peo-
pie. The following synopsis contains
the more important subjects dis
cussed:
In beginning the governor cites the
excellent condition of the states
finances and the prosperity of the.
people in general. Referring to the
development of the immense natural
resources of Northern Minnesota the
governor says:
One of the obstacles to the highest
development of our northern domain
is the lack of adequate state admins
tration of its public lands, including
their timber and mineral resources
and water powers. There should be a
state bureau of lands, mines and for
ests and it should be equipped with
full executive powers to administer in
thoroughly businesslike. efficient and
up to date manner all duties pertain
ing to our public natural resources.
The subject of drainage is more
than ever proper one for your CON
sideration. The last two years have
been marked by the greatest progroao
in this direction ever made in sim
liar period of the history of the state.
In fact, because of the generous and
wise policy of the last two legisla.
lures more miles of state bitches have
been constructed, more water has
been removed from swamp lands and
more acres of land reclaimed than in
all the previous years of our state
history. I desire to emphasize the
great need of very liberal appropra-
lions for the state drainage work 1t
is channel through which excellent
returns can be had for every dollar
appropriated. Not only can the state
school fund be largely augmented in
this manner, but thousands of homes
can at the same time be added to the
rural districts, from which every bust
ness center in the state will reap
some benefit
immigration and State Development
Bills will undoubtedly be presented
to your honorable body asking for lib
eral appropriations for the state inn
migration commission, the primary
; object of which is to bring before the
people of the United States and of
! foreign countries the advantages of
! Minnesota as a farming and agricul-
tural state. The agricultural popula-
tion of Minnesota has not shown that
increase which the fertility of our soil,
the attractiveness of our climate and
the natural advantages for agriculture
and stock raising and kindred prr-
suits present within the borders of
our state. Especially in Southern Min,
nesota counties during recent years
has there been loss OF our rural
population. Efforts are making through
the mediums of commercial clubs and
other civic organizations to advance
their material prosperity and to in.
crease their population by presenting
their advantages to the people OF
other sections of the country. The
work of the state immigration com
mission during the less than two
, years of its existence has been large
ly experimental, but ! am firmly OIL
the belief that progress thus far made
confirms the wisdom Of the Legislature
of 1907 in making an appropriation Of
100000 and creating this commission
/ A good start has been made and work
outlined for the future and the best
thought of leading men of Minnesota
is that the state will make good in
vestment by continuing this work, sc
: auspiciously begun along liberal anl
progressive lines.
Taxation.
No one question for legislative con
sideration is of wider or more contin
uous interest to the people than tha
of taxation. Where government ex
lists revenue must be raised for the
expenses of government. I think
first, that taxes should be imposed il
proportion to the benefits derived ant
in proportion to the ability of thos'
taxed to pay; and, second, that thi
is not the condition obtaining now
but, on the contrary, the burden i
carried too frequently by those VIII
can i'll afford to be laden with it. Un
der our constitution as it has stoo
: for half century it was proposed t
assess all property at its full value i
"A money. In neither spirit nor lette
) have we complied with the constitl
tionaI provisions, but instead .hav