Willmar tribune., 1909-01-13
state supreme court. Following thts
Gov. johnson read his msssage.

!.
Gov. johnson read his message.
The message was the. most lengthy
Of any ever delivered to- ! Minnesota
legislature. It began with a lengthy
recital of the vast resources of Min.
nesota. The governor then gave at.
tention to the need for greater deyel.
opment of northern Minnesota Here
is vast area, rich with opportunities
for settlers; great in its Embarrassed
wateHpOwers and natural resources.
To aid in the work of development.
it is recommended there be created
a special department of state to take
charge of the states wealth in lands.
mines and forests. The governor re.
minded his hearers that the school
lands alone represent a wealth of
$100,O00,0O0.
Drainage is redeeming much of the
swamp lands of the state, and when
drained, this swamp soil becomes the
most productive. For this reason.
large appropriations should be made
for drainage. The work of the state
dLlOu UOdlu 1o OuC Icu. Inc
| legislature should see that it is not
hampered for lack OF funds in it's fu.
ture work.
More equality in taxation is desira-
BILE. Taxes should be imposed in pro-
portion to the benefits derived, and in
proportion to the ability of those taxed
to pay. The governor suggested that
a county assessor system be estab.
lished in preference to the township
and city assessor systems now in
vogue. In Ramsey, Hennepin and St.
Louis counties, county tax commits
sion for each of three members is sug-
gested. Attention is directed to the
report of the state tax commission,
which says the gross earnings taxes of
railroads is not equal to other prop
erty taxes on an ad valorem basis.
The mining interests in the state
should be made to pay their just taxes,
whether tonnage or ad valorem basis,
and the fact should not be lost sight
of that the towns where the mines are
located are entitled to their fair share
of this tax. In event of the state su-
preme court declaring the so.called
wide-open tax amendment to the con-
stitution is not adopted, it should be
re-submitted to the people at the next
election.
On the subject of railroads, the gov.
ernor says the two cent mile rate for
carrying passengers is sufficiently high
to. allow the roads fair profit and
should be maintained.
Under the head education, the gov.
ernOr recommends an additional as.
sistant superintendent of instruction
and at least $500 more a year for
department clerk hire. In the sale of
timber, all sales should be based on
the actual amount of timber sold, in
stead of on rough estimates.
The house did no work today except
to listen to the governors message.
In the senate, however, a number of
bills were introduced, including the
appropriation bill, carrying $15O,O00
for the expenses of the session, which
passed the senate under suspension of
the rules. Senator Garfield intro.
duced several bills-one providing that
no liquor licenses shall be issued in
towns of 10000 or less, to places
owned by, or to agents controlled by,
liquor manufacturers or wholesale
dealers; another providing that all
contracts made with corporations or
combinations which are in restraint of
trade, be declared void and that money
paid under such contracts may be Sc
cured back by proper suits.
Senator Sullivan fathered several
important bills; one provides for es.
tablishment of state legislative ref
erence department., in charge of an as
sistant attorney general to draw $3,500
year; another establishing a farm
machinery plant at the state prison
and permitting use of 100000 twine
fund money for this purpose; and
third providing for an annual levy of
100000 a year till $2,000,000 is raised
for completion of the new prison at
Saltwater.
There was no break in the caucus
slate until the nominations for chap
lain were called. John McGrath pre-
sented the name of Rev. c. w. B. Ellis
of Hawley, the caucus selection. T. J.
Brady, on behalf on the minority, nom-
mated Rev. R. D. Phillips of Hastings,
who was chaplain at the former ses-
sion of the legislature A. X. Ware
of Northfield broke away from the
caucus by nominating Rev. w. R.
Keesey. This brought Ben Dixon to
his feet with plea for harmony.
Many of the republican members voted
for Mr.. Phillips, while ten or more re-
fused to vote at all. The result of
the roll call was as follows: Ellis 65;
Phillips %, and Keesey 4. Rev. Mr..
Ellis having received g majority, was
declared elected chaplain of the house.
Lawrence H. Johnson moved the ap.
pointment of committee of three to
inform the governor that the house
was organized and ready to receive
the message. Speaker Rockne appoint
ed Lawrence H. Johnson, w. H. Put
nam and James Handlan. The COM
mittee returned after a short absence
and reported that Governor Johnson
would deliver his message to the
house at II a. m. tomorrow.
The first appointment announced by
Speaker Rockne was that of William
Lovely of Minneapolis, who was ap-
pointed sergeant-at-arms of the re-
serve gallery.