Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-04-28
JOHNSON VET0ES
THE TONNAGE TAX
MEASURE IS HASTY AND NOT
UNDERSTOOD, he ASSERTS.
Declares the Present System Brings
Sufficient Revenue to State
Glad News Is Rushed
to Ranges.

0'ao News Is Rushed
to Ranges.
st. Paul, April Ex-Governor John
A. Johnson yesterday vetoed the
b]orge tonnage tax bill on iron ore.
The veto is one Of the most impor-
tant and far-reaching acts of Gov
ernor Johnson's administrative sea
reer. In taking this action he has
gone against the apparent feeling of
the southern part of the state, has
overruled his own tax commission,
which recommended tonnage tax, and
mas turned the vote of many of his
supporters and members Of his own
party faith in house and senate.
Immediately following the an
nouncement of the veto a food Of
messages were sent over the wires
to the iron range district where the
country has been in a state of ner-
vous prostration ever since the pas
sage of the bill by the senate.
The text of the vote message is as
follows:
Notwithstanding the able
and sincere manner and the labor be-
slowed upon it by it's author, Mr..
Bjorge, the bill remains, both in prin-
ciple and administrative features,
more or less uncertain and ill-digest-
ed experiment, not fully understood
even by friends and intensely fea.ed
by the sections of the state to which
it specially applies, while in applica-
ton, it threatens to violate the funda-
mental principle of taxation, that of
equality, at the same time that it
fails to meet the constitutional re-
quirement of uniformity in taxing the
same class of subjects.
Second-1t is certain that the
moral, industrial and practical effect
of the bill, if made a law at this
time, will be to strike severe blow
at the development and prosperity of
all the great mineral bearing coun-
ties of northeastern and north cen
trail Minnesota, affecting alike the
agricultural, manufacturing, CONNER
cial, educational, growth and sue
cess, as we'll as the settlement of all
our northern lands, both public and
private, and the investment of both
home and foreign capital.
Third-The passage of the propos.
ed tonnage tax measure, at this time
when both it's provisions and the
principle on which it is based are so
little understood and indeed so gen.
orally misunderstood, has plunged
the whole subject of taxation under
the new state constitutional amend
ment into a sea of political and Sec
ttonal feeling and prejudice, which not
only makes just, efficient and
scientific measure impossible of en-
actment at this time, but threatens
personal hatred which may disrupt
and endanger the future best develop
ment of our commonwealth, besides
making the subject of just state tax.
alton the mere football of partisan
and sectional politics.
Fourth-Minnesota is achieving
marked success in the assessment
and taxation of iron ore lands under
the present ad valorem system, so
that there is no urgent and vital
public need of measure of this kind
at this time and nothing to prevent
the state from taking ample time
under the provision of the new state
constitutional amendment, and with
the aid of the state tax commission
to work out system of taxation on
a thoroughly scientific and dispas-
sionate and equitable basis devoid Of
political and sectional feelings and
one that will commend itself to the
people Of Minnesota at large, regard
less of section or party, industry or
class for its justice or equality Of
principle or administrative features. :