The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-08
Gives Up Much Space to the
Ever Interesting Question
OF Taxation.
Recommends Notifications Of
The Primary Election Law;
Railroad Topic.

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 IF its public lands, including
their timber and mineral resources
and water powers. There should be a
ests and it should be equipped with
full executive powers to administer in
a 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 a proper one for your con-
sideration. The last two years have
been marked by the greatest progress
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. | desire to emphasize the
great need of very liberal appropria-
tionS for the state drainage work 1t
is a 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-
ton 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 pur
suits present within the borders of
our state. Especially in Southern Min
nesota counties during recent years
has there been a 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 of
the belief that progress thus far made
confirms the wisdom of the legislature
of 1907 in making an appropriation of
$4,000 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 a good in
vestment by continuing this work so
auspiciously begun, along liberal and
progressive lines
Taxation.
No one question for legislative con-
sideration is of wider or more contin-
uous interest to the people than that
of taxation. Where government ex-
lists revenue must be raised for the
expenses of government | think,
first, that taxes should be imposed in
proportion to the benefits derived and
in proportion to the ability of those
taxed to pay; and, second, that this
is not the condition obtaining now,
but, on the contrary, the burden is
carried too frequently by those who
can ill afford to be laden with it. I'm
der our constitution as it has stood
for a half century it was proposed to
assess all property at its full value in
money. In neither spirit nor letter
have we complied with the constitu-
tional provisions, but instead have
Nheen striking averages from time to
time until it has become q common
practice and almost unwritten law to
value at a percentage rather than to
undertake assessment at money value
The creation of tax commission was
a long step in the right direction.
That body has undertaken to work out
a scientific assessment value OF prop
erty and, as time proceeds.lis due to
make much progress in the direction
of equable taxation. One o. the most