The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-04-24
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.

st. Paul. April 21.-Goveruor John
"A. johnson yesterday vetoed the
BjorSe tonnage tax bill on iron ore.
The veto Is one of the most impor-
1ant. and far-reaching acts of Gov
erhor Johnson's administrative ca
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 flood Of
messages were sent over the wires
to the iron range district where the
country has been In state of ner-
vous prostration ever since the pas
sage of the bill by the senate.
The text of the vote message 10 as
follows:
First-Notwithstand,ng tho able
and sincere manner and the labor be-
slowed upon II by It's author, Mr..
Rjorge, the bin remains both in prin-
c1ple and administrative features, q
more or less uncertain and ill-digest-
ed experiment. not fully understood
even by friends and intensely feared
by the sections Of the state to which
1t specially applies. while In applica-
ton, 1t threatens TO violate the funda-
mental principle Of taxation. that Of
equality. at the same time that It
fails to moot the constitutional re-
quirement Of uniformity in taxing the
same class Of subjects.
second-It is certain that the
moral, industrial and practical effect
Of the bill, II 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 suo-
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 ia based are 40
little understood and indeed 30 gen.
orally misunderstood. has plunged
the whole subject Of taxation under
the new state constitutional amend
ment into sea OF political and SEQ
tional feeling and prejudice. which not
only makes a just, efficient and
scientific measure impossible of en-
actmcnt al 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 valorcm 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 a 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.
AS regards the success Of the state
in securing revenue from the iron ore
properties under the present ad va.
loren system. permit me to cite to
you the statistical exhibit Of the state
auditor in page IS Of his last BIZ
ennaal report, It, there appears that
the taxable values of iron ore proper
ties in Minnesota have been raised from
Sc, 900 900 In 1893 to $4,000, 900 in
1908, or Increased 30 fold in 10 years,
and that the taxes levied to be paid In
to the state treasurer from this source
Increased from $4,000 In 1898 to
100000 in 1908, increasing 38 fold in
the brief period Of 10 years.
II the revenue derived from iron
mines is not sufficient the state, under
the present system, has the full power
and machinery to increase the assess
ment to proper and just figure with
out plunging any section of the state
into panic and arresting its develop
ment.
The state board Of equalization and
the state tax commission under the
present tax laws have raised the value
of iron ore lands from $42,00O,000 in
1906 to $3.50, 100000 last year. thereby
Increasing the state tax levy for stata
purposes alone from $4,000 four
years ago to approximately 100000 q
year at the present time, or adding
nearly a half million Of revenue an.