The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-02-19

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county, the organization to be COM
pleted and dues forwarded to Secre-
tary Mackenzie within thirty days.
St. Louis county was permitted to
maintain its present development
club as member of the new associa-
ton.
S. G. Iverson, state auditor was
the next speaker.
Mr.. lverson spoke at consider
able length on the matter of the
proposition to tax state lands to
aid in building roads and estab-
fishing schools, the states meth.
DDS of selling lands and the work
of the state in securing swamp
lands in the north part of the
state.
Mr.. Iverson stated that he was
here to learn aud would welcome,
any suggestion for change in the.
methods of conducting the bust
ness of the state auditors office,
which would appear to be of bene
fit to the people.
Mr.. Iverson gave some interesting
statistics relative to, the unprece-
dented increase in the farming
development of some of the counties
of northeastern Minnesota and ex-
pressed himself as being certain that
the federal census to be taken the
present year would show a very
greater percentage of increase than
ever. u.
AS to the investment of moneys
received from lands, timber and
minerals, MI: 1verson said: .:.....
The investment of moneys re-
ceived from our land. timber. and
minerals is an important subject. /
believe we can truthfully say that
no state in the Union has sounder
method of investing such funds"
Concerning good roads, Mr.. Iver-
son said:
.4-k
There is one imperative need for
northern Minnesota that stands out above
all others. Throughout this entire
splendid area the cry goes up give us
good wagon roads, The legislatures and
state officers in the past have done what
they could. The constitution, however,
intervenes at this time, and until it is
amended, quarter of mill state tax is
the limit that is permitted. This will
produce $275.00O year, in addition to
the sum annually received from the
United States government from the five
per cent. on sales of government lands,
amounting to about $4,000; and about
SIP 900 received from investments in the
Internal Improvement Land fund, making
total possible sum at the disposal of the
legislature of 100000 year.
ANY rational and practical suggestion
that can be advanced here or elsewhere
to make state lands contribute its share
to the building of good roads will be well
come throughout the state, north, south.
east and west, for say to you. gentle
men, that in the cities, and in the central,
southern and western portions of the state
far removed from this area, no word of
complaint will be heard when good roads
for northern Minnesota are proposed; in
fact, better roads are needed in every
county in the state. Why should there
be any complaint This property belongs
to the people of the state. The building
of adequate drainage canals to reclaim
swamp lands, and the building of main
public thoroughfares through this northern
country would, in my opinion add not less
than SIS per acre to each of the S,0O0,-
900 acres of land now owned by the
state, OF total benefit of $15,O00,000.
IAN amendment to the constitution for
one-mill state tax has been proposed,
and much can be said in favor of it, also
for removing the requirements precedent
to obtaining this money. This is. without
question, a sound proposition, but you
will notice that this would not reach state
| &c. r
lands without an amendment to the con-
stitution. II the Legislature should pass a
law imposing one-mill state tax for roads
that in itself, would. not bring one dollar
on account Of state lands, under the
present constitution, because do not
believe that you could ever make state
.propelty taxable under q general taxslaw.
without specific authority in constitu-
tional amendment.
Il have suggestion along these lines
to propose to this convention. have
discussed it with q great many. and so
far as have been able to learn it would
seem, in the first place, free from any
legal objection, that is. the present cons
stitution appears to permit it, second it
seems to be feasible. The proposition is
this: Apply the principles Of the present
state drainage law to the building of
roads. :YOn are. all familiar with that