The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-10-02

OF nearly everything else. Among the
advocates and opponents Of county
option may be found earnest, thought
full patriotic and unselfish citizens,
and there may also be found self
serving, ambitious, adventurous per.
sons who seize upon popular senti.
ment AZ q convenient vehicle In
which to ride to office. The first are
in the tight for principle, the others
IN the fight for booty. Much good,
however, may come from temperance
agitation, whether the question be In
politics or out of It. So long as these
discussions continue the evil Of in.
temperance will not be hidden, it will
stand out in all ts~hideous deformity
to the scrutiny Of the public, 1t will
shrink and wither until finally 1t will
all but disappear. It may be over
come by legislation; It may be over
thrown by public sentiment without
legislation" ~.-. F
Must Reduce Taxes.
Mr.. Hammond discussed tho in.
crease Of state expenditures and the
growing tax rate and said: I'VE must
keep up the state institutions. We
must provide all the money necessary
for the state to carry on In . good and
proper manner its many functions. But
we cannot 90 on AZ we have been 60
ing-increasing our expenditures and
burdening the people of the state
with excessive taxation.
I'm 1905 the state expenditures were
between eight and nine millions Of
dollars, in 1912 between fourteen and
fifteen millions Of dollars, in 1918
eighteen and ons-haf millions. Think
Of this just moment: approximately
an increase Of 100000 in the seven
years ending in 1919 and further in
crease Of 100000 for the year 1918,
and probably greater increase for
the year 1914. Taxpayers are COM
planning of the 1913 levy paid this
year-the 1914 levy, to be paid next
spring, will probably be greater"
The plan for the reorganization Of
state departments proposed by the
economy and efficiency commission
appointed by Governor Eberhart was
discussed by Mr.. Hammond, who said
that "The high taxation Of today can
not continue, the expenditures must
be lessened, and here IL a rational and
well-thought-out plan to promote eff
cheney and economy" He commended
the portion of the commissions report
urging civil service system, but
warned against the danger of creating
an officeholding class. 1.-THE inefi-
cient, as we'll as the efficient, claim
life tenure of Office" he said. This
may be avoided If at the very begin
ming appointments in the civil service
are made-not for life, but for a def
mite term Of years-say six years. The
efficient and capable would be re.
appointed, while the careless, indfffer-
emit and inefficient should not be re-
appointed"
Mr.. Hammond also approved the
proposed budget system of making ap-
preparations. g
State Land Policy.
Discussing the state land policy, Mr..
Hammond said there are many strong,
ambitious and Industrious people who
would gladly buy state land suitable
for agriculture, but who have only linn
tied means. They must have land
which will bring quick RETURNS he
said, and the state should undertake
to improve these lands so that they
would attract purchasers who would
settle upon them. He said he was in
full accord with the proposed amend
ment to the constitution for revolv-
ing fund for the improvement of state
lands. Such state lands as are unfit
for agriculture should be planted to
forests, he said, and also advocated
acquiring, gradually, privately owned
lands which are unfit for agriculture,
and making them into state forests.
Mr.. Hammond discussed the Lake
Superior and Mississippi canal, de-
claring that the plan promises ex-
ceedingly great value to commerce"
He took up the federal swamp land
grant, a condition Of which was that
the proceeds be used for retaining
those lands, and the claim that this
condition is violated by the constitu-
tional provision that the proceeds of
the lands must go to the schools and
state institutions. He declared this
matter of grave importance, to which
the governor should give particular
attention.
Opposed to Use Of Veto.
Discussing the veto power, Mr..
Hammond pointed out that the next
governor will deal with a nonpartisan
legislature. Surely" he said, IF any
representative body can be assumed
to represent faithfully the sentiment
Of the state, that body can. Suppose
q subject, for instance county option,
or a universal primary, with which
the people are fairly familiar, Is con.
sidered by this nonpartisan legisla-
ture and bill covering it approved
by both bodies; in such case ought
the governor-whatever his own per-
sonal views may be-interpose veto?
/ think not. The veto power is in
tended to check hasty and ill-consid-
cred action, or to challenge measure
clearly unconstitutional or one involv-
roaiooy obonuo ~ uoI;ou ,,pny,