The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-01-08

proved, and there were less votes
to the one that carried. If in view of
the non-partiSan character of the Leg
islature or for any other reason the
sary to have direct legislation in Min
nesota, the amendment should not soon
again be presented, but 1t Is probable
that there were many voters in Minne-
sofa who believed in direct Legislation
by the people and who would have sup
ported the first proposed amendment,
were 1t not for the manner in which 1t
came before them. The details of the
plan were incorporated in the amend
ment. 1t was proposed that the law it
self should be part of the constitu-
ton. This, in my judgment, was ILL
advised. Experience teaches us that
laws after they are written and passed
and put in practice need to be amend.
ed frequently to meet changed condi-
lions and to remedy administrative de-
fects overlooked in their preparation.
If the entire law is a part of the con-
stitution then there can be no amend
ment without the cumbersome and diff
ficult process of amending the constitu-
ton itself. While | think this par
ticular amendment should not be sub
mitted at the next election to the peo-
pie. / do recommend that a proposed
constitutional amendment empowering
the Legislature to enact legislation es-
tablishing the initiative and referen--
dunn be submitted. Such an amendment
should be short, easily understood.
Then there would be no doubt after the
vote was canvassed as to the opinion
of the people of the State concerning
direct legislation.
The Legislature in 1911 established
the Minnesota Board of Commissioners
islation in the United States. In 1913
the uniform negotiable instruments
law and the uniform warehouse h6a ere re-
G @iEson law Will mere maRe cone
ations this year. to which the Legisla-
ture will undoubtedly give most earn
est consideration. The work, of this
should be encouraged. Uniformity of
legislation throughout the United
States is very desirable from every
well to the front in promoting. such
uniformity. l recommend that the
small appropriation for the Commits
sion be continued, and that it's sugges-
tions and report be given special at
tention.
Urges building of Good Roads.
There must be no backward step talk
en- in the construction and maintenance
of good roads throughout the COM
monwealth, and in the development of
a conservative forestry policy. The So
well-b balanced enactment. may perhaps
be made better by some minor changes,
but on the whole 1t is working well.
roads increased more than 200 per cent
in the six years ending in 1913, and so
large an expenditure directs the atten-
ton OF Cne people TO the WOfR accom-
plished and the methods pursued. Care
must be taken lest criticism develop in
to antagonism, and 1t would be Well to
leave with the local authorities as much
control and direction of road-werk as
is compatible with uniform improve
ment of the highways throughout the
State. This matter too, I am confident
will receive you attention.
Now that the 9th proposed amend
ment to the State constitution has been
carried. permit me to repeat what I
took occasion to say recently in pub
lie address:
State should Acquire Lands.
within the boundaries of the State
there are approximately SO million acres
Of land, 33 million acres of these were
originally forest lands, and % million
acres Gncluding cut-over and burnt
over areas) are forest land today. A
large part of this area is suitable fof
voted to that purpose. The other part
is non-agricultural land and can be put
to no better use than forest culture.
Some of this land is the property Of
ership. and except for the timber now
standing upon it, of little value If
the State should adopt the policy of ac-
it is cheap this non-agricultural land
now owned by individuals and would
conserve it's own lands OF this charact-
Of in trees, in years to come the Com
monwealth would be possessed of mag
nificent State forests. Spruce develops
demand for it for pulpw God. Minnesota
may be called the home Of the white
pine. and its value for lumber is well
do, well. If we had great area for
ested and belonging 10 the State, it
would yield large annual income as
well as provide sple adid playground
say nothing of the sat sfactiOn OF max
ing good use of what would otherwise
be waste land and iaaking. beautiful
and attractive what would otherwise be
cherries uniformitI This cannot be
done in one generate n, but we owe it
to ourselves and 10 those who will
mic lines to the accomplishment of this
result.
For Forest Fire Prevention
"The great enemy of the forest is
preparations each year for fire preven-
ton. Last year we lost through these
forest fires $4,000.
Next. each year some portion of
the non-agricultural land not owned
by the State should be acquired and
made part of our public domain. and
no year should pass but that a consid-
planted to trees. We may well be proud
of our position as an agricultural State,
third in. the production of wheat,
first in the production of barley. But
this is not all; our iron ranges are
now yielding more iron ore than is
produced in all the. rest Of the States
together-fve-eigh DIETER than 60
per, cent? Of the total of the United
States in 1913; Minnesota alone pro-
ducing more iron than any foreign ma
is this. all. 1t is the greatest lumber
producing State east of the Rocky
mountains. Thousands of our citizens
on the rivers, in the mills and in the
manufactures handling this product
Possibilities for development appear
now to be without limit, and it is the
part of wisdom to takc advantage OF
our opportunities. We receive from the
federal government $4,000 a year to aid
in this work. Our State should stand
first in forest conservation and forest
culture"
Make Waste Land Productive.
There is in the State a great body
Of land which ought to be productive,
but which is now little better than a
homes for settlers, needs Improvement.
Some of it must be cleared; some of it
must be drained; some of it is inacces-
can be reached. There are many set
tiers attracted by it's fertility who would
like to purchase it and make homes
means needed to purchase and improve
1T and to await it's development. They
must find land that will yield quick re-
well afford to develop this waste land,
and when it is ready for settlement;
that is, when settlers can go upon it
and by industry and good Judgment
secure an early return for their effort.
sell it to actual settlers on easy terms.
This land ought to be upon our tax
rolls. 1t ought to bear its burden of
State. county and school district ex-
penditures. 1t is economically wrong
70 let it remain useless and idle, and
this rich State can well afford to be-
gin its development and to encourage
its early settlement. In this connec-
ton let me say that before any land
is sold by the State it ought either to
be most carefully examined by COM
petent persons to determine what. if
any, minerals there may be in it. or if
I h ere is no such eXh m In ton sold with