The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-01-30
AN UNwIsE AND UNJUST BILL.

fishing Of delinquent tax lists from
twenty to ten cents per description.
Mr.. Harris, being new member, has
perhaps been impelled to this by a de-
sire to achieve some little notoriety,
and has taken this exceedingly ques.
tionable method Of gratifying bis am
bilious longings. A move like the
present might we'll require the fostering
care Of an experienced Senator, and
= degree Of modesty commensurate
with the freshness of his Legislative
honors would have been much more
becoming in Mr.. Harris.
The purposes OF this bill are preju-
dicial to the best interests of Ninueso.
IA. 1t would inflict severe blow upon
the newspaper press, and through it
upon the development Of the State.
Nothing tends 80 much to attract In
migration, to open up unsettled tracts
Of country, to build towns and cities,
and multiply the wealth of State as
a well-supported, wellconducted press.
1t reaches all quarters OF the Union,
telling to the overworked masses of the
older sections the advantages offered by
our vigorous young Commonwealth-of
its homcsteads, its rich prairies, fine
forests, lnnumerable groves and spark
ling lakes, its bright skies and health
tul atmosphere. It does work which
can be performed by no other agency,
but one for which it is poorly paid, and
indeed, as it would seem, one but poorly
appreciated.
Why should Minnesota, yet strug-
Cling in Its infancy, and needing all the
assistance Of literally supported press,
have less care for this indispensable aid
to its growth than does the older and
better settled States? The price for
delinquent lists is lorer than is paid by
Ohio, Wisconsin or Iowa. Is it wise
for our Legislature to starve out the
newspapers Of the State? Most of
them receive meagre enough support,
heaven knows, and any, such move 40
that of MI. Harris is a deliberate at
tempt to cripple all and strangle many.
Every source of revenue drawn from
the press tends just so much to sap the
foundations of the prosperity OF the
State.
We protest against this bill for these
1easops and numerous others:
Frst-The price now paid is small
enough, and no moro than is charged
by most papers for general business Iad-
vertising.
Second-The reduction would be an
actual injury to the State, as Gripping
the press, the handspring of its ad-
vancement. ! .
Mird-The change is not desired
by any respectable number beyond nom
resident spectators and a handful Of
incorrigible local delinquents. r.:
Foxrt1-Tbas taxes will be more
generally and promptly paid with the
advertising fee at twenty cents than at
ten.
.,Frh-Thst through the publication
Of these lists is the only way to com.
pei land sharks and nonresident spccu-
lators to aid in supporting newspapers,
which are continually enhancing the
value Of their property. ~. ..~.. i, N.
Sizth--That tho present law has only
been in operation one year, and that to
precipitatoiy change il would be unfair
and 'unstatesmanlike.. .f r..
Seuenh-Tbat the bill Of Mr.. Harris
il conceived in spirit Of false econo-
my, is void Of foresight, unjust and
would work great injury "a: the State:
~. We could give many other reasons,
but We trust to the good sense Of the
Senate to bury the bill out Of sight,
that it may never again appear, and
Z that they will not permit the good name:
Of our State TO be sullied By any fur
thor attempt to destroy the power that
y building it up-the newspaper press.