The anti-monopolist., 1875-02-04
PAUL MINNESOTA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY r. 1875
THE RAILROAD QUESTION IN THE SENATE

The RAILROAD QUESTION IN THE SENATE.
In the Senate, Monday, Feb. lst, MIR.
Coggswell having moved to recall from
the House the Senate bill extending the
time for paying the railroad tax on gross
earnings. said he was not aware OF the
condition of the treasury when that bill
was passed, but be then believed it ought
not to pass and voted against it solitary
and alone. He had since inq uired of the
State Treasurer and learned that if this
bill becomes law the State must nego-
tiate q loan. In the Treasurer S state
ment Of Saturday the amount Of the rev
enue fund on hand is stated at about $l5,-
600; vet we have appropriated from 1t
$40, 900 for elef of the grasshopper suf-
ferers and $4,000 for legislative expenses,
large proportion of which lfas not been
drawn. There is due from the railroads
to-day about $2l, 900. That would meet
the appropriation for the grasshopper
sufferers. He was expecting at the time
Of the bills passage that some one would
inquire into the propriety Of it.
But even the Senator from
Dakota, whom all knew to be the leader
and champion, sat still in his seat. SEN
ators knew he (Coggswell) was little in
clined to vote against railroad bills.
When he voted alone against this bill
the Senator froM Ramsey (Drakc) turned
round and said, ''Coggswell, you are the
offest Of off oxen l ever saw. 10 which
he answered, "If am, am yet the bext
OK in the team" He asked now that the
bill should be given full consideration,
and that some one should make it known
what good reasons there are for its pass
age.
MIR. Donnelly said he did sit still when
this bill was on its passage. 1t was known
how much disposed he was to resist the
aggressions Of railroads, to resist their
dominance in political affairs, and to re-
aist their extortionate charges and unjust
determinations but when the companies
came here and said they were poor and
wanted four months extension on their
taxes, he assented. Shortly after he fol.
lowed it by proposition to extend the
same generosity to all the poor people of
the State, but there was no reciprosity on
the other side Of the house; there was
there no mercy for the people. He there.
fore rose now to second the motion Of the
distinguished Senator from Steele, and to
acknow ledge th pre-eminent fitness ofthat
gentleman Tor leader, and his transcend
ent ox-like qualities.
! The Senator was proceeding to show
the yearly increase of tax burdens upon
the people, when Mr.. Cox asked if the
| present high taxes we're not to be traced
back to the Democratic administration Of
| 1857, after the usual Republican style.
Mr.. Donnelly- Yes, | suppose they
trace them there and to the efforts which
have removed from Office those distin-
guished Republican inanciers Munich and
McIlrath. He protested against any
more leniency for railroads while he was
told, as ty the Senator from Douglas the
other day. that a proposition to relieve
the poor people is .arcial, though to re-
lieve the wealthy railroad corporations is
all propc, and right. He would there
fore follow his distinguished friend from
Steele.
Mr.. Drake said when any railroad
question came up, some gentleman would
lash themselves into fury. What Is 1t
all about The companies ask only that
their taxes due to-day be divided into
four parts, or made payable in quarterly
installments on the first Of March,
April. May and June. The bill ap-
plies only to three or four roads ;
the principal and wealthy companies
not having accepted the provision for
semi-annual payments, will pay all their
taxes the first Of March. The road he
represented could only pay to-day by
borrowing on the individual responsible
ty of the directors. One-half the business
the road has had for the suffering people
Of the southwest counties it has perform
ed without pay: yet the company is
tauntcd with its wealth wrung from q
down trodden people, This relief was
material to his roe, the condition Of which
arose simply fronkits working for the
people for nothing. He would remind
gentlemen that even large gross seyennes
do not necessarily show large profits. II
the relief asked was refused, his company
vould ret along as best it could; yet such
refusal would be but , poor return for the
Ieeuerosity the company hsd shown the
poor people Of this State
Mr. Murray said If the railroad co.,
paniss ~ere compelled TO pay their taxes
ty0s09Ys more LuSu uNC n0001C0 toAAslssGM
Of this city would suffer from not -eceiv-
ling the wages due them the 18th Of next
month. He would vote against the reso-
Tuition in the interest of these poor men.
without regard to the interest Of the rail
roads m the matter.
Mr.. Donnelly said he now understood
the State would have to 60 into market
and pay interest. Ii true that 500 people
would suffer If the bill did not pass. i;
Was also true that 100000 people would
suffer if it vas passed. Have not the
people had to borrow money to pay theiz
. taxesi If the same generosity was ex-
ltended to the people that it is claimed i,
is not wrong to extend to railroads he
would not object; but he would hare the
same rule apply to all alike--farmers a
wefl IS corporations
Il Mr.. Wilkinson was surprised to learn
that unless the failreads pay tAsif taxes