Daily globe., 1881-03-05

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ally discharged their duties, and amid personal
danger and embarrassment and worked SO
nobly for the best interests of this body.
Adopted unanimously, and Chief Clerk
Howard, on behalf of himself and his asso-
ciates, returned appropriate thanks for the
compliment.
NON-TAXATION OF RAILROAD LANDS.
The report of Mr.. Wilson, chairman of the
committee on the taxation of railroad lands,
was taken up and read at length. 1t entered
into the investigation, made with considerable
detail, quoting literally from the evidence ad-
duced, and concluded with the following re-
commentator:
Your committee would therefore recon-
mend that the State auditor be Instructed by
the House to cause to be placed on the tax list
the lands granted to the st. Paul & Chicago
railroad company; to the ST. Paul & Sioux City
railroad company; to the Sioux City & ST. Paul
railroad company; to the saltwater & Taylo.s
Falls railroad company; and to the Southern
Minnesota railroad company; so far as the
lands of the last named company are included
in the said Thompson trust, and the so-called
233 land trust certificates.
That the attorney general be instructed to
appear for the State in support of such taxes
in case any default is made to the same or to
any part thereof, in order that the
question of the taxability of such lands
may be thoroughly tested in the courts and
settled.
Your committee would also further recon-
mend that the attorney general be instructed
to institute such proceedings IN the courts as
to him may seem proper, to test the question
in the courts whether any of the railroad COM
panies aforesaid have forfeited their franchises
or right TO- be corporation by the transfer of
their lines of road and the right to operate
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Mr.. Dunn presented q minority report, in
which he referred to the difficulties the CON-
mittee had experienced during the inquiry,
and the lnsufficiency of the evidence obtained,
concluding with recommendation that the
evidence taken be referred to the attorney
general, with liberty to take such action in
the premises as he.mght deem proper.
Mr.. Wilson spoke at considerable length
in support of his report. He contended that
the evidence warranted the adoption by the
House of the report of the majority. He de-
clared that the conduct of the railroad COM
panies in evading taxation of their lands by
the subterfuges employed, was one of the
greatest crimes of the age, and should be
made a penitentiary offense. 1t was a shame
that the legislature should permit such state
of facts to exist, and hoped that the House
would not adjourn without adopting the re-
port of the committee.
Mr.. James Smith, Jr., favored the minority
report. He conteDded that the inquiry had
not been thorough many railroad officers
who wished to testify having been unable to
obtain a hearing.
The previous question was ordered On mo-
ton of Mr.. Gearey, and the minority report
was lost; yeas 20, nays 42.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment to the re-
port, which left the matter in measure dis
cretionary with the attorney general The
amendment was adopted, but previous to the
report as amended being acted upon the House
adjourned without day. The report, there
fore, lies upon the table.
FORMAL PROCEEDINGS.
While the discussion was in progress Messrs
Mott and L. l.. Baxter were appointed 10 wait
on the governor and inquire if he had any,
thing to communicate to theIegislature. They
performed their duty and reported that the
governor had nothing more to say.
The Senate joint resolution thanking the
citizens and officials of St. Paul for their cour
tesies, etc, was concurred in by unanimous
rising vote.
PRESENTATION TO SPEAKER FLETCHER,
Mr.. Calender, of Scott, stepped to the front,
and in few well chosen remarks eulogistic
of the conduct of Speaker Fletcher during the
session, presented him, on behalf of the mem.
bers, with an elegantly framed group of the
photographs of the members and officers of
the House. The speaker responded briefly,
abiding to the consideration with which he
had been treated, and declaring that the office
he had held, the most honorable he ever ex-
pectedto hold, though at times irving, had
become associated with many pleasant memo
ries, which would be cherished by him TO the
close of his life.