St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-26
DUCATs FOR DAKOTA.
The Northern Pacific Finally Con-
cIudes to Pay Its Taxes.
SneciaI TO the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
BISMARCK, Oak, Sept. 25.-Bismarck
wore her legislative gown to-day, and
Chere was as much buzz and excitement
around the hotels and capitol building
as when the great aggregation Of law
makers is in session. The cause of the
gathering was the notice of a confer
ence between the county commissioners
of the counties within the land grant of
the Northern Pacific railroad, the Off
cials of the Northern Pacific and Gov.
Church, with reference to settlement
Of the much-mooted question of the
Northern Pacific tax. Solicitor Nc
Naught, of the Northern Pacific, had
two propositions to present. The mat
fer had become so badly mixed and en-
tangled that it was difficult to under
stand lust where the parties at issue
stood. In the first place the gross earn
ings law, under which the Northern
Pacific has been paying taxes on the
earnings of its entire road, has been so
construed as TO prevent the collection
of taxes on any business that does not
originate and terminate in the territory,
unless the railroad sees fit to pay.
structing the assessment of all railroad
lands, and in compliance with this order
she land of the Northern Pacific has
Seen assessed in all of the counties
along the line and within the grant.
The road
REFUSES TO PAY TAXES
on its gross earnings under the old in
terpretatiOn of the law and also upon
its lands, claiming that the gross earn
ings tax as formerly paid was in lieu of
aO other taxes. As a result the North
ern Pacific has paid simply upon the
business originating and ending in Da-
sofa. and at present the company is in
arrears over Sl03. 600 on the amount due
under the old Interpretation. This was
the status of affairs when the county
commissioners. Mr. Mcknight, General
Manager AinSlie. Gov. Church and Au-
ditor Ward. met tn conference to-day.
NIr. McNaught submitted two PROPOSE
Hons, either of which the railroad COM
lpany would be willing to agree upon.
The first was that the county commits
siOnerS of the several counties within
the land grant cancel the assessments
made upon the land. and the company
would paw the S1O3,00 due under the
Did Interpretation of the gross earnings
law and would also pay the taxes of
1888 when due, amounting to about $780,
0O0, and thus leave the matter for the
legislature to settle. The second propo-
gitiOn was that the sale of the assessed
;and be simply adjourned by the COM
mSSiOnerS until after the meeting of the
legislature, and if the counties will do
his the company Will pay the gross
running tax under the interpretions of
che supreme court; that it shall be upon
business beginning and ending in the
territory. As this tax has already been
paid, and as the tax for 1888 will not be
bver S15, ZOO. this would not enrich the
territorial treasury TO any alarming eX-
cent. There were thirteen counties
represented in the meeting this after
noon, and on motion to accept the
first proposition, the vote stood for
and 7 against. During the conference,
Gov. Church addressed the commission
erS. among other things saying:
"'Whatever you do, ! will do my best
TO see that every interest in the territory
is guarded and carefully and cOnserva-
tiVely considered, and this will be done
whatever the interests in question are,
cOrpOrate or individual. / do not Waut
to occupy the position of
Altering TO THE GRANGER VOTES
or the granger influence. | do not
want to be put in the position on the
contrary of being looked on by the peo-
pie as being too friendly to the corpora
tions. want as far as possible to stand
straight up an walk the middle of the
road. That is the way feel. say as
as matterof fairness to you that what
ever may be the result of this confer
ence, when the legislature meet, If l am
still governor, / will try to do my full
duty as far as you are concerned and
as far as the railroad is concerned. We
stand almost on the threshold of an
otter meeting of the legislature. With
in ninety days. within 100 at least, the
legislature will he convened at Bis
marck. / present this question for
your con n.ideration. Is !. VaEse fc: .oa