St. Paul daily globe., 1890-01-29
TO EQUALIzE TAXES.
The Citizens Committee Of
One Hundred Meets and
Resolves.
Judge Hicks Shakes Up a
Juror for Contempt Of
Court.
The Motor Must Continue to
Travel It's Present
Route.
The Presbyterians Of the Twin
Cities Toast Each
Other.

G. ]. Buell. called the meeting of the
committee, composed of 100 representa-
tive citizens of the city of Minneapolis,
who were appointed to recommend
amendments to the tax laws of the state.
which would have tendency to equal
lZe taxation, to order at the West hotel
last evening. The first business before
the meeting was the selection of per-
manent officers, and Charles A. Pills
bury was unanimously elected chairman
and j. A. Sawyer secretary of the COM
mittee. j. c. Haynes presented the
following preamble and resolution,
which was unanimously adopted:
Whereas, Our constitution was adopted at
time when the state was sparsely settled
and its commercial and industrial interests
We're comparatively insignificant; and
Whereas, Commercial centers of varying
importance now exist throughout the state
wherein the local rate constitutes the princi-
pal portion of all taxes levied; and
whereas. There is a strong sentiment, eS-
peclally at such centers. that the present tax
laws are utterly unequal and unjust in their
operation, and that certain amendments to
the existing laws of the state are needed;
and
Whereas, Our state constitution in its pres
ent form prevents such action; therefore,
Resolved, That the chairman of this COM
mlttee is hereby requested to appoint spe-
cial committee of five, which shall report to
THIS committee and recommend the changes
requisite in the present constitution and tax
laws of this state in order to effect the re-
forms suggested by the foregoing preamble.
Before the vote OH the resolution was
taken, Capt. 0. G. Merriman wanted to
know II the meeting was committed to
anything by the resolution. Mr.. Pills
bury Informed him that the only thing
it was committed to was the appoint
ment OF the committee of five. The
resolution. as originally presented by
MIR. Haynes, contained a paragraph 10
the effect that sit is our conviction that
each particular municipality and To-
for itself the system which shall be
adopted for the levy and collection of
local taxes" DIR. Albert Shaw opposed
this paragraph as too pro-
nounced and radical measure.
He was seconded by Judson N. Cross
and Assistant City Attorney Hall, and
finally Mr.. Haynes withdrew the ob-
jectionable paragraph. Chairman Pills
bury stated that as the chair was to ap-
point committee of five, ne wanted
time to consider the matter. He thought
it would be best to have all the different
phases of the committee of 100 repre-
sented, and he felt sure that if the five
men could agree upon certain things,
the 100 men would then stand some
chance of coming TO a definite con-
clusion. He, therefore. would announce
the appointment of the subcommittee at
some future time.
The following resolution, which was
presented by one of the single tax
members of the committee, was re-
ferred to the special committee,
Whereas, AS the tax on mortgages dis
eliminates against home capital and keeps
10 nrofn q of infn i0an flo,,
level, thus checking and restricting business
enterprises, and has to be paid in the end by
the borrower, thus placing an undue burden
upon the working farmers and the poorer
classes IN our cities, who are largely borrow
ers,
Resolved That we favor such changes in
the constitution and laws of the state as will
do'away with all attempts to tax mortgages
Mr.. Pllsbury stated that about the
only thing he would be short on for the
next few weeks would be time, and as
he would probably be out of the city
held, he suggested the advisabiIity of
selecting two vice presidents. JudsOn
n. Cross and j. c. Haynes were unani-
mously chosen as vice presidents, 0. G.
Merriman, John A. Schlener and G, j.
Buell. declining the honor.
State Auditor Braden, who was pres
ent, was invited to address the meeting.
He said that but few people understood
the present system of taxation. The
legislators had but little chance to study
the question, as the sessions of that
body were entirely too short to allow
the members to go carefully into the de-
tails. consequently there were number
of laws upon the statute books relating
to taxation which no doubt worked
a hardship. He was opposed to a
system of taxation which lowered
the moral standing of the community
and allowed premium on deceit. He
advocated the appointment of tax
commission composed of men who had
studied the question, and he would
leave it to them to say what property
should be taxed and what should be
exempt.
Charles A. Pillsbury said: "Were it
not that the great state of Minnesota
was continually growing there would be
but little hardship arising from taxa
ton. In the early days the state had
levied tax upon the gross earnings of
RAILROAD companies and kindred corpor-
ations, and this tax now was almost
enough to defray all of the current eX-
penses. But year by year the
state had grown, more people
came to dwell within its borders,
and this necessitated increased prison
accommodations, places for the insane
and like institutions, which the state
was bound to provide. If a wing has to
be built to an insane asylum it will cost
nearly $1,000 for every extra patient
that it will accommodate. If prison is
to be enlarged it will cost hundreds of
dollars for every extra prisoner that can
be taken care of. These are but few
of the instances in which the state is
called upon to keep pace with the times.
and this money must be raised by tax
atiOn."
G. j. Buell. made a characteristic
speech against the tax on mortgages.
He said that he would admit that he
held some mortgages, but he hadn't
paid any taxes on them and he didn't
propose to, but at the same time he had
placed the interest high enough so that
the man who executed the mort
gage practically paid the tax, al
though it didn't get into the
state treasury. DIR. Bausman said that
there were two great money centers of
the country. One was in California,
and the other was in New York. He
thought that Minnesota should have a
great money center, and that it should
be located in Minneapolis. But it never
would be as long as the present tax sys-
tenn was in existence, for it drove cap
ital away. The speaker said he knew of
wealthy men who, to escape taxation,
lived outside the city limits. Other
men who invested their money in Min
neapolis lived in the East, and the in
terest on their investments had to be
taken away instead of being kept
among the people who produced it.
Speeches were also made by j. G. Eliel.
Rev. S. w. Sample, Judson N. Cross
and others. Chairman Pillsbury will
announce the names of the gentlemen
composing the subcommittee before
the next meeting.
R0ASHEn a IuRnR