St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-26
Taxing Mortgages.


The first half hour of the afternoon
session was devoted to finishing the
calendar, all the bills going through
practically by unanimous vote. Sew
eral committee reports were made and
then the seEate went into committee OF
the whole, Senator K ester in the chair.
Senator DOnneIly's bill to enforce tax
alton of mortgages was taken up and
the debate commenced by brief speech
by the Senator from Dakota, in which
he outlined the causes leading to the
introduction of his bill. The mortgages
held by the wealthy went untaxed,
while the people generally were loaded
down.
Senator Crandall thought he could
not vote to accept an entire new suit OF
clothes until he had been convinced
that it was better than the old one.
When the Steele county gentleman
took his seat there was merry twinkle
iii the eye Of the Sage as he arose and
said:
Il am satisfied that if the senator
from Steele had been present when the
Almighty completed the creation he
would have risen to point of order
when the Lord Numbered out Let
there be light" simply because he had
not been present the entire six days"
Il can see the point" said Mr.. Gran
dali, while the galleries roared, lin the
comparison between the senator from
Dakota and the Almighty, but no
further"
.'Ihut is correct" answered the Sage.
There is resemblance between me
and the Almighty. We are both trying
10 do good. The difference is that the
&c Eah ivr haxriI hi Ia
there are twenty after me-"
Senator Hompe made strong plea
for the bill. Something should be done.
Personal property was not being taxed.
Men worth millions paid less toward the
support OF the government than farm
ers worth $4,000. This was wrong.
The bill might contain errors. but the
proper thing for the senate to do was to
offer amendments, aud make the need
ed changes and then pass 1t.
Senators SanbOrn and Dean spoke
against the bill. Senator Hammer did
not think it fitted the case. Senator
Tawney made an exhaustive statement
OF the law on the question. He had
looked up the matter as il stands in
Massachusetts, and closed offering sew
eral amendments.
Senator Davis advocated these amend
ments in an earnest manner, and made
a plea for non-partiSan legislation.
When the NicOllet statesman sat down
the versatile Sage took the floor ana dis
claimed all endeavorS to make the meas
ure party measure.
''I hope" said he, ''that the whole
question OF politics will be dismissed
from the senate. | do not say that
there are not Republican senators on
this floor whose hearts beat as strong
for the people as any of this side. but
do say that the men who are leading
the Republican party are plunging that
party into everlasting defeat. If this
bill is not right why do you not take
hold of it and help us correct it? /
trust that every man here representing
an agricultural constituency will take
hold and help US pass it,"
A half hour eff rambling discussion by
Senators Donnelly, Brown, Hammer,
Tawney, Sanborn and CaneStorp fol-
lowed, and then the bill was recon-
mended To pass. 1t was 4 great victory
for the Sage, as at the hour Of adjourn
ment on Tuesday it looked as though
the bill was dead.
Senate file No. 800, providing for the
election of town supervisors, was dis
cussed and ordered on the calendar,
when the senate adjourned.