St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-13
BUSINESS FROM THE START.
Senators Disposed of Mass of
Bills in Short Order.

Senators Disposed of a Mass of
Bills in Short Order.
The afternoon session of the senate
was business one from the very start.
The calendar was taken up, and the dis
cusSiOns were in most cases brief and
to the point. Senator Davis bill Ito
protect, and reimburse any revenue fund
against the failure of tenants for life to
pay taxes" was again referred to the
Judiciary committee. The following
bills were passed upon in rapid success
sion:
S. F. No. 106 Relating to banks and bank
ing.-Leavitt.
S. F. No 17-Establlshing a uniform sys-
tenn of admission to the bar of the state, and
providing punishments for violating pro-
visions of the act.-Sanborn.
5. f. No. Officiating to annuity, safe and
deposit mpanies.-March.
). f. No Officiating to injury to real or
personal property.-McHale.
5. f. No. 110-Relating to the duties OF
public examiner.-Leavitt.
s; f. No. 1l3-To prohibit prize fighting
and sparring matches. Dean.
Call of the Senate.
Senate File lis, Senator Leavltt's bill
authorizing the levy and collection of
tax on incomes, came next, but, as the
number of senators present had proven
very small, the Meeker county states
man, as soon as Secretary Van DuZee
had read the bill. moved call of the
senate. The Sergeant-at-armS started
out to secure the attendance of ab
sentees. a half hour spent
in this way satisfied the Sena-
tors, and motion by Gen. Sanborn
to suspend proceedings under the call
was carried unanimously.
Dean Opposes.
Senator Dean spoke in opposition to
the bill, and particularly against the
principle of an income tax. AbStractly
he argued this kind of tax was the
most equitable, but difficulties sur
rounding it's collection were so great,
and the incentive to men to swear
falsely to evade its payment so power
full, that it had always been, and must
continue, demoraliZing. The historylof
the income tax in England was narrated,
and the statement made that a different
scheme of taxation prevailed in that
country from this, and to make an ap-
plicatlon of this same scheme would de-
mand. an entire change in the method
of taxation In this country would have
to be made.
Senator Tawney followed the Ram
Sey senator in speech filled with facts
On the same side. He claimed that an
income tax was always collected from
the poor rather than the rich.
Senator Leavitt~ came next, and took
up the arguments of his opponents one
by one. and demolished them in the
calm and dispaSsionate manner for
which he is celebrated. He showed the
manner in which the
Wealthy Wien Evade
the payment of personal property taxes,
and declared there was no more prying
into the affairs Of private indivi duals
than is now done if the laws are carried
out. He brought down the house with
the remark:
SIT makes man laugh to hear these men
express their fears that the farmers will have
to pay tax on their incomes. To be sure,
the demand for the passage of this act does
not come from gentlemen who desire to avoid
paying their share of the taxes. This is not
q revolution, it is progress and the people de-
mand it. In conclusion | ask senators to
consider what they are voting for; it is to
compel the rich to pay their share of the
taxes. If this bill passes it makes it possible
for future legislatures to enact laws carrying
out what the amendment authorizes"
DOnnelly Supports.
Senator Donnelly, to convince the
opposition that political party had de-
manded the passage of a law providing
for an income tax, read the following
selection from the Alliance state plat
form adopted last July:
We believe in graded income tax, to the
end that wealth shall contribute its just share
of the expenses Of the government.
Senator La Due claimed that the argu-
mentS OH both sides showed that more
Improvement in the method of raising
taxes could and should be made. This
bill would open the door and would al
low the legislature that will meet two
years from now the privilege of at
tempting to make an Improvement.
The vote was next taken, ending as