St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-27

tntional amendment known as Senate
File No. 1874, and the people of the state
are advised to unite in defeating it.
There is an interesting history con-
nected with this amendment, which
could not be given at length in the plat
form, but which is necessary to proper
understanding of the matter.
The bill was introduced in the senate
The bill was introduced in the senate
by Senator Leavitt, OF Meeker county,
and as framed by him was intended to
provide for taxing sleeping car, tele-
phone, express and foreign and domes-
tic insurance companies, and similar
organizations doing business i'm this
state; and also providing that mining
corporations might be taxed a specific
sum upon their products. 1t was in
tended to reach a class of corporations
doing large and profitable business in
the state, but which has so far contrib
uted comparatively little or nothing to
the revenues of the state.
In this form it passed the senate, but
during its tendency in tine house, and
before passing that body, the word
railroad was inserted in the title and
BODY of the act enumeratiug the cOrpOr
atoms to which its provisions applied.
In the hurry of the closing days of the
session this change was not noticed by
Its author, and it became law.
There is already constitutional
amendment levying tax of per cent
upon the gross earnings of the railroads
IN lieu OF all other taxes, and the rev.
enue to the state from this source last
year was about S725,G00. and it is annu-
ally increasing. When it was enacted
the railroads were poor, they held large
quantities of lands granted by the gem
eral government exempt from taxation,
and the state received very slight re-
turn from this exemption. The argu-
ment made in its behalf was that it
would assist the roads in their develop
ment and in settling up the country,
| and when their business grew to de-
| gree Of prosperity the state would re-
ceive its reward in revenue nearly or
quite sufficient to pay its current ex-
| penSeS without resort to other taxation.
We are gradually reaching that condi-
ton OF things, the roads have parted
with their surplus lands, and in the
present rate of taxation they are bear
ing reasonable share of the expense of
maintaining our state government.
Now the ratification of this proposed
| constitutional amendment would repeal
| the constitutional amendment which is
working so satisfactorily, place the rail-
| road companies in the list with other
| and minor corporations, and give to the
| legislature the power to fix from time
! to time what this tax shall be- Every
voter knows what this means. Such a
change would result to the disadvantage
| of the state, for with matter of such
great Importance pending, money could
/ and would be spent without stint, and
| in body where such frauds as this are
| so readily committed-and at least one
third of the members of one branch
were actually bought to defeat a certain
obnoxious meaSure-there could be no
doubt as to the result.
An inquiry intoIthe matter shows that
the original bill as introduced in the
senate is not on file in the Office of the
secretary of state, and there is nothing
in the journal to indicate when and
by whom thIs change was made. The
| statements Of Senator Leavitt, of Meek
er county, and Senator McHale, of Scott,
the first, who introduced, and the latter,
who supported the bill, are authority
for what we say in the matter.
Watch this amendment and vote:it
down.