St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-22
MINNESOTA PATERNAL1SM.
A coterie of gentlemen were sitting in
The rotunda of the Windsor last evening

A coterie of gentlemen were sitting in
the rotunda of the Windsor last evening
and incidentally discussing the course
of legislation. The discussion took
wide range, and the right and powers
of taxation by the state and the applica-
ton of the revenues to varied purposes
was an interesting feature of the con.
versation. In the company was a state
senator, a former member of the house
of some note and prominent politician
from the northern part of the state. The
gentleman designated as politician
was asked his opinion Oh the BoggS
bill, which provides for wheat eleva-
tor at Duluth and he inclined to the
view that it would be a good thing.
Asked whether he meant good thing
for the Zenith city, he said that he
meant it would be good for the farmers.
One of the other gentlemen then began
dissertation Oh communistic legiSla-
ton, and claimed that if the powers of
the state may be used to tax the people
to build grain elevators. why not tax
thear. to build cold storage warehouses
in other parts of the state to preserve
butter and eggs? Yes, or let the state
The principle is the same, added an
other.gentieman g.
il
sit seems to me that there are num-
Der of disciples of Bellamy in the legis-
lature," remarked a gentleman who has
left his mark on the legislative acts Of
the state. There are number of law
makers who advocate paternalism on the
part of the state. They may not be con.
scious of advocating that theory because
they think only Of doing something for
their own sections of the state by Great
ing institutions at the expense of the
state for the benefit of class Or section.
People who urge the government con-
tro of railroads. telegraph lines and
street Car lines are called communists
or socialists, yet the men that would op-
pose such measures or the lOaning Of
money to farmers at per cent will adj
yocate the creation of an elevator or
other institution at the expense OF the
state"
Another gentleman took up the strain
and said: "SOme people favor putting
all public officers. even the more inSis-
niticant city officers, Oh salaries, and
the collection of fees to be turned into
the treasury. This is paternaliSm, in
one sense, and has a tendency to en-
for such a course is often made that it
will be profitable to the state. county or
city to pay IL salary and cover balance
into the treasury, TO be used in defray-
ing other expenses of the government
state or corporate. This becomes a sys-
tenn of taxation of peculiar class,
and imposes burden on the class of
people who do business with the city,
county and state, which requires them,
not only to pay the Legitimate expense
OF the services rendered them. but COM
pels them to pay tribute to other bene-
ticiarieS. For instance, if a man pays
to the clerk of court, the register
of deeds or any other officer more money
than is needed to pay him and his clerks
for the services rendered, and the sur
plus goes into the treasury. to be ap-
piled to supporting the poor or, to pay
any other current expense. the man
who pays the fees is taxed in double
capacity. He pays his proportion of
the direct tax and also pays an Indirect
tax, greater than is necessary for the
special service rendered him."
Suppose" said one of the gentle
men, 1--WE carry out the idea TO logical
conclusion-put all officers on salary.
MS uliSht iilciuue dltolHoy9' Hi'i"SoiS
of works of internal improvements and
even preachers, As we'll as school teach
ers. Then let us elect by vote of the
people all the officers, whether they be
the town clerk, the attorneys who prac-
tice III the courts, the ministers, the
governor, or to fill whatever position
may be required to be filled by law.
Pay all of these salary aud charge
fees for receiving the benefits of these
officers, and you will carry out to its
logical conclusion the theory of pater-
nalism proposed by some of our legiS-
lators who want TO build elevators at
the expense of the state"