St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-26
AGAINST THE COAL COMBINE.

The Sage OF Nininger Presents e
Drastic Memorial.
The members of the upper house of
the legislature were very much inter-
ested in the good roads convention yes
terday. and commenced the days work
with slim attendance. During the
first half-hour there were half dozen
more desc rtions. and, after committee
reports had been received, an adjourn
ment was taken for the day. The only
really important action taken was the
passage of memorial to the national
congress On the coal combine recon-
mendlng and calling upon congress
to condemn the anthracite coal
lands by the exercise of the
that thereafter the mines be operated
by the government for the benefit of the
people. When this had been read, Mr..
DOnnelly made a short speech urging
any particular interest i'll it, and the
roll call was ordered. The first name
called was that of Senator Allen, of
Carl ton, who did not like the memorial
and plainly said so.
II vote no on this memorial" he said,
''for the simple reason that i see no
more reason in condemning the coal
mines than there is for cOndemning iron
mines, silver mines or any other bust
ness"
This brought the Sage again to his
feet, and before he sat down he had
made a strong appeal for the memorial.
Nine and ten-dolar coal had the desired
effect on the senate, and by 40 to 1 the
memorial passed. AS adopted, the
memorial follows:
The Sage's Remedy.
Whereas, The greater part of the
anthracite coal deposits of the United
States are owned by few corporations,
who have combined and levied probably
800, 100000 of taxes during the past few
years upon the people of this country
by raising the price paid for coal by the
consumers, while at the same time they
have decreased the wages of their work
men. thus degrading American citizen
ship and endangering republican insti-
buttons:
And whereas, These corporations are
artificial persons, created and existing
by law alone, possessed of immortal
life; and the right to impose taxes on
the people, in one year, equal to the
revenues of half dozen sovereign
states, implies the right to wiring from
the people forever, if not prevented by
law, unlimited amounts OF their sub
stance;
And whereas, 1t was the original de-
sign OF the founders OF. the government
to reserve from sale and retain for the
benefit or all the people the public lands
containing mineral or metallic wealth;
And whereas, The present evil cOndi-
tiOns in the coal fields of this country
are an unforeseen and unnatural out
growth from the conceded right of pri-
waite property, applied to an article of
prime necessity for all the people, in
the hands of corporations.
Therefore, The legislature of the state
or Minnesota respectfully memOrlaliZeS
the congress of the United States to
take immediate steps under the right of
eminent domain to condemn and enter
into possession Of all the anthracite coal
lands of this country, and hold and adj
minister tine same as public trust for
the benefit of all the people ON terms
that shall be just to the miners of the
coal and the consumers of the same;
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of
the secretary of state to forward copies
Of this memorial to our delegation is
congress, and also to the president of
the United States and the members of
his cabinet, and to each senator and
member of congress.
TO Equalize Taxation.
Senator Dean, the clear-cut and able
Ramsey county senator, has evidently
been considering the very troublesome
question of taxation, and he introduced
a bill to create commission to consist
of three members, to consider the whole
subject. These commissioners are to
report to the governor before Jan. l.
1895, giving the result of their labors in
a scheme Of taxation that will bear
equally upon all the people.
The first incident in the proceedings
of the senate was the Introduction of
petition by Gen. Sanborn asking the ap-
preparation of $50 TO place the name of
Fort Ridgely. In 1878 this monument
was erected to Capt. John S. Marsh and
twenty-four of his men who we're am
buscaded and killed OH march to the
relief of the Indian agencies on the
Minnesota river on Aug. Is, 1862.
Through mistake the name Of Peter
Quinn, the guide and interpreter, was
omitted. and Judge Flandrau, Col.
William Crooks and many others joined
in this request for the correction. The
bill accompanying the petition was
passed at once under suspension of the
rules.
Several days ago Senator Crandall. of
Steele, wanted to know why it was that
all railroad companies did not pay the
same percentage on their gross earn
ing, and requested by resolution that
the state treasurer answer. Col. Bob
Letter did this yesterday, quoting the
statutes which provide that railroads
for the first three years after building
pay per cent, 2 per cent for the next
seven years and 8 per cent thereafter.
Following the introduction of bills,
which will be found below, Senator
Leavitt devoted a few moments to
the incompetency and careless
ness of the senate clerical force. He
produced number of measures printed
in several different ways, and demanded
that the matter be looked after.
Il trust" he said, THAT the gentle
men upon this floor who are responsible
for the present administration will take
this matter in hand and correct 1t at
once. This is matter of too much
to pass over lightly"
Gen. Sanborn moved to refer this
matter to the committee on printing,
and this was amended instructing this
to make report stating the
persons responsible for the present
condition of affairs. This was accepted
by Gen. Sanborn, and prevailed.
An invitation from President Northrop
to visit the university accepted, was and
next Wednesday fixed as the time upon
motion of Senator Mcmillan. On mo-
ton of Senator Stevens the senate then
adjourned.
MANY NEW BILLS.