St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-03
TO TAX RAILROAD LANDS.
The Discussion Renewed in the
Committee OF the Whole

The Discussion Renewed in the
Committee OF the Whole.
The Markham bill, taxing railway
lands, was the special order in the SEN
ate for II o'clock yesterday, in the COM
mittee of the whole.
Senator McHale's amendment to pro-
tect the gross earnings system was
adopted. and Senator Hompe opened
the discussion. He took a novel posi-
ton. and cited Aitkin county to show
that large proportion of the area is
government lands, and from this condi-
tion he drew the conclusion that the
land is SO poor that 1t cannot be given
away to actual settlers, and therefore it
would be the height Of injustice to eX-
pect the railway companies either to
sell their domain adjacent to these gov
ernment lands or to pay tax; and he
held that tax on $3.50 an acre would be
eXOrbItant.
Senator Sevatson supported the bill.
He spoke from the blue book TO show
the inadequacy Of the taxes. Wisconsin
has about the same miles OF road and
. the same gross earnings. Yet the tax
upon railway properties In Wisconsin
nets the state much more than is realized
by Minnesota, and he gave an array of
figures. Senator March renewed his
opposition to the bill upon the theory
that even the friends of the measure
earnings system.
At this juncture the committee arose,
reported progress, and a recess was
taken till $3.50.
AT 2:30, upon the senate's reconven-
ing, Senator SanbOrn resumed his argu
ment. He went into the history of the
railway land grants, explaining at
length the transitions phases aud the
conditions of the charters, and how they
we're earned. He also spoke of the for
FIXTURES that have been made by roads
through falling to construct roads spe-
officially described III the charters at the
time limitation provided. He closed
by pronOuncing his action on the
bill the most important trust
placed in his hands by his
constituents and he would vote against
the bill though he stood alone in the po-
sition upon the floor of the senate.
Senator Mayo considered that the law
had been discussed threadbare. Three
lawyers had gone over the same ground,
citing the same chapters and arriving
at about the same conclusions. He had
sat much like a juror, and instead of
receiving enlightenment he had been de-
ceived.
Senator Donnelly declared that the
question is of more Importance than
was the election of United States sem
ator at the beginning of the session. lie
admitted that it is complicated ques-
ton, and one upon which the senators
can honestly differ. Yet he thought the
question could be narrowed down to
tangible proposition upon which all can
agree. 1t is right that the lands should
be taxed and it is policy that the roads
be forced to sell their lands. 1t would
develop the state, and it would be to
he benefit of the roads themselves, for
the reason that il the lands were cult
waited the carrying of the crop in one
year would amount to more profit than
the value of the lands would increase in
a good many years. 1t is agreed that
the lands ought to be taxed if they can
be safely taxed. All are agreed that
the gross earnings system is the easiest
and simplest method, but the final solu-
ton does not rest with the senate, but
with board of judges sitting in an adj
joining chamber, and possibly then il
may be carried TO another bench sitting
in Washington.
= Senator Leavitt had few points to
call the attention of the senate to. He
held that there is no material difference
between the present issue and the bill
before the senate two years ago. He
insisted that the effect will be the same.
He went over the ground that mad been
so often traversed to show the danger
that lies In the bill to the gross earnings
system. He renewed the arguments
that the railroad grants are fast dimin-
ishing, aud that the gross earnings rev.
enues are correspondingly increasing.
Senator HOmpe had placed the valua-
ton of the railway lands in Aitkin
county at 81 to $3.50 an acre, but Mr..
Leavitt showed that the assessed valua-
ton is 1892 an acre. Then Senator
Leavitt proceeded that men who had
bought lands in Altkin county and had
removed the timber would sell the same
for five cents an acre, and, carrying the
theory to a further end, he asserted
that, as soon as timber is removed, the
lands revert back to the state through
defaulting in paying taxes, because the
lands are not worth the taxes.
The committee of the whole arose and
listened to a communication from the
attorney general in reply TO the ques-
lions raised by Senator Davis the previ-
Gus evening. 1t really brought no new
light to the subject. Tie cOmmunica-
ton was referred to the committee of
the whole, and Senator Leavitt resumed
his arguments against the bill.
Senator Wood pronounced the aglta-
ton a battle between the railroad cor
porations and the state. He had moth
ing 10 fear, even should the enactment,
as has been claimed by its enemies.
wipe out the gross earnings system, for