The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-20
DARE THEY DEFEAT 1T.
lSt. Paul GlObe.1

[St. Paul Globe.]
surprising as it may be, there is
danger that the bill to tax the lands
OF the Immigrant railroads will be de-
1eated in the senate. 1t would not be
SO astonishing if this were the first
presentation of the bill. Last session
there was reason to doubt it's effect,
and the sentiment of the people was
unknown. A few senators honest
ly feared that it would release
the roads from the payment of the
gross earnings tax. Others pretend
ed to entertain this fear to cover the
Doodle in their pockets.
But there are no such reasons now.
The bill is amply guarded against any
possibility of its affecting the gross
earnings tax. We think the prOvis-
ions needless. The proceeds from the
sales OF land pay no tax because they
are not included in the earnings.
Ihey are not earnings in any sense Of
the word. That covers only income
from freightS, passengers and express.
NO justice court even would be so
uninterrupted as to hold otherwise
dOrSement Of the state conventions of
both the Democratic and Republican
parties. They spoke for the voters of
the state. There was no oppoSi ton
or remOnStrance in either convention.
Whatever reasons were honestly en-
tertdlned last session are fOrcelcSS
now. The other reason undoubtedly
remains, and is as potent as ever.
The railroad lobby is on hand and ac-
tive. They are supplied with the
same kind of reasons" as before
There are senators to whom these will
appeal with overwhelming strength
The roll call will save us the necessity
of mentioning names.
Argument for the bill is useless.
Debate on 1t as questionable meas
ure was closed long ago. Railroad
lobbyists will keep it up. They are
now urging in the ears of senators
and in the press that the bill, if en-
acted, will lose the railroad tax to the
state. A queer argument surely in
the mouth of these men. If that
would be its effect these same crea-
lures would be zealously working for
It's passage. 1t is cause of suspicion
when these wolves are so fearful for
the safety of the lamb. When the
lrishman was asked to vote for the
Republican candidate for congress be-
cause the Democrat would have wages
cut, the son of Erin replied: ''Faix,
1t that were true you would be votin'
Tor the Dimmicrat yerSelf."
Another view. All political parti es
have We'd with each other in demand
ing the forfeiture of unearned rail
road grants. Each boasts in it's cam
palgnS OF the vast tracts restored to
the public domain by means of forfeit
ture acts passed. PrOtilgacy has
given way to economy. The policy is
to diminish these grant holdings. Tue
exemption of them from taxation en-
courages the holding. They are no
burden. We can wait until SETTLE
ment makes them valuable, is the
policy of the companies. They have
their agents abroad to encourage i'm
migration, knowing that the pressure
Of population will increase the value
of their lands. If made to bear a
portion of the public burden the in
ducement to hold will be gone, and
replaced by an anxiety to sell. Prices
will be lowered. With this will come
lnducement for men to go back to the
lana. The congestion of population il
the cities will be helped to relief.
Justice to settlers in these grant re-
glons demands it. Nothing could be
more cruel than to leave them to bear
all their local burdens while their
presence and efforts at Improvements
were adding value to the lands of
these companies while the law ex-
emptS them from sharing in the cost
The companies should never have a
foot of these lands. They should be
deprived of them. That cannot be.
The only way left is to make them
share the general burdens. This can
only be done by subjecting them to
taxation. The senator who votes
against it must have reputation in
Vulnerable to suspicion TO avoid the
inference that his vote was Influenced
oy the lobby. This is plain talk, but
it is the fact.