St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-20
A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE
NOW ON THE ASSESSORS
LISTS.
TEN THOUSAND IN ST. PAUL
EVERY RIDER CAN POSSESS ONE
MACHINE EXEMPT FROM
EXECUTION.
HOW THE LAW WAS PASSED
After Senator Miller Had Provided
for Taxation of All
Wheels.

Taxation Of bicycles is engaging
more attention in Minnesota this
year than ever before; in fact, never
before was it a matter of any con-
sequence, as under the old law very
few, If any, wheels were listed for
taxation. During the last session of
the legislature Senator Miller, of
Luverne (himself an enthusiastic
wheelman), introduced a bill, which
became a law, providing that BIZ
cycles shall be listed for taxation
just like ali other vehicles that are
enumerated under the head of per-
Sonal property.
Dealers in bicycles say that there
are at least 10000 owned and used in
st. Paul and it's suburbs The value
of the machines ranges from $35 to
500 the top price of the present
year,; but the average value in re-
turns made to the assessor will prob
ably not exceed, if it reaches, the
first figure. OF the whole number
of bicycles in use, not to exceed 500
to 700 are at present owned by ladies,
in the opinion of a dealer who has
an opportunity to know. But numer-
Gus schools Of teaching the art of
riding are now at work, and every
day sees an increase in the number
Of female riders.
Taxes on the full amount of money
invested would make a very neat
sum, but it is not expected that the
substantial returns will be heavy
enough to swamp the treasury. In
some counties the bicycles are likely
to escape taxation altogether, for
the reason that the law was passed
and approved so late in the session
that the assessors lists did not men
ton them specifically.
Anyhow, whether the bicycles shall
produce a goOdly sum in taxes or
not, they now have a legal status.
Not only that, but they are all prac-
tically
EXEMPT FROM TAXATION,
as a mans horse and buggy is ex-
empt This will be news to many
G Il 0 b e readers, but it is a fact, as
a glance at the following law of the
last session will show:
An act entitled IAN act to amend
section three hundred and ten (310 OF
chapter Sixty-SiX (66) of the General
Statutes of one thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight QS7S, relating to
property exempt from execution.
Be it enacted by the legislature of the
state of Minnesota:
I
dred and ten (310 of chapter siXty-six
1861 of the General Statutes of one thou>
sand eight hundred and seVenty-eighJ
QS7S) be and the same is hereby amend
ed by adding to the ninth" subdivision
thereof sthe following words to wit,
land one bicycle"
Sec. 2 That this act shall be in
force and take effect from and after
its passage.
Approved April 49, 1895.
Section 80 of Chapter sc, Statutes
1873, specifies all items of personal
property that shall be. exempt from
taxation. If a person owns more
than one bicycle, all above that
number can be levied upon; but the
enthusiast who has only one is al
lowed by law to keep it as long as
it holds together.
Thus the bicycle has come to stay
or, rather, to go eternally to and
fro on our streets. 1t does not cry
out for fodder, nor SILVER in the cold
winds, nor get its hOof caught in
the cable slot, nor stumble and skin
its knees, nor jump sideways at a
vagrant piece of paper, nor elevate
it's heels to kick the wind out of its
owner, nor balk when a timid wo-
man holds the lines; in fact, it has
| none of the costly or the vicious
habits of the equine tribe. 1t is, be-
| sides, a successful competitor against
| Tom Lowry's street cars; for many
| a man, and many wife and maid,
| who reside in the suburban sections
| that are undisturbed by the clang of
| the gong and free of the disfiguring
wire, ride to and fro independent
and Saucy as you please. The cars
may run or stop, six in a row or only
one in an hour, may travel empty
or overloaded-the bicycler goes his
own gait in merry mood, and minds
not the things that fret the travellers
| on street cars.
The history of the enactment of the
exemption law is peculiar. 1t was
introduced late in the session by
! Representative Henry Johns, and
passed both houses under suspension
| of rules in the absence of Mr.. Johns
as joke upon him, he having failed
| to secure a suspension of rules dur
| ing the entire session.
Hon. c. D. O'Brien suggested the
! bill, and since it has become a law
is attempting to ride an untamable
bicycle at White Bear lake. On this
account Johns thinks the ex-mayor
had fear that if he attempted BIZ
cycling under the old law his ma
chine might be levied on for damage
| done to fences and flower beds on
either side the road, to say nothing
of the many pedestrians he might
injure in his heroic efforts to be in
| style.
1t is but a few days since a promi-
nent attorney directed the sheriff to
levy on bicycle; and he was great
ly astonished when he found it was
exempt from execution.
Verify, the wheel is a fixture in
our civilization, and an entirely new
line of business houses is established
to handle it in all it's different
| grades. Like the shoemakers. hi
cycle mechanics repair them while
you wait, and half sole and heel the
wooden or steel tires in very short