St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-01
TAX ON LANDS.
Earnest Debate Before the Senate
Judiciary Committee.

judiciary committee.
Senator Stevens presided at the meet
ing of the senate judiciary committee
yesterday afternoon, held for the pur-
pose of allowing a public hearing upon
H. F. No. l, being Representative An
deson's bill to tax unused railroad
lands. Senator Stevens said that the
bill had been referred to this commit
tee for an opinion as to it's constitu-
| tionality. and had been recommended
for indefinite postponement by the SUBJ
| committee on constitutional law.
Senator Day moved that the whole
committee recommend the bill for pass
age. He did this to give an opportun-
| ity for hearing.
Senator Allen said that he under
stood that the opportunity was to be
| given to those who oppose the bill to
state their objections.
Senator Thompson opened the dis
! cussion in an argument in favor of
submitting the matter to the vote of
| the people. He spoke of the matter
| being considered in a previous session
OF the legislature and the attorney gen.
| eral having announced an opinion to
| the effect that such bill is constitu-
! tional
There being no disposition for others
| to speak upon the merits of the bill,
! Senator McHale moved that the COM
| mittee go into executive session to
consider the bill. Senator Greer want
ed to hear any others who wanted to
speak upon the measure.
| Senator Allen said that If there was
| no one who wanted to oppose the bill
| it would be expected that the commit
| tee should act upon 1t. He would give
notice that the friends of the bill would
| oppose its being recalled for the pur-
pose of public hearing after it had
once been submitted to the senate
Senator Thompson moved to recon-
mend that the bill be placed upon gen.
| eral orders.
President Day saw no reason for go
ing into secret session to dispose of the
bill. He thought it could be decided
in open session. He spoke of the posi-
ton of his party upon the measure,
and said it's policy was well known.
Senator McHale wanted to know if
it was intended to make it a question
Of politics in place of legal inquiry.
Senator Morgan hoped that there
would be no jeopardizing of party by
A. Y. Merrill, of Aitkin, was asked
by President Day to speak for those
who are friendly to the bill. He MAIN
that it would not jeopardize the gross
earnings tax. He declared there is no
doubt of the power of the legislature
to pass this bill. The only roads to be
affected by the bill are the Duluth &
Do, h.
the Northern Pacific and the MIAMI
toba" roads. His view is that the gross
earnings tax is invalid as to roads or
ganized without the state, and there
fore 1t would not be hazardous to pass
TINS bill for fear that the railroad COM
panies would attack that law.
j. c. Haynes, of Minneapolis, speak
ing as a simple citizen of the state,
and as member Of taxation COM
mittee Of the Minneapolis council, took
the position that if lands not used for
railroad purposes are taxable in city
then the lands in the country districts
of the state are taxable. He had no
fear that the bill would be constitu
tional. The effect would be that the
companies would pay the tax until
they can sell their lands to private in
dividuals.
Asked by Senator Greer if the passage
of the bill would not result in great
advantage to Minneapolis, Mr.. Haynes
said he would not object to the increased
benefit if it did. The answer Gre
ated laughter, as it indicated that this
was the reason the gentleman favored
the bill, because. at present, his city
gets no benefits directly from the gross
earnings tax.
Senator Keller said it seemed strange
that the railroads are not fighting the
bill. This remark caused laughter, and
Senator Keller said that they might
shout rat" but he had doubt as to the
bill not endangering the gross earn
ines tax.
Mr. Merrill called attention to the
fact that 1t was not proposed to tax
any lands used in the operation of q
railroad or in earning money from
which the gross earnings tax is de-
rived.
A number of questions were put to
Mr. Merrill, with view of ascertain
ing what effect the passage of the bill
would have upon the gross earnings tax,
several of which he said he had not
studied up. His main proposition was
that it would be beneficial to parts of
the state where the lands are located
to pass the bill. The committee will
consider in executive session what rec
ommendation to make upon the bill.
Ladies and gentlemen interested in
the age of consent bill will meet the
judiciary committee of the senate in
the senate chamber between and i
o'clock this afternoon at the request
of Senator Howard.