St. Paul daily globe., 1895-01-17
LEGISLATIVE TALKS.
Senator Alien Defends the Bill to
Tax Railroad Lands.


tie taxing of railroad lands ,and, inci-
dentally. his bill, known as Senate File
No. T, yeste rday, he said: "The taNpay-
ers of the state are not people that can
be hoodwinked into endangering the
gross earnings tax Senate File NO.
has been carefully drawn, and avoids
Just that thing. The opinion OF the at
torney general of the state, given at the
request Of the senate. last SESSION,
states that-it does not in any way af-
feet the gross earnings tax. Some OF
the bestlegal talent in the state agrees
with him. The chestnut about what
the late E. i. Drake said, twenty years
ago, is sprung again. At that time the
railroad interests controlled the legls-
Iation of the state, and what railroad
would or would not allow TO be done
had some interest. believe that time
is past. Two years ago it was potent
enough to defeat this Just measure In
the senate. People should know better
than to say that the legislature would
be doing the unwilling behest of the
railroads i'll pushing the taxation of un-
used railroad lands. Any one vino wit
messed the strenuous fight made
against the measure by the railroads
two years ago in the senate know bet
ter. The platform of all political par
ties advocated and demanded this meas
ure. 1t was political issue in many
parts Of the state. 1t is not Of local IN
Lerest TO the northern part OF the state
alone. One Of the chief objects may
frankly he said to be that Of forcing the
railroads to put these lands Oh the mar.
krt and sell them as reasonable prices
TO the settlers who are ready to buy and
improve them. This will result In the
increase of taxable property and lnure
to the benefit Of the whole state.
he St. Louis county delegation are
still in quandary. Senator Spen-
Ger feels kindly to Representative
Underw ood. Of Minneapolis. and others
who have indicated that they would
like to compliment him with their
votes. Representatives Cant and
Smith, of Duluth, don't commit them-
selves as to their choice. representa-
tive McfnnIs. of Virginia, says that he
finds division of sentiment in the Du-
luth region, between Nelson and Wash
burn. The delegation, Of which he is
one, held meeting last night and tried
to agree upon the man to support, but
no conclusion was reached, aud it was
apparent that they would vote as
individuals. He said that, as for
himself, he might votefor Nelson, Wash
burn or Spencer, but had not decided
where he would cast his lot. Both
Nelson and Washburn have done much
for the people of Duluth, and the dele
CATION feel that they want to do what Is
rig hit in the matter; but it is possible
that after the first ballot they may go
any place. He believes they will divide
their vote OH the first ballot.
haoInnorforp
one could be found yesterday that
shey felt confident. Their confidence
aeemed. however. of the heroic kind
nd not one inspired from the heart or
tofeeling that they had the sentiment
to back the declaration.
Hon. E. &. Hay. Col. Marcus Johnson,
Hon. Loren Fletcher and Secretary
Morse all declared that there was moths
ing new in tie situation. They,as welt
as a number of other rlleutenants, seemed
TO be busy in the lobbies and at the
headquarters.
Congressman McCleary put in quiet
day, compared with the movements of
some of the other candidates. 3
Those who are pronounced for either
Nelson or Washburn for the senate
seemed 10 have their inning yesterday
in feeling good over the situation. They
seemed TO be in gleeful mood over the
prospect of voting for any one Of several
dark horse candidates who may show up
we'll at the finish.
Mr. Colnstock seemed to have a very
busy day. He had many callers and
was much sought in the lUbbles. At all
times he was in earnest conversation
with friends and supportersr Mr.. Com
stock said that he felt satisfied with the
situation. One of his friends said that
the chances Of Mr.. Comstock are
brighter. and that his stock is looking
up. Several placed his vote, at the
start, at twenty-five, and one Or two
placed it a shigh as thirty.
Hon. G. D. Post said that he would
VOC for Nelson for the first ballot, and
if he did not stand good chance to win
else, ,and going quick. He doesn't believe
that legislation should be DELAYED by
prolonging the senatorial contest.
One of the state senators said that he
feared there would be prolonged con-
test, and in that event he would not
stand by Washburn more than one bal
lot.
Another said that he intends to vote
for friend OF his, whom he regards to
be the best man in the lot for the place,
aud after that he might vote for Wash
burn or Nelson in case he felt that il
would shorten the contest.
Hon. Dan Shell said that he proposes
to think the matter over until he gets
ready to vote, and would do Just as he
believed to be right He says that he
has 10 disposition to ignore the wishes
.of his constituents. and will follow their
advice, in case they are practically
unanimous in their views. He thinks
that he should do the best for his party.
One Of his constituents who heard him
make the remark said that whatever
Mayor Shell does will be indorsed by
his people.
Quite a number Of people were found
who have not made up their minds.
Many Of these will vote for persons
other than Nelson or Washburn, but
sune OF them will take advantage OF
any opportunity given to climb into the
wagon of either, in case there is show
of electing either one.
Ex-senator j. s. OBrien, of Still
water. was in the city yesterday look
ing over the senatorial situation, and
took occasion to strongly commend the
position taken by the GLOBE with ref
erence 10 the pine land Investigation.
Said he: II was the only man in the
senate who voted against the resolu-
tion, and am of the same opinion now
that I was then. As the GLOBE has
shown, the net result of the investigation
is dead loss of several thousand dollars,
with absolutely nothing as an offset ex-
cept the experience. When the Com
mittee made its report aud the other
papers all rushed in to commend its
WORK L just waited for results. well
knowing that in time the position taken
by the GLOBE would be shown 10 be
the correct one. Well, that time has
come, and now that the courts have
officially affirmed the correctness of tie
GLOBES position. hope the public will
be given rest from all this nauseating
talk about what the committee is going
to save the state"
Representative Johns explained to a
group Of friends at the Clarendon last
night that the Dispatch had made a
mistake when it credited to him the bill
TO prevent corrupt practices ut elec-
tons. Mr. Johns seemed rather hurt
that such measure should be attrib-
uted to him, and pleasantly added that
he would not think of Sucn q thing