The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-21
FRESH POLITICAL NEWS.
Railroad Land Taxation Amend
ment May Have Failed.

Among the questions voted upon at
the recent election, the result of which
yet remains in doubt, was the amend
ment relating to the taxation Of rail-
road lands. This amendment, familiar
ly known as the Anderson bill, was
! passed by the last legislature and ap-
| proved by the governor March 10, 1895.
Provision was made for the submits
| sion of the question to the voters at the
next general election. The bill pro-
vides that all railroad lands shall be
! assessed as other private lands, ex-
| cept such portions as are used for right
of way or are necessarily used in the
management and operation of the
| roads, the roads to continue to pay
| taxes on the gross earnings as already
provided. Section 1872 of Article 4, of
| the constitution provides that any law
| providing for the repeal of amendment
| or of any law relating to the taxation
Of railroads shall be submitted to a
vote Of the people of the state, and to
be adopted shall be ratified by ma
| jority Of all the electors Of the state
| voting at such election at which the
same shall be submitted to them. Thus
far the complete returns have been re-
ceived at the secretary Of states office
from but 6S counties, and it Is not pos
S1ble at this time to learn definitely
the exact total of the vote cast of the
| total Of the vote cast for the amend
| ment. It is believed, however that the
amendment has been carried. Some
question has been raised as to the num-
Der of votes necessary to adopt the
amendment, some persons cOntending
that a majority Of the votes cast for or
against the measure being all that is
required. The expression of the con-
stitution on this point, however, is
very clear.
United States Senator w. N. Roach,
n ,QT~ir IT OF hn Mar
chants yesterday en- route to Wash
irgton. His attitude toward the free
coinage Of silver question is
stronger than ever. as he feels better
after defeat than before the battle.
I'VE know our strength, now" he said,
land will never let up until we have
won. There is no hope for the coun-
try, no hope for prosperity" he said
except through bimetallism. The Ding
ley bill nor any other proposed remedial
measure will not help us at this time.
I shall not be an ObStructionist, how
ever. Whatever the Republicans at
tempt to do to improve the cOnd1-
ton Of the country 1 shall not offer
any factious opposition. An extra ses-
sion seems to be the only hope for the
preSident-elect. What the senate will
do 1 cannot say. 1 have had no cor
respondence with any of them If the
silver Republicans should work with
their party on all other questions there
will be no difficulty in that party car
rying through any proposed tariff legis-
lation. Whatever they accomplish that
benefits the country I shall give them
credit for. But as I said, I do not eX-
pect to see a return to better times
until this financial question is settled
with a bimetallic platform to stand
upon"
In the rush for the big plums that
are to be distributed by the next legis-
lature, some Of the smaller offices are
being overlooked. Dan Shell, who
comes down from Worthington 50 often
that he Is almost a resident of the
capital city, said yesterday that he
believed his man for the senate
chaplaincy would pull through with
out much opposition. Shells candidate
is the Rev. Robert Forbes, of Duluth,
who was chaplain Of the senate two
years ago. So far as known there are
no other applicants, but there are likely
to be a dozen within the next week.
Mr. Forbes won the place with just one
vote to spare last time
When M. J. Bowling and Bronson
Strain get down to business on Mon
day there may be some news that will
be of interest to a lot Of the candidates
for places in the house. Strain is i'll
the city to remain until Bowling re-
sought by a lot of politicians who do
not know how to make their states
until they know which way the COM
hination cat will jump. AT Ramsey
county headquarters the belief is that
Bowling will conclude the easiest way
out of the difficulty will be for him to
put aside his ambition for anything
except a reelection as chief clerk. If
he does so, then Strain will be salts
fled with his old office The speakership
fight will thus settle down to one of
narrow limits and one that will be
easily settled.
Henry Feig, who is candidate for
speaker, is of the opinion that his
chances will be bettered by general
mixup and scramble for all the offices.
Staples and Jacobson favor the re-
election of as many Of the old eXecu-
tive officers as desire a reelection as
their joint ambition would be favored
If Staples is chosen speaker, Jacobson
will get the craftsmanship Of the best
committees, and If Jacobson is the
favored one for the speakership he will
not forget his friend Staples.
Senator Hansbrough was among the
numerous Dakotans at the Merchants
yesterday. Representative Richards, of
Burnley was in the throng that came
down on the morning train. He was
with that gentleman to Washington.
Senator Hansbrough still processes
faith in his reelection. But there were
some Of those present in the Merchants
lobby yesterday who think that DR..
Satterthwaite Is the coming man. The
doctor has just returned from trip
to Canton where he had talk with
the president-elect. Senator Little, of
Burley, was in the party. He is
strong Hansbrough man.
J. Frank Dean, publisher Of the Owa-
tonna journal, who was first assistant
clerk of the house of representatives in
the last legislature, is a candidate this
year for the chief clerkShip. Mr..
Deans friends are opposed to the COM
bination idea Many of them think
that as Mr.. Bowling has been secre-
tary Of the national league of Repub-
lican clubs ever since the close of the
last session, he should now be willing
to return to his newspaper Office and
give some of the others a chance. At
the same time, there seems to be no
bitterness in the fight between these
two.
According to the affidavit Of expenses
filed with the county auditor yester-
day by County Attorney-elect A. A.
Anderson, his election as Mr.. Buffers
successor cost $50. OF this amount
the largest item is $500, contributed to
the Republican county committee. The
remaining 5000 was expended for print
ing Of cards, speeches and distribution
Of the same in sums ranging from $85
to SIS. 1t cost Mr.. Anderson $40 riding
around on the street cars during the
campaign, and on one occasion he
procured a carriage for personal use at
a cost of $3.50.
Henry Fuller, candidate for county
auditor on the Independent Democratic