The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-10-07

and each electing voter at such cleo
ti0n shall designate his vote by a
cross mark made opposite one or the
other of the said words. Yes and
NO" and the said election shall in
all respects conform so far as may be
to the requirements Of the general
election law. and the returns Of said
election shall be made. canvassed and
certified, and the result thereof de.
clared, in the manner provided by law
for returning, certifying and canvass
ing votes cast for state Officers.
There can be no question that the
passage Of this act, would be benefit
to the people of Minnesota and even
to the railroads themselves. What
the latter save in taxation would be
more than made up to them by hav-
ing the lands occupied by actual set
tiers producing crops-the transpor-
tation of which would go to enrich
the roads. Every one derstands
that a railroad through wilderness
cannot be profitable to those who
have put their money into it. The
holding of these lands cut Of market,
because they are free from taxation,
interrupts the settlement and devel-
Opement of the country. dwarfs the
towns and cripples commerce. If the
country is settled. it needs ten thous-
and things which must come over the
roads. and through the hands Of the
merchants, land thereby help to enrich
them ALL while, as we have said, the
transportation of their productions
also gives business to tOwns-people
and railroads. Where settlements are
sparse it is difficult to maintain
schools or churches or enjoy any of
the comforts of civilized life.
The great difficulty which has made
a good many honest men hesitate
about subiecting these lands to taxa
ton is that it is feared that such &C
ton would be violation OF the pres
cnt system Of exempting the property
of the roads from general taxation by
levying a tax upon their gross earn
ings; and it has been feared that il
this present contract on this point
was set aside by the people adopting
the pending amendment, the whole
matter would fall into the hands of the
Legislature to adjudicate, and If the
Legislature was corrupt, it might re-
sult in the loss Of the nearly 81, O0O, 900
of taxation now obtained from the
roads by the tax on their their gross
earnings, and thus reduce the taxes of
the corporations, and compel the peo-
pie. in their poverty, to make up the
Ma h0 hnc TOT oI tn ~;
any advice upon this question because
we could not foresee what kind of
legislators might be elected by the
people. We all know there has been a
great deal OF corruption In our law
making bodies, in the past. At times
it has been shameful and overwllelm-
ing. 1t may be SO again.
There is provision in the constitu-
tion of the state that the present
agreement in reference to the gross
earnings tax shall stand until set
aside by the vote Of the people, and it
is argued that vote Of the people. on
the 3rd OF November next, adopting
the pending proposition would consti
tute such concurre nee as Is con M
blated in the constitution and throw
the whole thing back upon the Legis-
lature for their action subject to all
the influences which can be broght to
bear upon the members.
There is, In connection with this
proposition to tax railroad lands, an
other proposed amendment upon
which the people must also vote. The
following is the substance OF the pro-
posed amendment:
1.-THE Legislature may impose or
provide for the imposition Of. Hpon
the property within this state Of any
and all owners Or operators, whether
corporate or Individual or otherwise.