New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-12-09
TAKING RAILROAD LANDS.
What the Anderson Bill Does for the Peo.
ple-$350,000 Yearly to Tax
Payers. ....

Duluth Herald: The Anderson bill for |
the taxation of unused railroad lands,
which was submitted to a vote Of the
people at, the recent election, was adop-
ted by an overwhelming majority which
will probably reach 100000. It was an
example of The referendum plan which
obtains in Switzerland, and which many
people have urged should he generally
adopted il this country: The bill was
passed by the legislature in the same
manner as other bills are passed, with
the exception that the last clause did not
provide that it should take effect upon
its passage or at sny fixed date, but that
il should be submitted to a vote OF the
people, as the constitution provides.
Consequently, no further legislation is
necessary to put it into effect. AS soon
Las the votes are canyassed and the re-
suit is declared, the bill will be a law
Then all lands held by railroads in
this state, and not actually used in the
operation of the road, will be subject to
taxation the same as other lands IN the
state, and at the time Of the assessment
OF the real property iii the spring OF
1897, it will he the duty Of the various
assessors in the counties in which these
lands are located to place them upon the
), tax rolls without any further authority.
A. G. Merrill, who is president of the
: association which had this bill in charge,
was interviewed IN Minneapolis few
days ago and said that there was no dan
: ger that the gross earnings law, SO, Called
$ had been repealed. The railroads are
, quired to pay their tax upon the gross
!, earnings in the same manner and the
!. same amount that they now pay. They
\ must pay the tax upon these lands IN ad
[dition 10 that amount. !
There are between three and four mil.
e lions of acres of these unused RAILROAD
: lands in the state, mostly located in the
! northern part, valued at between SIS,
Z OOO, 900 and $2O,OOO,O0O. This means az
!. railroads in the state Of about $3.50, ZOO
5 annually, of which St. Louis county vii
7 receive a considerable share. The rail
. roads have made a desperate fight
! against the bill, having secceeded II
= defeating it twice In the legislature, anc
q itonly passed the senate by the necces,
: sary twenty-eight votes on the thlrc
J trial. It has been generally reported
I Ethat the railroads will make a fgh
8 ae alnst it on the ground that the vote O
g Senator Day was illegal. The friends Q
s the bill, however, have no fear Of the re
suits Of suclla fight. Tie question o
E the validity of Senator Days vote wa
S. thoroughly investigated at the timcth
vote was had and the ablest attorney
- decided in favor of its validity Th
railroads may fight it in the courts, bu
= they can hardly hope to succeed III
heavy ma arity given favor of the la
shows how generally it is favored. 4
yieW.of suci. a strong public scntimen
rs tile ilroads will he foolisllf they COZ
SIS test thesmatter.
nd
'Tis=only an infant pippin, growing % g q on
s. limb ssS
i7l So Is only typical small boy, who devos1
il with q vim.
lse lis only a doctors scarriagewhic stopp.
before the door; SIS
But Why So into details? The services
" " at fot1r.