The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-05

should take steps to remedy the evil
deliberately, not hastily. Laws for
Minnesota could not be copied from
those of Ohio, West Virginia or Penn
sylvania, where vast capital was ac-
cumulated Minnesota was working on
borrowed capital.
Senator Yale said no senator could be
surprised by the bill If he had read
the report of the state auditor, as he
should have. If it were delayed three or
four days, there would be lobby on
hand more numerous, If not as respect
able as that to which the senator from
Wright referred a few days before.
The suspension was aimed to prevent
wealthy mining companies from throw
ing obstacles in the way Of righteous
legislation.
Senator Greer said he could remem-
Der when a bill had been introduced
to repeal this law.
Senator McHale said it had been
tried in 1891 and 1893 but it had been
ruthlessly slaughtered each time by a
formidable lobby. The action was not
hasty. 1t could not be so esteemed
by any senator. A layman IN the law
could see the unfairness, If not the
plain unconstitutionality of law
which fixed weight, rather than
measure of value, as a basis of taxa
ton.
The senator's speech was interrupted
by the inaugural festivities, after
which he resumed. The senator from
st. Louis, he said, two years ago had
bcasted that within the space Of two
townships in his county there was as
much value in iron ore at current
prices as double the entire assessed
valuation Of the entire state, yet it paid
only one cent per ton, not on the whole
value Of the output, but only on that
which left the state of Minnesota.
Senator Morgan said that while the
gross earnings tax had been made valid
by a subsequent constitutional amend
ment, that amendment validated it in
express terms. He did not believe the
recent constitutional amendment valid
ated the tonnage tax.
Senators Heneman and Ringdal
further supported the bill.
Senator Wyman moved the previous
question. The vote to suspend the
rules had barely thirty-six votes as
required for that suspension.
The roll call showed the following vote:
Yeas-Barr, Cole, Cronkhite, Currier, Dun
ham Hanna, Heneman, Hodge, Howard,
void, Larson, Miller, Morgan, McHale, o.
nun, Peterson, Reishus, Ringdal Roverud,
Schaller, Sevatson, Sperry, Stebbins. Sven
ingsen, Theden, Thompson, Thorpe, Whitney,
Wing, Wyman, Yale, Young-36.
Nays-Collester, Culkin, Dunn, French,
Fuller, Greer. Hanson, johnson, w. E., Lloyd,
Masterman, Macarthur, Spencer-12
When the bill was read a third time,
Senator Culkin rose to speak, Senator
.Wyman said he was out of order. Sen
atOr Greer wanted to recommit with
instructions to report back not later
than Tuesday. Senator Yale asked if
that was time enough to give the lobby
time to get here. Senator Greer wildly
asked if that question was directed to
h fA,a 10 C,,I1
had the floor. The point of order was
sustained and the roll call ordered.
Senator Culkin, the first nc, explained
that he voted against it not on account
Of the haste with which it was being
run through, but because it instituted
by indirection new scheme of tax
alton, and the constitution provided
that all such bills should originate in
the other house. Senator Dunn explain
ed that he favored the bill, but not it's
haste. Senator Greer voted no, explain
ing that any senator should have the
courtesy of delay on measures affecting
his own district.
Senator Morgan said there was no
discourtesy involved. The reasons for
the urgency of passage had already
been clearly stated.
Senator Spencer regretted that the
opposition had not had the "decency"
to make the bill at least a special Or
der for a day or two later.
1t was a measure affecting his dis
trict.
Senator Sperry said that the term
courtesy was being strained. That
measure was not local one but it
affected the whole state
Senator Wyman said he had not been
discourteous, he thought. He had been
threatened with many sorts of dire dis
aster If he pushed this bill, but they
had only tended to make him firmer in
his resolution to pass it. The roll call
was:
Yeas-Barr Cole Collester. Cronkhite, Cur
rier, Durham, Dunn, French, Hanna, Han
son, Heneman Hodge, Howard, Iltis, Jones,
Johnson A. G., Keller, Knatvold, Larson,
Lloyd Masterman, Miller, Morgan, Macarthur,
McHale, Ozmun, Peterson, Potter Pottgieser,
Reishus, Rngdal Roverud, Schaller, Sevat-
son. Sperry, Stebbins. Sweningsen, Theden,
Thompson, Thorpe, Whitney, Wing, Wyman,
Yale Young-45
Nays-Culkin, Fuller Greer, Spencer.
A bill for a greater tonnage tax on
the products Of mines was introduced
by Senator Sperry. 1t provides a tax
of 80 cents a ton on copper ore, cents
on iron and l cent on coal. A rebate
of 80 cents a ton on copper and 3 cents
on pig iron is provided.