The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-11

INCREASE GROSS EARNINGS.
Mr.. jacobson, of Lac qui Parle, wants
the people of the state to pass on the
question of whether the gross earn
ings tax paid by the railroads should be
increased from 8 to per cent. He in
troduced a bill which provides that all
railroad companies in the state pay 4
Per cent on gross earnings in lieu of
all other state taxes and assessments
and on capital stock. The companies
are to keep records of gross earnings
and report to the state treasurer be-
tween Dec / and May l each year.
The tax Is payable semi-annually the
first Mondays in January and June.
The act is to be submitted to a vote
of the people at the next general cleo
ton for approval or rejection Before
it reaches the people or legislature,
however, it is to be considered by the
committee on taxes and tax laws
Mr.. West, Of Mower, offered a bill
increasing the gross earnings tax on
express companies operating within
the state. The companies now pay 3
per cent, and the measure of Mr.. West
increases this to per cent. A penalty
of 10 per cent is to be paid by the COM
pany if it refuses to pay the tax with
in sixty days after a demand has been
made by the state treasurer In case
the company does not pay the state
treasurer is given the power to levy on
ohattels of the company sufficient to
make up the value Of the tax.
Mr.. Dyer. of Pipestone, introduced
another bill of the same nature as the
West measure, except that the increase
was from TO per cent on gross earn
ingS. Both bills went to the committee
on taxes and tax laws.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Bean, of
Nicollet. did not exactly show in its
title what was intended by the body
Of the measure. The title said it was
to provide for the employment of pris-
oners in the state prison and reforma-
tory, but the bill really referred to the.
binding Irvine industry.
Section z of chapter 225 of the Gen.
eral Laws is. amended by the bill so
as to provide that tools, implements.
machines and materials needed in man
ufacturing are to be purchased by the
chief officer under supervision Of the
board of managers, or governing body,
after estimates or acquisitions. The
warden, superintendent Or chief officer
CT any institution under the act is to
appoint agents who shall in behalf of
the managers sell goods manufactured.
The appointment of agents is subject
to the approval of the board, but agents
may be removed at any time by the
VI,
The compensation of the agents is to
be fixed by the officer who appoints,
with the approval Of the managers or
governing board. The managers are to
fix each year, as soon as practicable.
the price for which binding Irvine is to
be sold during the season, the price to
be Appropriated as near as possible to
actual cost.
Sales in the state to be distributed
In an equitable manner, preference to
be given to actual consumers. no sale
Is to be made to dealers until bond
treble the value Of the goods is given
conditioned that sale be made only to
actual consumers at advance not to
exceed IL cents per pound. The bill
ANOTHER BINDING TWINE BILL,
Mr.. West of Mower, introduced an
other binding twine bill, the fourth so
far this session. 1t authorizes the pris-
on managers to appoint in each agri-
cultural county Of the state one or more
persons to act as binding Irvine agents
who are to give such bond as the board
may require.
The agent is not allowed to charge
more than l cent per pound in addi-
ton to the sum charged by the board
consumers in the state, and after july
Is may be sold to any one inside or
outside the state at price not less
than the cost of production
The committee on binding Irvine will
| consider the measure.
Mr.. Abbott, of Faribault hopes to be
successful with a bill providing for an
additional experimental farm or sta
tion. He does not state in the bill
Where iC tn he
but 1t is safe to assume 1t will not be
far from Faribault county. The board
of regents of the state university is by
the bill authorized to expend S1S 900
or as much as necessary for a site and
to equip the same. The sum of Sc, 900
is appropriated for the biennial year
1899, and the same amount for 1900. to
be used in the management of the sta
ton. All the money is to be expended
by the regents of the university. The
measure went to the committee on gen
eral legislation
| Speaker Dare announced that Miss
Alice Russell desired to address the
house for three minutes. Mr.. Jacob
son favored recess for few moments
contending that if permission was
granted Miss Russell to occupy the
time of the house others would ask the
same permission. A recess was takers
and Miss Russell spoke briefly about
a puDllcat1on she was the author of
entitled plea for the Insane" She
had secured a fund of valuable fnfoa.-
| nation regarding the insane, which she
would gladly impart to any of
the committees of the legislature.
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
When the house reconvened Mr.. Mar
in. of Polk. had a resolution directing
the speaker to appoint a special COM
| mittee of seven to consider the adj
Visibility Of amending the primary
election law, and if the committee saw
mt of drafting bill to this end
Mr.. Yale, Of Winona, objected saving
that there would be an election COM
mittee, and there was no need Of lum-
bering UP the record with special COM
| 1nittees.
Mr.. Marin explained that he did not
think he was competent to draft a bill
| OF the kind, and for this reason he
| offered the resolution Mr. Staples of
Dakota, and Mr.. Jacobsen, of Lac uui
Earle, objected to special commit
tee, and with but three Or four dissent
| Ing voices the resolution went to the
| committee on elections.
A petition for an appropriation Of
5000 for wagon bridge in Roseau
county, introduced by Mr.. Medicraft
| Went to the committee on roads and
| bridges. '''-N
| Mr.. Krayenbuhl, of Ramsey. had n
resolution directing spring water con
l Germ to furnish tho IarirI INV, -