The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-23

ly, as subsequent experience has prov,
en-, without limitations to time. The
object of this was not to grant per-
scnai favor to the original company
but to secure the construction of the
lines of road. The decisions of this court
from the Parcher case down, have al
been to the effect that this exemption
from ordinary taxation was not simply
personal privilege conferred ON the
original company, which, In considera-
ton of the land grant, should assume
the construction and maintenance of the
| line to which it was applicable. That
| the immunity as well as the burden
passed to any company which acquired
| the road and assumed the corporation
| and the performance of all the other du.
| ties which the original company owed
| to the public"
We would also call attention to Far
rington VS.. Tennessee, 95 u. S. 679 Also
SO u. s., 264; SO U. S., PA, and Is U. s.,
430.
express its approval of the doctrine which
holds charter to be an inviolable con-
tract but we are unanimously agreed
that such is the law
These territorial charters being con-
tracts as to the rate of taxation. it is
the opinion of your committee that, as
to all railroads operating under terri
3, L.,
be void.
1t is clear, however that as to roads
not operating under a territorial charter
the existing gross earnings laws may be
repealed, as provided in this act.
On that question, being the second
| phase OF the bill as to the public benefit
to be expected from such repeal. ma
| jo1tty of your committee believe 1t would
be unwiSe.
h1y, ir9 Of he pf
| the state are now derived from the per
| cent tax on railroad gross earnings. The
amount has been constantly increasing
with the volume of business. from sS23,
| 4S3. 10 In 1850 to $1,26l,2T in 1898.
| We have examined the reports from
| states having the direct system of taxa
ton instead of the gross earnings
method, and find that in the state of
| Iowa there are S,53S miles of road, which
| last year were assessed at an average
value of S., ,266 a mile. In Illinois, where
all roads except the Illinois Central are
assessed by the direct method, their
$3.50 miles is assessed on an average val
| uation of Ss,21S per mile. North and
| South Dakota and Montana have also the
| direct method and they assess at a still
| less valuation per mile.
| If the 6,062 miles of railroad in this
| state were assessed at the rate in Ilii-
| nois, that being the highest average rate
per mile Of any adjacent state, We would
receive less In taxes than is now produc-
| ed by our present gross earnings system.
| We. therefore, respectfully recommend
| that ii. F 25 be indefinitely postponed.
| At the request of the committee the re-
| port was laid over day for considera-
| ton.
FIGHT ON THE HOSPITALS.
Senator Thompson was nettled at the
slim attendance when the afternoon ses-
sion opened, and moved to adjourn, but
/ later modified this, demanding a call of
the senate. He explained that the coun-
ty plan did not oblige each county to
build its own hospital. The policy of
creating immense state institutions had
| reached a threatening stage. 1t would
not be long before the state would be at
the mercy of it's institutions. Each dis
trict that had one would demand that its
senator get on the finance committee, and
in their efforts to protect their home
towns they would sacrifice other legiS-
lative work. The dangers of fire and
contagious disease were emphasized, as
was also the fact that mild cases of de-
lusion become raving maniacs in these
large mixed institutions. He insisted
that the county plan was most efficient
and most economical. More careful clas-
sifcation of patients would also be per-
InllIeU uDOef tUlS pldH. ne Tedu d Iluiil-
Der of extracts from Eastern mems off,
cial statements as to the expense of the
large institutions as we'll as some notes
| on the county plan as tried in Wisconsin.
But best suited to the immediate needs
of the state. in his judgment, was the
cottage plan provided for in his own bill.
Give the harmless insane a chance to
get out on the farm and work. This was
true philanthropy, and actual economy
in dollars and cents.
Senator Johnson Oem), Nicollet, said
it was a state, not local, question.
The present boards were divided among
themselves. He was not in favor of the
plan proposed by an unholy alliance OF
two communities which two years ago
| were reeking with vituperation.
Senator Mccarthy CRep) 1tasca, IA
vored the Anoka bill.
Senator Schaller Dem.), Dakota, turn
ed back on Senator Johnson his unholy
alliance allusion, referring to the st.
Paul = st. Anthony st. Peter Saltwater
| deal of the early days. He was opposed
to this talk of cheapness. The chief
| fault with the cottage and farm plan and
| the Wisconsin plan alike was that they
did not treat insanity as disease. They
| founded asylums and not hospitals. The
systems We're based on two fallacies,
one that insanity was mental disease.
| the other that 1t was In some cases in
| durable. Senator Schaller vigorously ar
raigned the county plan, especially that
provision Of it which gave the trustees
of county hospital the right to draft
| from the population of an insane hos
pital the strongest physically to work on
| cheap farms under cheap politicians.
Where was the element of humanity in
| this?
While the county hospitals were cheap
! ly conducted, the per capita expense of
the main hospitals was largely increased
| owing to the greater care required by the
| acute cases.
| Senator Schaller was still speaking at
! 5 o'clock, when Senator McGill (Rep.),