The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-03-01

ping from the st. Pan1 Dispatch seems
to prove that the revenue Of our State
from railroad taxation would not Be 90
large as now. - !
"The amount received last year from
the gross earnings Of all roads was, in
round numbers. $1,260.00O. The amount
for the current year is 81 100000. II the
roads were taxed by direct assessment
and the valuation fixed at the figures
which Illinois is able to assess, the
5000 miles Of road would be assessed
at $4,000 a naile, which would warrant
an assessment at the usual rate of 80 1-3
per cent or $1,000 mile. or total Of
$4,800.0 900. A levy on this amount at %
mills would yield $1.056. 900, as against
the $1.400.000 which the state will re-
ceive for the current year under the
gross earnings system"
~ ! : THE SCHEME.
But as Popuiists, we, are not prim-
arily concerned. with the. amount Of
taxes, be they more or less. What we
ARE concerned about in this matter is,
how does it happen that those fusion
schemers at the state capitol might have
wanted a direct tax that would bring
the state less revenue, and why the rail-
roads did not want it? On it's face this
seems very singular. but the schemers
well relied on the fact that the average
voter does not study further than the
mere titles Of bills.
HERE IS THE POINT. While di-
rect tax would bring less revenue to the
state, it would really cost the railroads
more. because it would involve long
period of disastrous litigation with un-
certain results; delay in collecting tax
es, the same cost Of bookkeeping as
now. and in particular
PLENTY OF BUSINESS FOR FUSION
! ASSESSORS AND POLITICIANS
OF THE OWEN STRIPE.
That is the way the Hon. Sidney w.
Owen whites down the Omaha plat
form to a sharp point, with which to
|
Information from all sources indicates
that the ever active Sidney NJ Owen is
the power behind the throne of the pres
ent administration. Senate journal, pp.
1923, contains communication, dated
March Is, 1899, from Sidney M. Owen,
informing the state senate that "the
increased tax on gross earnings of rail-
roads," as then proposed, meets his
hearty support and approval and re-
quests that it be enacted into law"
During the discussion of the same
measure before the senate judiciary COM
mittee, Gov. Lind also showed his par
TALLY for the same sort of farce politi-
cal legislation in a newspaper interview
widely copied.
Finally, to complete the 'depraved pic
ture, We find in the Republican ward
politicians of the Jacobson variety an
other type of "fusionists'' working in
the same harness, voting for the same
measures, for the same selfish ends.
BY all of which we now clearly under
stand what that profound statesman,
and friend of the people, (?) Sidney M.
Owen, meant when he proclaimed to
astonished Populists:
/ 1T makes no difference under whose
banner we march,"
MORAL:
| Let all committeeman, like Mr. Yngve,
know once and for all that REAL POP
ULISM means OWNERSHIP.
Regulation" through taxation,
means that the all-powerful trusts will
add just that much more to the cost of
all they sell. Regulation means Bry-
anism, means Tammany Democracy,
i means Hanna Republicanism, means
growing cOrruption; because the more
you try to "regulate'' corporations the
more COMMISSIONS MUST BE ESTAB-
LISHED TO BE RESISTED AND
BRIBED. Regulation" of the two old
parties is grand thing-for the poll
ticians Only-because it means A
SWARM OF INSPECTORS, appointed
by bosses like those mentioned above,
to be deceived or bought outright in
settling franchise values, capitalism.
dividend quality, ETC., ETC., to the end
that the CORPORATIONS WOULD BE
MORE DEEPLY IMMERSED IN PO-
LlTICS THAN EVER, THE PEOPLE
HAVE STILL GREATER BILLS TO
| PAY.
The breaking in our ranks means that
some of us have realized the evolution
of the industrial world into better
system; have burnt the bridges behind
us; have advanced into the Twentieth
century. Others have fallen backward.
Some day they will be wiser and run to
get into the band wagon. Yes, we have
even strengthened the Omaha platform,
when at Cincinnati we made our prac-
tical application of the initiative and
referendum. Our fathers have issued
! greenbacks "tO not less than $50 per
capita" We would issue them scientifi-
cally In favor of all who labor to pro-
duce real wealth, and in such way that
they will expand side by side with the
growth of wealth and population
Behind us, Mr.. Yngve, are only farce
fights of taxation and war. Before us
! ic IN cr~V,orr,r,or+ of ryLo1o