The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-01
GROSS EARNINGS.
Bill introduced to Increase the
Same to 4 Per Cent.
Lind's Appointments Laid Over by the
Senate Until Next Thursday
Other Legislative News.

St. Paul, Jan. 20. The Legislature
looked after routine work yesterday
for short time, when both houses
adjourned until Monday evening. The
various committees will doubtless be
able to report on bills by the early part
of the week, which will allow work to
proceed little more briskly. In the
senate only two bills were intro
duced. In the house the bills intro
duced were increased from 80 to o.
j. F. jacobson, the veteran cham
pion of railroad gross earnings bills,
will precipitate the biennial fight next
week, by a bill to raise the gross
earnings tax on all railroads of the
state to A per cent. The bill is not in
process of preparation. Said Mr..
JAG OLSON thas morning:
II do not expect so much opposition
this winter as two years ago. The
best authorities assure me that the
supreme court decision in the Ander-
son case settles the point, and that the
state may raise the tax of any railroad
as far as is seasonable and consistent.
We certainly cannot accomplish any
thing until we have test, anyway
Public sentiment demands an increase,
and | have no doubt of getting the bill
through the house. l think the
chances are better in the senate than
at the last session.
The men in whose minds the new
bill has taken shape, have disregarded
entirely the measure of two years ago.
Any theory of contract between the
state and railroad companies has been
repudiated. The new measure will
contemplate direct increase from
three to four per cent upon the gross
earnings. The authors are proceeding
upon the assumption that it is a sover-
eign right of the state to raise taxes,
and fix the rates of taxation. The
only limitation is that prohi biting the
state from levying a disproportionate
tax.
The recent decision of the United
States supreme court has been exhaust
lively studied in this connection. In
at least one, and possibly two
cases, have been found in the supreme
court reports that bear directly upon
this point. 1t would appear that the
supreme court will now approve a con-
tention made before it some time ago,
namely, that tax upon gross earn
ings is not trespass upon commerce,
and consequently enjoys immunity
from the objection that there is con-
fiict with that section of the constitu-
tt on which endows congress with the
power to regulate Interstate commerce.
If a gross earnings tax land this is
the light in which the authors of the
new bill view the question: is nothing
more than correct method of COM
putting the tax upon railroad property,
any attack on it's validity may be re-
sisted in the supreme court.
Mr.. Bush and other friends of the
travelling library have asked the legis-
lature for $40, 600 annually. an increase
of S., 900 over the appropriation of
two years ago.
1t is hoped to circulate next year
literature especially designated for the
farmers, including some of the writ
ings of Professor Shaw and other
members of the state experiment sta
tion faculty.
Two memorials from the st. Paul
Chamber of Commerce look to per-
in marble the memory of
Minnesotians. One
proposes an appropriation for statue
of the late Senator Davis to be placed
upon the grounds of the new capitol,
and for replica for the rotunda of the
national capitol. The second asks
money for statues of Ex-Governor Sib-
ley and Ex-Governor Alexander Ram
sey, these also to be erected upon the
new capitol grounds. The memorials
were referred to the committee on
public buildings.
Under committee reports the Sweet
kidnapping bill was recommended for
passage, and II. F. 81, amending section
$3.50, general statutes of 1894, indefi-
nitely postponed.
On question of adjournment it be-
came necessary to have roll call, as
the ayes and nays were demanded for
record. Mr.. Jacobson opposed pro-
longed recess but his views were not
endorsed, and the hour of next meet
ing was finally set for Monday at 8 p.
m. The vote stood 81 to 7S.
Very mysterious are the north coun-
try statesmen when the question of
confirming the recess appointments of
Governor Lind comes up. That sew
eral of the ex-governor favorites are
to be put through course of sensa-
tional hazing is foregone conclusion,
but aside from Rev. G.. Wahlund, ap-
pointed to the board of corrections and
charities, the name of the others who
are to run the gauntlet are carefully
concealed The 'insurrectos, who
consisted at first of Senator Barker of
Cambridge are now growing formid-
able, and include J. d. Jones of Long
Prairie. John Fl. Smith of Detroit r.