The Redwood gazette., 1901-03-27

day but 1t was simply a calm JnaJ
precedes a storm, and on Wednes-
day morning, after the chief clerk
had cleaned up all other reports of
committees, the speaker handed
him one from the committee on taxes
and tax laWs-the last then on the
speakers desk. It was the report
of the majority committee on H. +.
POI, to increase the gross earnings
tax on railroad property, IN the
State. The report recommended
that the bill be referred to the tax
commission, and contained a supple
smentarY announcement that the
reason for the reference was the
proposed revision of the tax laws,
and the question of constitutionality
Of the bill. As soon as the report
was read Mr.. jacobson sent up a
minority report, amending the
house file, and proposing that the
minority report be substituted for
the majority report, and that the
bill, as. amended, be printed and adj
vanced to second reading and gen
eral orders.
The battle commenced then. Mr.
jacobson read facts and figures
tending to prove that if the railroad
companies paid five per cent
gross earnings tax they would not
pay any more than any other prop
erty holder. in the State was paying.
He admitted the impossibility of
the five per cent. rate, however,
and took the four per cent. as a
compromise. During the course of
his first speech, extending over an
hour of time, in which he frequently
arose from the calm and delibera-
tive to the excited and defiant tmood,
he remarked that sthe only change.
in public opinion in this body has
been brought about by the most
damnable system of corruption ever
practiced i'll any State in the
Union. Then before closing he.
said that he had affidavits in his
possession that would demonstrate
to an absolute certainty that there
is corrupt lobby, not only on the
outside, but on the inside of the.
capitol. These charges Of bribery
were hinted at during his prelimi-
nary remarks, and while they were
expected in measure. nothing as
bold was ever anticipated.
Mr.. Laybourn, who has been a
consistent opponent OF the increased
tax, claimed that it was no more
than right that the bill should go to
the tax commission, claiming that
there were constitutional reasons
for it. He was taken to task by J. i
A. Peterson of Hennepin, who con
tended that the tax commission
was but creation of the legislature,
that it had no more right to pass
upon the constitutionality Of the
bill than the Legislature, and that
the proper way was to pass the bill
making the railroad companies pay
a just tax, and then allow the people
to vote upon the measure, and after
wards allow the Supreme Court of
Minnesota to say whether or not
the increase was constitutional.
Mr.. Laybourne was supported by
Mr.. Rich of Ramsey, who favored
reference, and an extra session.
Capt. Riley of Jackson favored the
adoption OF the minority report, as
did Messrs. Washburn, Anderson
and others. The debate commenced
at 10:30 in the morning and contin-
ued until four in the afternoon, when
a vote was taken upon the substi-
tute motion and it was defeated by
62 nays and 50 yeas, Ia out of the
l19 members being present to vote.
Before the result was announced
Mr.. Washburn changed his vote
from aye to nay with the announced
purpose of moving a reconsidera-
tion, and then asked the members
to vote it down. Before the motion
was put Mr.. Laybourn was asked To-
withdraw it, on the ground that
charges OF bribery would be pre-
ferred and that an investigation.
committee would be asked for. Mr..
Laybourn was obstinate, however,
and would not yield. Then Mr..
Jacobson waved his hand at Mr..
WaShburn, and the latter moved