The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-08-28
in detail follow:
SENATORS

In Favor.
GEORGE P. WILSON, Forty-frst District
(rep.)-I am in favor of a short extra session
to consider and act upon the report of the
tax commission. There has been no change in
the situation since the adjournment Of the
legislature. 1t was then considered by the
governor, state auditor and members OF the
legislature generally desirable that there
should be an extra session. The length Of
the regular session was curtailed so as to
make an extra session possible without ma
terially increasing the ordinary legislative
expenses.
Both the governor and the state auditor in
tnelr communications, laid great stress upon
the necessity Of a revision of our tax code so
as to better equalize the burdens of taxation,
and especially, to uncover and bring upon
the tax rolls personal property which has
hitherto escaped taxation. The state auditor
urged that the same legislature which in
augurated the revision should complete the
work, and that the new law should be put in
operation in 1902, and the assessment for that
year made under its provisions.
II an extra session be called, its work will
not necessarily be limited to the considera-
ton Of the repOt of the tax commission but
unless the senators have changed their minds
since the adjournment, they will not take up
general legislation. l can see no reason now
why ten days will not be ample time in
which to adopt the new code submitted by the
commission.
There is no merit in the contention that
the time between the submission of the report
as provided in the act and the conyening. of
the legislature in extra session will be too
short for its proper consideration.
The fact is, such legislation has to be ac-
cepted largely faith in the ability good
Judgment and integrity of the men who pre-
pare it. Defects in an enactment, which Ia
necessarily complex in it's construction can
as rule, only be discovered by putting it in
practical operation; so, / take it, the work
OF the commission will either be adopted sub
stantially as submitted, will be rejected
and, in either case, very few days will
be sufficient.
The expense, other than the per diem. can
be cut to the minimum The senate in an
ticipation of an extra session, passed a reso-
luton. limiting, in such case. its official staff
to the principal officers and every member can
carry back with him, out of his abundance
an ample supply Of stationery for the extra
session.
So let us have on extra session, adopt an
up-to- date tax code (for other will be sub.
mitted to us) and adjourn.
A. R. McGILL, Thirty-seventh District
(rep p)-Assuming that the report OF the tax
commission will be ready by Feb. 2, prox,
l am in favor of an extra session to act
upon 1t, for the reason that such action
should, and no doubt would, be of vast benefit
to the public. A just distribution of the bur-
den of taxation is "a consummation devoutly
to be wished" The expense of an extra ses-
sion is a mere bugaboo, and should not for
a moment frighten those who earnestly desire
to secure to the people their constitutional
right Of equal and uniform taxation. Person
ally, would be glad to be relieved of the
duty Of attending an extra session, but that
has nothing to do with the matter. The SEN
ators and members are public servants and
must discharge their official obligations re-
gardless of personal convenience. The benefits
OF just and equable law of taxation for
raising the public revenue would many times
offset the mere expense of an extra session.
The governor, as understand it, appreciating
the benefit to the people of such action has
given his word that an extra session will be
called, and that would seem to settle it. A
governors word may not be lightly broken,
E. T. YOUNG, Fifty-sixth District (rep.
l was the author of the resolution under
which the last session was shortened In
that resolution there was incorporated a re-
quest to the governor to call an extra ses-
sion for the purpose of acting upon the re-
port of the tax commission.
l have always believed that the report Of
that commission would receive fairer anj
more considerate treatment from the hands
of the legislature that created it than from
its successor, and il the bill to be reported
Is, as it doubtless will be, a good one the
sooner it is enacted into law the better
Many thoughtful people in this section
however, seem to look with disfavor upon
the idea Of an extra session. They declare
that the session would be in danger of being