The Minneapolis journal., 1902-03-04
A GROSS EARNINGS ALTERNATIVE
Proposed by Constitutional Amend
4 ar ment In the Senate.

Proposed by Constitutional Amend
q ar ment> In the Senate.
The constitutional amendment proposed
by the judiciary committee as a substi-
tute was reported out to the senate this
morning and placed on general orders. It
provides for tax on inheritances at a
rate not to exceed per cent; - for tax
on incomes from credits not otherwise
taxed at rate not greater than 10 per
cent; for tax on incomes from sources
other than credits and in excess of
$1,000 exemption, at a:rate not to exceed
4 per cent and for a tax on franchises.
However, q, gross earnings tax may be
paid in lieu of this last franchise tax.
The senate got into a row over the Hal
yorson bill making the railway and ware
house commission appointive by the gov
ernor instead Of elective by the people.
The bill was finally taken from the table,
81 to 29. Senator Halvorson then moved
to amend the report of the committee on
receptiontsof bills, soEthat the bill might
be received Instead Of indefinitely post
poned. The motion was defeated, 19 to SO,
and the bill was Indefinitely postponed.
Although introduced by republican,
and not supported by the democrats, it
would, II passed; operate in favor: of the
democrats. The democratic party cannot
hope to elect&a railway and warehouse
commissioners in this state. They have
elected "a governor and it is not impossi-
bic that they may do SO egain.
Present Commtssion scored.
LIN adVoeatingsthe measure. Senator
Ha1vorson dashed the present commission
numerically. He declared it totally unfit
to transact Its business. It was as absurd
to ask the people to. elect railway com
missioner as a presid dent Of the state uni
yersity: Fully s5 per cent Of the voters
could not know whether the men whose
names were placed on the ballot as can
d1dates for the commission were com
petent. The present commission was
vastly inferior in ability to- that appoint
ed by Governor Lind sI propose" Ee
continued, ito give Governor avn SAINT
power to appoint a commi ssion so he can
prove that a republican governor can
make as good appointments as demo-
cratic governor cam; and, at the same
time, remove from the republican party
the stigma which this commission has
placed upon it,
Senator Ryder opposed the motion.
Said he: ."The men comprising this com
mission went before the people and were
elected; one Of them for four years and
the others for two years Now 1t is
proposed to legislate them out of office.
don'ts believe it is wise to say the
people are incompetent ito select the men
they desire to represent them
The senate passed Senator Wilson's bill
designed to legalize the recent issue OF
$4,000 of park bonds in Minneapolis; and
also passed the house bill, making the
governors staff members of the state
guard. The house bill excepting members
Of the Duluth school board from the pro-
visions of the primary election law, was
passed under suspension.
Senator McGill's bill providing meth
cd for amending city and village char
ters, was passed. y ess5
Representatiy Ferris. amendment to
the game laws was given the senatorial
30. X. - and another game law measure,
tSenator Young's bill to prevent spearing