The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-03

although the latter are perhaps Sax
ed higher than any other class of blnsi-
ness property.
"The sheep are taxed for nearly
three times the gold and silver plate,
and the hogs for nearly four times the
value OF diamonds and jewelry.
"The assessment on horses and farms
is high and unjust share of the per-
sonal property assessment of the state:
while the wealth of the non-productive
classes of the state consisting largely
OF So called invisible personal prop
erty' that is, notes, mortgages, bonds
ana all other evidences of Indebted
ness from which interest and dividends
are derived, would have escaped tax
alton under the tax code, as it does
now, thus making the burden of the
producing members of society in this
state still heavier than at present.
Jobber and Merchant Under Ban.
What 1 have said as to the manu-
featuring interests of this city and
county applies also to your other great
commercial interest, your jobbing and
mercantile trade. Under the proposed
tax code your jobbers would have been
unable to cope with their rivals in Chi
cago and the East, because Chicago
property is assessed at only 10 per cent
stand upon one of the down-t town
streets Of this city any evening at
o'clock to realize what must happen
to your beautiful city of st. Paul
should those industries be seriously
crippled.
'"The Republican committee has is
sued bulletin charging me with hav-
ing opposed the adoption of the pro-
posed tax code, and has described my
motives In so opposing it as purely
partisan. I am proud to say that I
did oppose it last winter, and now, as
a candidate, I reassert my opposition
to 1T, not upon partisan grounds nor
for the purpose of making trouble for
the Republican party, for at the same
time that l did oppose it I advocated
a complete programme presented by
the Democrats which retained the ben
eficial features of the proposed code
and eliminated those to which I have
referred
"And If I am elected governor
pledge myself to cooperate with the
legislators of this state, be they Re-
publicans or Democrats, in giving to
the people a system of taxation which
shall be fair and just to all our citf-
zens; as just to the farmer as to the
merchant; to the mechanic as to the
banker, and to the manufacturer as to
the manipulation of stocks and public
franchises.
Justice for All Glasses.
"The proposed Democratic tax code
presented a bill for a simple amend
ment to the constitution which would
give 1t the necessary f1exibility advo-
Gated by the tax commission, permit
ting the imposition of an income tax
which would result in compelling the
holders of this invisible personal prop
erty to bear their just share of the
tax burden and contribute to the sup
port of the government whose protec-
ton they enjoy.
Scond-We favored a tax upon foreign
corporations that do business in our state
and enjoy the same privileges in our
police power of the state that our doma3-
tic corporations enjoy
Th1rd-We favor an amendment to our
present statutes which would more equi-
tably tax the public service corpora lions
upon their franchises or special privileges
which they receive from the municipal
and state governments.
Il hold that your street car system,
your gas and electric lighting compa-
MES are inadequately taxed. They do
not bear their fair proportion of tax
alton. The street car system of this
city has been constructed and equipped
capital stock and yet it pays liberal
dividends upon it's tremendous capt.
taliZation. If it is true, and 1 do not
believe the fact can be disputed by
anybody, that the street car system of
st. Paul and Minneapolis could be du-
plicated for less than $4,000, 900, upon
what then is the other $21 200 900 Of its
capitalization Of 100000 based?
People Taxed for Watered Stock.
at Is the right and privilege which
you have granted to this corporation
to run through your streets and to
charge passengers upon its cars scent
fares. This privilege which you have
given away for a certain term of years
is so valuable that. although the cor
poration has issued SO worth of stock
at least for each dollar of investment,
the stock is nevertheless valued above
franchise should be adequately taxed
for the benefit of the city and state that
granted this valuable privilege. And
the same principle applies to the gas
and electric companies.
"The legislative extra session sub
nits to you to be voted on at the polls
on Nov. proposed constitutional
providing for limited in
come tax and two or three different
lions. The proposed amendment is
narrow in scope and so obscure in
that numerous decisions
Of the supreme court may be required
to decipher its meaning. At the same
time narrow and tortuous pathway
may be better than no road at all; and
perhaps the proposed amendment is
the best that could be expected from a
legislature which was so largely con-
Id ~, F,,l. atoI ft,fA DC
Therefore, would not lay a straw Y1f
the way of the adoption of the proposed +
if it is thought it may serve.
even imperfectly, as path to progressive
to make progress in the d.
rection Of the income tax, which the
Democratic members championed. AT
least, it may have educational value.
Therefore, If our Republican friends
are willing to meet the Democracy OF
Minnesota half way in the cause of pro
gresSive income and franchise taxation,
we are willing to extend our hearty Co
Stitutional amendment which they them
selves must admit is a cripple of poor
promise, in the hope that at subsequent
election they will cooperate witt. us In
the adoption of a further amendment,
broad and progressive enough to give the
state substantial and permanent relief"
"Gov.Van SAINT is going up and down
the state claiming that he is entitled
to reelection because he has brought
a suit against the railroad merger. He
has done his plain duty, and only his
plain duty, in bringing those suits.
There he has stopped. If I am elected
governor those suits shall be continued
and continued to a successful issue.
They have now been in the courts.
about ten months and have not been
brought to trial. Is Gov. Van SAINT en-
titled to reelection for bringing suits
that he has not won and has not press
ed? He brought those suits, as it was
his plain duty to do, and there he
stopped. If the laws have been violat-
ed, the courts will mete out punish
ment to the violators, and give the peo-
pie justice if those courts have the OPP
portunity of trying the cases. The ad-
has made a great deal OF