The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-16

UP ASTUMP
Continued From First Page.
any charge Of collision or stupidity in
connection with the proposed law.
Judge Mills Is Silent.

Judge Mills was not exactly ready to
bear the brunt or odium of any mis-
takes and SO informed the chairman
of the Republican state central COM
mittee.
Is When seen by Globe reporter
yesterday afternoon atsthe office of the
railroad and warehouse commission,
Judge Mills stated most emphatically
that the members of the commission
had never been consulted about the
bill. He declared that when first draft
ed the measure followed the present
law. Pressed as to what he thought
the result would be If the proposed
law became operative, Judge Mills
said:
There are not data enough in this
Office to tell whether the proposed 4
Per cent gross earnings tax Will In
crease or deceaSe the revenues of the
state. It will make, in my opinion, a
great increase on business to the coast
probably about 800 per cent, but a de-
crease of from Is to go per cent in
nearby business. I do not believe the
railroad companies themselves have
data or figures which will enable them
to say just what the proposed law will
do as to the increase or decrease Of
state revenues.
"Thls department was never con-
suited about the bill in any way. I I'M
derstand, as it was first drafted, it fol-
lowed the present law, but was amend
ed In the committee. I have been in
formed that the bill, as passed, was
pr, pared by Gov. Lind and Attorney
General Douglas, and that the attorney
general advised that the old law pro-
viding for the payment of a 8 per cent
tax had been accepted by the railroad
companies and was in the nature of a
Tn
law a good and valid one it had to be
drafted, as it was amended by the
committee, and finally passed."
Later In the afternoon, Judge Jami-
son, having held a conference over the
telephone with Attorney General Doug
las, was prepared to give out an in
terview.
No Politics in 1t, Says Jamison.
"This matter Is not one of politics
at ALL" said Judge Jamison, "and in
terests every citizen in the entire state.
The attempt to make party politics out
Of it is a mistake. There is a deal Of
doubt as to whether the proposed law
will increase the revenues of the state,
but for INV part. am confident it will.
The law, as passed at the session of
1901, Is Identical with the law which
was proposed under the Lind admins
tration, and beaten after 1T had passed
the house. It was drafted by Attorney
General Douglas after a consultation
with ex-Attorney General Childs, and
the same language was used as in the
bill which was defeated by the legisla-
ture during the term of Gov. Lind.
'The reason for the change in the
provision governing interstate business
was that the decisions Of the courts
were to the effect that the system Of
apportioning the tax on interstate
earnings Of railroads was not consti-
tutional, and the law had to be draft
ed as it is in order to make it valid.
This was the decision of Attorney Gen.
eral Douglas and his opinion was taken
in the matter. Public Examiner john
son has had some, of his expert ac-
countants working on the data from
the railroad companies for several
months, and I understand from him
that the experts report that the op-
Grafton of the per cent gross earnings
law will increase the revenues conSid-
erably over per scent.
johnson on the Stump.
Public Examiner Johnson was out
of the city yesterday, being engaged
in shouting for the administration at
Owatonna. The fact that Mr.. john
son is from Minneapolis, and owes his
appointment as the state public ex-
aminer to the influences brought to
bear by Judge Jan1ison, is indicative
that the report Of that official will be
about what Judge Janison states, at
least as to the increased revenues
which will come to the state from the
proposed law.
The one point brought out very
strong by Judge Jamison, Chairman
Mills. of the railroad and warehouse
commission, and the Republican lead
ers, is that the jacobson law is an ex-
act reproduction Of the law presented
In 1898, and which It is claimed was
drafted after consultation with Gov.
Lind.
Notwithstanding the statements that
the revenues Of the state will be In
creased under the operation Of the I