The Saint Paul globe., 1902-01-11
BETWEEN TWO FIRES
VAN SAINT SAID TO HAVE ;7TyAvYg
DECIDED UPON AN EXTRA
SESSION
THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS
Northern Minnesota Making Nild
Threats if He Does, and Pol
itictans VIII war ii
He Doesn't.

Gov. Van SAINT is said to have finally
decided to call an extra session Of tne
legislature, despite the fierce opposition
from Northern Minnesota, with Duluth
crying, Call it and We'll beat you to a
finish" and political friends declaring.
mo governor ever broke a promise and
was reelected. The executive has
had a hard struggle to decide He still
has time to reconsider, but is not likely
to- although his life will be made a bur
den by the pressure brought TO bear
upon him. He believes he has chosen
the lesser of the two evils, and hopes
to get over the legislative attack. with
out serious consequences.
Il cannot believe that Gov Van SAINT
will allow himself to be fooled by scnem-
ing politicians who would make him
think that the sentiment Of the state
is against an extra session. [ conf
IDENTIFY believe that he win call it with
in a few days, and in SO doing redeem
his promise to the legislature, which was
a promise to the people of the state"
So said well known Republican Iegis-
lator yesterday in discussing the extra
session proposition.
''The men who are trying to dissuade
the governor are men who fear the pO-
litical power the governor may derive
from such a session. There are many
In the first place he is under obligations
to call the session because he promised
to do So When the legislature passed
the bill creating the tax commission the
members expected that the commission
would be ready to report important mat
ters at the extra session to be CALLED
this winter, and the commission is ready
to so report.
eff there was ever any reason for ap-
K
reason for calling the legislature to
consider the work of the tax commission.
If it is left to the regular session it
can never receive the proper considera-
ton. and there will be so many other
interests to be cared for that it viii not
be acted upon with due consideration.
Then there is always danger at a regu-
lar session Of more or less jockeying by
friends of other measures Ii CONSIDER
ed at an extra session there VIII be every
opportunity to properly discuss 1t, and
10 act with wisdom and discretion. The
longer. legislative action on the report is
deferred the longer will it be before the
people can act upon the bill. If 1t Is
true that the passage of proper tax
bill would save millions annually to the
state. the sooner the bill is put in opera
ton the better for the state. The cost
Of an extra session would be small In
comparison W1Un lnS SdNihS ~ IAA0
state"
on the other hand, a well known au-
thority on tax matters, residing In the
northern part Of the state, sums up the
situation in this wise:
It will be a serious mistake if Gov.
| Van SAINT calls an extra session or the
| legislature to act upon the report OF the
| state tax commission. Laying aside the
| possibility of the report being an mn
provement on the present tax laws, ne
| fact remains that there would pe eIdless
complications as a result OF It's adO =; .
| for the reason that Inc time IS so Inn ted
| in which to put it into effect that its fun
| scope could not be graSped successfully.
L know something about tax matters,
| and am perfectly free to say that fully
| one-half Of the auditors and assessors OF
| the state would necessarily commit the
tine carly adoption of the nr0posad rCw
| tax laws, hence, whatever good there
| may be in them would be worse than
| wasted. 1t would be far better for ev-
! erybody and particularly for the auditors
| Of the state to have ample time in which
/ to study the changes in these laws sc
| that when the proper times comes to put
! them into execution it can be accomplish
ed without endless confusion and error
! of late and am firmly of the opinion that
| it is wisdom to allow the present laws
! to stand for the present. 1t is most de-
sirable that we should all be given an op
! portunity to read and thoroughly digest
/ the proposed changes, and there is ne
/ more time than is necessary between the
| submission of the report and the con-
! Vening of the next regular legislature.
For our legislature to take up that re-