The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-02-28
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.
Digestive Report of Special Session Called
by Governor Van SAINT to Consider
Report Of Tax Commission.


Digestive Report of Special Session Called
by Governor Van SAINT to Consider
Report Of Tax Commission.
st. Paul, Feb. 1s-After today the sem
ate will consider matters of general leg
islation unhampered by any rules. Ac-
cordlng TO program outlined yesterday
morning the rule adopted at the opening
OF the session that only local or curative
acts would be considered will be rescind-
ed today, This action will unquestion-
ably result In great influx of bills.
The determination to let down the bars
was reached during a discussion of the
steering committees report, and Senator
Halvorsen's bill making positions on the
railroad and warehouse commission ,ap-
tive.
The house had busy time yesterday
and evidently means business. In g short
hour the following was accomplished:
ly committee
Made the bill a special order for to-
morrow morning.
Gave the Judiciary committee hint
to begin work on the constitutional
amendments. which was promptly heed
Refused to mix the questions of tax
legislation for the present and constitu-
1t was all done with hardly a cross
word and with only one show of
strength. On this motion the bill mus
emit, but the 63 is clear majority. OPP
ponents of the bill were not only beaten
but clearly outgeneraled.
No other business can head off the tax
bill. BY the action of the house 1t be-
comes special order Immediately after
the hearing Of petitions and communica-
and resolutions and of committee re-
ports. A special order is held to I'M
til finished, and unless suspended by
two-thirds vote nothing else can inter-
vene.
St. Paul, Feb. 2o.-The senate is evil
IDENTIFY in a. waiting mood and will prob
ably take no action on the tax bill until
the house house does something so, definite -
house is not likely to reach a final vote
on the tax bill before Monday. The SEN
ate may need the rest of the week and
several days following the disposition OF
the tax bill. Few expect a final adj
journment before March T.. ~, =: Il
The tax bill was before the house yes
terday morning, but vote was not
reached. A list of amendments was sub
mitted by Roberts of Hennepin, and after
the noon recess the house got down to
business. The Roberts amendments to
the tax code are forty-six in number.
They are ON compromise lines. They are
but will serve to bring various questions
before the house.
A large share of the amendments mod
ify the drastic and inquisitorial features
of the bill, but Mr.. Roberts will not press
these. He stated that he would support,
instead, a set to be submitted by Mr..
commission The Wallace amendments
practically re-enact the provisions of the
present law with reference to listing per
Roberts s. used the new law as basis.
They struck out the clause requiring
banks to disclose deposits. They made it
assessor to require the oath, and struck
out the provisions requiring the assessor
to subpoena and examine under oath the
agents of corporations.
Mr., Roberts first amendment restores
the exemption on personal property TO
800. Another amendment cures the OBJ
jections of building and loan associations
by permitting them to charge off against
their assets all obligations to stockhold-
ers.
He proposes several amendments to the
section on corporations. One excerpts
from the franchise tax corporations that
have not secured rights from municipali-
ties.
: St. Paul, Feb. 21.-The senate has de-
,cided upon program with reference to
the tax code. This morning the tax COM
mittee reported the measure back to the
senate without recommendation except
that 1t be placed on general orders. This
until the house has, taken action. In
other words the senate will not attempt
to agree upon tax code until informed
officially of the result in the house. APP
course, although it may result in pro-
longing the session to a considerable ex-
tent. es
The house was in turmoil most of
yesterday morning in consideration of
the, Wallace amendments; They We're fl
nally adopted by. a vote of 62 to 46.
Mr.. jacobson offered an amendment
leveled at the tax dodgef
1t gives the county auditor a club over
or who refuses to swear to the list he
makes. The assessor is instructed to
make. note of these cases on his return
to the county auditor, who is then to
add so per cent to the assessment as a
penalty. This, it is figured. will bring
the taxpayer to time and result in his
swearing to a statement before the coun-
ty board in order to get the penalty
omitted
A vote was not reached before recess.
After recess it was adopted by vote
ST. Paul, Feb. 22.-Two constitutional
amendments were introduced in the SEN
ate the first, by Senator Sivright, pro-
viding for tonnage tax on all iron ore
Senator Baldwin, providing for the taxa
ton of foreign corporations doing bust
ness in this state. The Baldwin amend
ment is duplicate of the amendment
intr oduced by the Duluth senator earlier
in the session, and the copy of which has
been lost. 1t was referred to- a subcom-
mittee, but cannot now be found. The
Sivright amendment is as follows:
The legislature, may in its discretion
impose a tonnage tax upon all iron ore,
mined in this state, in lieu of tax upon
the land from which the same is removed
and may in it's discretion provide for a
taxation of the mine output by a tonnage
tax or otherwise, and also upon the land.
or, for a tonnage tax upon the output
under certain conditions and a tax upon
the land under certain other conditions,
to be specified and may in it's discretion
provide for the grading Of a tonnage tax,
according to the quality of ore, or upon
any other basis, and may in it's discre-
ton, provide the manner in which any
and all taxes upon mineral lands, and the
output thereof, or either shall be distrib-
uted.
The senate adjourned until Tuesday
having cleared up it's calendar.
In the house the tax bill goes over until
Monday, all important questions involved
being settled.
Mr. Laybourn failed in his attempt to
insert clauses exempting grain stored in
elevators in transit. 1t was contended by
Mr. Jacobson that under decisions by
other states such grain is exempt any
way, and that the law should not make
Sander attempted to reduce the salary
S. AGO. but failed. The amendments pend
ing are comparatively unimportant The
one introduced by Mr.. Plowman restores
the state board of equalization in place
of the permanent tax commission 1t is
not likely to pass. The other amendments
on the table are from Messrs Deming,
Haugland and Bury.
The house judiciary committee voted to-
daV tO Submit constitutional amendments