The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-06


| Senator Snyder with his amendments.
Amendments Not Considered.
When Senator Snyder arrived with his
amendments, the friends of the bill re-
ceived the first inkling of what was COM
ing. The amendments were not even
considered in the committee. Senator Sny-
derS proposed to strike the tonnage tax
on iron ore, and to place the valuation
of franchises on the same basis as other
property.
Shortly before noon Chairman McGin
presented the report Of the majority,
recommending the indefinite postpone
ment of the bill. The report was made
without any remarks, as Chairman Nc
Gill, who was with the minority, was
oLMged as chairman to present the rec
ommendation Of the majority. AS soon
as the majority report had been received
Senator Snyder presented the report of
the minority, which recommended that
the bill be placed on general orders with
out recommendation.
1t was generally known on the senate
floor before the committee came IN what
the result would be, as the vote had been
given out as 9 to in favor of indefinite
postponement.
Those in favor of the indefinite post
ponement were: Sommerville, Collier,
Greer. Smith E. E., Daugherty, JONES' E.
j., Roverud, Stockweu and Underleak
Those favoring consideration: Chair
man McGill Grindeland, Miller, Snyder
In making the minority report Sena-
tor Snyder said there were many things
in the bill as it stood that were unfair
to mine owners and public service cor
porations.
Despite this, we, the minority, think
the bill may be amended, and all we
ask is that it be placed on general ord
ers. [ do not wish to take up time. as
L know that every senator on the floor
has already made his mind up concern
ing the disposition of the bill, and moth
ing that could say would have the ef-
feet of changing even one vote. All
ask, and L think it just. is that Inc bill
be placed on general orders
Senator Young was the first to lead off
in real debate in favor of the minority.
He took particular pains to show that
the street railway company was not pay
ing its share of the public expenses,
which fact he brought figures in the af-
ternoon to substantiate. He said in part:
The action of the committee on the
bill has placed US in bad position be-
fore the people of the state, and this
will be intensified if the report of the
committee is to be allowed to keep the
bill from the consideration of the senate.
We are all opposed to the tonnage tax,
and that leaves us to consider the in
her1tance tax and the taxation of public
service corporations. Now let us act on
these questions in a deliberate, leglsla-
tive way. Don't have the bill turned
down blankly and without explanation on
the part Of the minority of the com
mittee. l for one wish to protest against
this barefaced disposition of the bill.
You know that there is need for taxa
ton of public utilities. Take the street
railway company, which only pays about
one-eighth OF the taxes 1t should in pro-
portion to other property. 1t Is the duty
of this legislature to act on any bill
| that will relieve this condition of affairs"
Senator McGill appeared to think Sen
ator Young was talking to him, and he
arose to explain the action Of the ma
jority.
THE reason for the recommendation IF
the majority is that they considered the
bin and did not find any good in it. How
they arrived at this conclusion 1 do not
Know as l am a member of the mi
| nority'
Senator Ives was getting hungry, and
said So making a motion for a recess,
which was lost, as the senator's were
just getting warmed up, and were anxi.
Gus for debate
Senator Sheehan thought the PEOPLE
OF the state were more interested in see
ing the senate doing the right thing than
anything else that might be brought he
was far more drastic than the original
tax code, and that many of the members
who had voted for it in the house. now
saw that there were a great many -un-
just clauses in its provisions.
Mccarthy Gets Eloquent.
Senator Mccarthy followed and de-
hvered the address Of the day in favor
of the measure. He started out cool and
calm. but as he went along his voice rose
and his gestures quickened, until he be-
came dramatic. His speech was a forcl-
bic one, and created an impression in the
galleries. He said in part:
Personal property taxation has benn
crying evil in this state for the past
| ten years. The Republicans whom 7 sea
| before me committed the party to tax
! reform, and do what we may, We con
| never get away from it except to 70
| down to defeat. The party is pledged
and cannot refuse to act without stnlfI
| Tying itself. The entire tax reform has
| been Republican measure The tax coda
that was defeated in the house had its
origin IN the Republican state auditors
once. In spite Of this the Wallace
amendments Were carried and there was
the death of the bill. Do you Repub