The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-31

state capitol to-day and around the St.
Paul hotels. Legislators are arriving
slowly. In fact most of them who have
heretofore been among. the first on the
field are still at home. with their ears
close to the ground. The report Of the
tax commission, which they must take up
next week causing them considerable
anxiety, and they are trying to find out
just what their constituents want, not an
easy matter, as the report is so
voluminous that comparatively few per-
sons have read it.
Governor Van SAINT was not In his office
to-day, and all inquirers were informed
that he could not be seen until tomorrow.
AS a matter Of fact, he was In his apart
ments, at the Aberdeen, hard at work upon
the message, which he will send to the
legislature. together with the commits
sions report, next Tuesday morning. This
message Is likely to be. somewhat more
voluminous than has been expected, and
until it is submitted, party leaders will
continue to remain in ignorance of the
program to be pursued.
No Caucus Monday Night.
For this reason no caucus will be held
Monday night. as was at first announced;
but no attempt will be made to transact
any business on Tuesday and the expected
caucus will be called for Tuesday night.
This is the program outlined by Speaker
Bowling, who was in St. Paul yesterday,
and it will unquestionably be carried out.
/ AS the time for actton. draws nearer,
sentiment in favor of the passage of the
proposed code, together with proviso
that it shall not go into effect until 1908,
seems to be growing. This plan was first
proposed in The Journal; since then
it has been attributed to Governor Van
SAINT. The governor himself, however,
states that he will make no recommends
tion to the legislature, but will simply
touch upon various features of the report
in his message, and urge the inadequacy
of present tax laws.
Strong fights will be made against cer-
tain sections Of the report. the ses-
sion will probably be somewhss-s pro-
tracted. Estimates of it's duration rahes
all the way from thirty to sixty days.
Already unpleasant charges of corporate
influence are in the air, and the session
will probably not lack in sensational feat
ures.
Representative W. w. Rich of St. Paul,
who resides at the Merchants hotel, re-
turned from Duluth this morning. He
says that the report will meet with much
opposition from Duluth members, and that
tho southern districts will also bitterly
lief that the border counties would suffer
from an adoption Of the proposed vessel
tax. and tax on grains.
Opposition to Lead OF.
Mr.. Rich believes that whatever oppo-
sition there may be to che report will de-
velop within the first two weeks Of the
session, and says that after that little
time will be required to determine wheth-
er the adverse interests can be har-
monized and the report adopted. County
auditors throughout the state, he says,
are opposed TO the passing Of a law max
ing their Offices repositories for the pay
ment Of taxes and are doing all they can
against It, Naturally county sheriffs are
also working against the report, as it de-
prives them Of collection fees. These
men, Mr.. Rich says, are urging upon their
representatives the necessity Of combat
ting the report as it now stands, and
their influence is not inconsiderable.
Plan of Organization.
The work Of organizing the house for
this special session will be transacted just
as it is for the first session of a new
term. The secretary of state will call
the house to order at noon, Tuesday, and
a motion will then be presented by some
member, that the officials of the last SEES
sion be retained in Office. This will un-
doubtedly. pass, and Speaker Bowling will
then reappoint the standing committees
which served last year.
The governor will be notified that the
house is organized and ready for business.
He will then inform that body when he
will meet them. The senate will also be
notified and its members will file into