The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-31
EXTRA SESSION.
1t Will MeetsNext Week in St.
Paul.
Duluth Representatives Confer With
the Governor About the Tax
Bill.
st. Paul Dispatch :

Next Tuesday the Legislature of
Minnesota will convene in extra ses-
sion at the state capitol to consider the
proposed tax measure submitted by the
commission.
Already a number of members have
come to the city and additional num-
bers are expected from day to day un-
til the session opens
Strong opposition to the proposed
law is being developed in many quar-
tiers. Country merchants say the pro-
posed assessment will cripple them in
business. Business man think it too
inauisitorial. Elevator men say that
it will drive grain business from
the state. Vessel owners assert that it
will be disastrous to the shipping in,
terests of Minnesota. Some bankers
see in it harbinger of panic.
The last to take shy at the bill is
the labor element. Workingmen fear
that the industrial interests of the
state will be sacrificed, and the trou-
BILE will react upon labor.
In Duluth organized opposition to
the bill has been developed. Meetings
have been held by commercial bodies,
business men and labor organizations
and a rather vigorous protest regis
tered.
A delegation named by the citizens
of Duluth had conference with Gov.
Van SAINT today lasting nearly two
hours. The proposed tax upon vessels
and the proposition to tax all grain in
elevators of the state on April of
each year were the particular things
in the bill to which this delegation OBJ
jected.
Vessel owners were represented by
Capt. Alex. McDougal, g. Fred Ste
phens and Capt. J. T. Rose of Duluth,
and 81. g. Stevens of st. Paul, who
was called into the conference. Mr..
Stevens is vice president of the Can
sda-Atlantic Transport company, one
of the largest vessel owners on the
lakes.
George Spencer represented the grain
interests and G.. A. Tomlinson and G..
A. Helm, local transportation agents
in Duluth were present to strengthen
the delegation. b. R. Spencer, former
senator from Duluth, and an admir-
atty lawyer, was spokesman.
The delegation laid their grievances
before the governor in great detail,
bat when it was ali over each mem
Der of the delegation refused to say
what had occurred. 81. W. Childs,
former attorney general of the state,
and a member of the tax commission,
was with the governor to uphold the
law.
1t was not the intention of the dele,
cation, so it is understood, to oppose
the whole law. In fact the delegation
was not unfavorable to the law as 6
whole, but it's vessel and grain taxing
features were strenuously opposed.
If the tax were levied on grain il
elevators it was argued that those il
Duluth would be taken to West Su
perior where the tax laws were more
liberal. That would destroy the repu
tation of Duluth as grain center, ,
reputation that had been painful.
earned through long series of years
The vessel men made the same gen
eral argument. If the slight tonnag
tax which is now paid were turnet
into tax upon the value of all vessel
owned or held in the state, the bust
ness of Duluth would be driven t.
other ports.
1t was pointed out that the shipping
and grain-handling interests were tn
greatest interests in Duluth, and thei
destruction would be disastrous to tn
city. Besides the interest directl,
affected there are a number of indus
tries indirectly depending upon graf
handling and cheap transportation o
the lakes. Capt. McDougall Gale
attention to the fact that transports
tion upon the lake had been reduce
to very low figure, and this was az
complished as he expressed it, "b
cutting off the little corners. F." Th
tax would make such rates impossible
and all industries would suffer.
Gov. Van SAINT and Mr.. Childs cor