The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-15
WILL GAG RULE WORK
TO TRY 1T WITH EXTRA
SESSION
SENATOR'S SINGING REBUKE
Republican Points Cut the Folly and
Political B1under of the
Caucus Idea Pro-
posed.

In their fear of legislative plumbers
which may affect the Republican party
in the next campaign, the party man
ayers may commit a serious biunder,
namely, the calling of a caucus on the
night of Feb. to decide upon a line of
action to be followed in the coming ex-
ira session. At first blush Gov. Van
SAINT thought a caucus just the right
idea and believed it would minimize the
danger of the legislature doing anything
which might prove detrimental to bis
political interests.
One of the best posted Republican SEN
ators in the state made the following
statement yesterday:
Senator Brewers idea of party eau
Gus is impolitic and unWise, and it can
not possibly help the Republican party.
while it can cause the party unlimited
embarrassment Mr.. Brewer may eX-
pect that his course will give some i'm
petus to his candidacy for congress- but
he will help himself immeasurably more
by making clean-cut, open fight on the
floor of the senate.
las it took three men almost year to
formulate this bill, the members OF the.
legislature, who are responsible to the
eopIe !or II, should take q little time 10
anaIyZe il and make u as erfect as pos
Sible before committing themselves to
any line of action at all. AS two minds
bers of the legislature, after proper con-
Sideration should be able to improve
somewhat upon this BILL There are many
men in the legislature who have made
special study Of the subject Of taxation.
These men should be in position to give
US their valuable opinions and SugSeS-
tons. They will have ideas to present.
and after we have heard these ideas
can make a better decision as to our
final action than we possibly can before.
Then the most important thing; of all
about this tax measure is that full OPP
portunity be given ito work out the de-
tails of the bill. The general propositions
of the bill are far less important to tho
people of the state than the working out
of the small details are.
1t is the local tax which touches the
people most directly. and it is of far
more Importance that the local tax sys-
tenn be all right than that the methods of
state taxation be proper. Has this bill
covered the field of local taxation thor
oughly enough? Has it provided such
adequate remedies for the current abuses
in local taxation as to warrant the cram
ming of this bill, as a whole, down the
threats of the legislature, by the action
of caucus, without giving any oppor-
tunity to discuss it on it's merits? 1t
may be the best tax bill ever drafted.
But we ought to have a chance to see
its merits first. The local board OF re-
view idea is an Improvement. on the local
board of equalization, no doubt; but the
method of appointment for that board Of
review IS an important matter, ana
should receive careful attention. There
are political possibilities in it. If the
method of appointment makes it posi-
BILE to have the local board of review
made up of politicians of one party, we
might have the spectacle of a board of
review in Populist county making
things a little easy in certain quarters
for its own political good, and the same
In Republican counties.
Must BE Discussed Openly.
1T is most essential that this bill be
discussed and considered wholly In the
open, that the people of the state may
know just what is done. 1t will be
benefit to the legislature a benefit to the
people and it will be a benefit to the
party to discuss it and pass it in this
portance to justify an extra session of
the legislature, it is certainly important
enough to merit a full, free, fair discus
sion, and such consideration should not
be stifled by caucus action.
In many of our counties there are
local experts in matters of taxation, IN
known and unheard of, but those opin-
ions and ideas would be of value and as
sistance to us. They ought to have a
chance to express themselves to their
home representatives. If they do the leg
lslature will be that much better off.
The worst feature of a caucus is that
it leaves no record of itself. Then it
might be that an actual minority of the
legislature would dictate the nature Of
Lnat tax law ana the action of the leg
iSlature. If the Republicans hold a eau
Gus and decide in favor of a certain &C
ton by a. bare majority of two or three
the other members of the caucus would
be bound and tied hand and foot, forced
to do the bidding of the majority of the
caucus; if they bolted, their motives would
be questioned, they would be called trait
ors and driven from the party councils
Thus it is possible for a caucus to force
minority report down the threats of
the majority of the legislature and upon
these people. 1t Is dangerous business.
The idea of this caucus and hurry
up programme originated among the iron
mine and shipping interests of Duluth
and the range district They would be
nightly pleased if the caucus were to
recommend that the bill be put over tn
til the next session, and thus bind the
legislature to such action Auditor
Dunn's report will show you some sur
prises if you observe what an immense
shipping BUSINESSES done at Duluth, and
the great profit IN that business and the
comparatively small tax paid to the state
by these interests.
"A caucus is not fair to the people of
the state; it will deal death blow to
that free discussion and honest iudg-
ment, which islsthe most important func-
ton of delibeFative body, and it will
prove boomerang to tho political party
which seeks political advantage through
it,