The Redwood gazette., 1902-03-12
CHAPTER ON DOGS.
An Attemptt to Repeal the Dog Tax Act
Was Unsuccessful.

continue to pay taxes on their dogs
for the purpose of raising a Jackpot
for the reimbursement Of farmers
losing sheep by dogs. This same
continuation applies to all agricul-.
tural counties of the State, as we'll
as Redwood county. These dog
owners hoped to be relieved of this.
tax by this extra session Of the leg
islature and the Hon. Nels Nyquist
of Blue Earth county, one of the
leading farmers of that section, was
the champion of the proposition on
the floor of the house, while Senator
Sivright OF Mcleod was their cham
pion on the floor of the senate. Both
of them introduced bills at the open
ing of the extra session, and Mr..
Nyquist succeeded in having his
bill advanced to the calendar, un
der suspension of the rules, in the
house, but for some reason or other,
| it was kicked back to general or
| ders, and remained there until after
the defeat of the tax code. 1t was
intimated by some that this kick
ing was administered by the enc
mics of the tax code who hoped to
get Mr.. Nyquist against the code on
the condition that they would sup
port his dog repeal act. But this
does not seem probable. By the
time that the house was in posi-
ton to consider general orders,
which was on Feb. 9th, over three
weeks after the session opened,
Senator Sivright's till had pass e l
the senate and reached the house,
where it was substituted for Mr..
Nyquists bill. Just before this,
however: Representative Morley Of
Steele county, secured the intro
duction of bill which provided
that it be left optional with the
county commissioners of each coun-
ty whether ornot the tax should be
levied on dogs and be used for re-
imbursing farmers losing sheep
through the action of the canine
members. This bill was likewise
advanced to general orders, to be
considered in connection with Sen
ator Sivrights bill, and when the
house committee of the whole met
on the morning of the 9th Mr.. Nor
ley moved to substitute his bill for
the senate file repeating the dog
tax act. The little gentleman from
Blue Earth county put up stiff
fight against the proposition, max
ing some pointed remarks in a
speech that was full of humor and
actual experience. Will Nolan OF
Mower county, who has always
ibeen considered a warm advocate OF
the dog tax bill, and who has con-
stituency Of sheep raisers, went UP
against Mr.. Nyquist and insisted
that the country would be a blank.
ETY. blank better off if all the CANNES
were exterminated, anyway. Mr.
Nolan received phone message
that morning from his Grand Mea
dow home that his valuable family
dog had passed away, and while he
deplored his loss he was willing K
hear of the sacrifice if only he coulc
have heard that all other dogs O
the State had come to a similar end
Mr.. Nyquist rebutted by saying
, that dogs were of some value t
owners, but insisted that neigh
Dor OF his having a pet dog weigh
ing not over six pounds should no
be obliged to pay a yearly tax OF S;
on her, equivalent to 80 cents pei
pound for dog meat. Mr.. Morley (
motion to substitute his bill for tha
ex-senator Sivright, however, wa:
adopted by large majority, ane
when the committee arose the rol
call showed the friends of Mr.. Nor
ley,s bill to be more numerous thar
when the committee was in session
In case the substitute is accepted
by the senate the tax will remain ii
effect this year for the reason tha
few county commissioners will hav,
a meeting prior to the commence
ment of work by the different as
SCISSORS.
It was Prof. Shaw's letter to on,
of the St. Paul morning papers pro
tfoStintr npoinSk tho ropoa1 If ~,