The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-25

will convene Jan. 6, a week from next
Tuesday morning. Under the constitu-
tional limit of ninety days, it will have
to adjourn April o. -
The coming session should be a b11Sy
one, and there is an opportunity to make
a record as a. business body. There is no
senator to elect this winter. The speaker
of the house will be elected on the OPEN
ing day, and there will be no politics to
take the time and attention of members.
There is no reason why they should not
buckle down. to business at the start.
Taxation problems are the most vital to
come before the solons. They are also the
most complex and perplexing. Defeat of
the constitutional amendment providing
for an income tax leaves the incoming
legislature in just as bad boat as the
last one. The constitution requires equal
taxation for all forms of property. This
does not permit exemptions, except the
$500 on personal property, and it does not
permit an income tax. Neither. does it
authorize in plain terms a franchise tax.
There will be an attempt this winter to
bring about tax reform under the present
constitution. Tax legislation will be in-s
troduced along the lines of the now his
toric tax code, defeated at the special ses-
sion. It will meet the same opposition
from business. interests that defeated the
code last March and few old members
believe there's any chance for any gem
eral drastic legislation this winter A
franchise tax law may be passed, and a
tax commission created, but this is more
than most friends of tax reform expect
Submit a New Amendment. = Il,
j It is the imperative duty of the legis-
lature to submit some proposition amend
Ing the article on taxation. This will be
enc of: the great problems of the session.
Whether, to resubmit the bungling draft
which failed Nov. 4, or to submit instead
a civ he
islature free swing-this alternative will
be strenuously debated. 1t will also be
necessary to provide some new way Of
voting on the amendment to insure its
passage. --.- 's-ss
This maybe done or the South Dakota
plan, printing the amendments on a sep
arate ballot. It seems the only way OF
getting favorable action An attempt
will probably be: made: to reamend the
constitution. and go back to the old rule,
which only required a majority of tho
votes cast on each proposition to carry it.
This will probably be changed to three
fifths or two-thirds but there is strong
sentiment against any such changes.
A constitutional convention has many
friends. 1t is conceded that the consti-
tuition Is a patchwork, and needs a thor
cugh overhanging. Corporate influence de-
feated the convention idea twice at the
session of 1901, and it was defeated at the
extra session out of distrust The prin-
cipal argument against it now is that it
will have to be submitted to the people.
and that it will be hard to get them to
vote on amendments and convention
proposition at the same time.
Gross Earnings Increase.
There seems no reason why any one
should oppose the resubrnission of the
4 per cent gross earnings bill. The In
f1uence which fought it before will be ac-
tive again, however, and another fight is
looked for. 1t will be largely over the
form of the bill. AS the law now stands
there are many items of railroad income
which do not pay the gross earnings tax.
A new draft will be submitted which will
leave no shadow of doubt in the law, re-,
curing the railroads to pay per cent on
all income, except from property on which
they pay other taxes. The method Of div
iding interstate earnings will have to be
changed as the Jacobson bill contemp-
lated, to make sure that it will stand the
test of the courts.
Make inheritance Tax Stick.
Once more the legislature will try to
draft and pass a valid inheritance tax
bill, to take the place of the last three,
which have been held unconstitutional
Before the session is over, Governor Van
SAINT may ask for further legislation
dSStlIlSI railway E1llSI6SlS.s I1OWOSSAp tAO
present law seems strong enough. Tho
great trouble is over jurisdiction, and the
legislature may be asked to pass a law
extending the jurisdiction of the state
courts just as far as the constitution viii
allow.
What the Governor Wants.
The three heads, resubmission of the
gross earnings law and the tax amend
ments, and merger legislation, are Cow
ernor Van SAINTS program for the session,
laid down in his recent interview. He
will doubtless make other recommends
lions in his message, but these are the
points on which he is strenuous.
| Railroad legislation may occupy consid-
cradle time. There will probably me an
other attempt to legislate the present rail-
road and warehouse commission out OF
Office, and make the commission appoint
i've as before. This will be based on the
argument that as at present constituted
| the commission has not been Jealous of
! the rights Of the people. and that it has
not been in harmony with the course OF
| the governor.
| Freight Rate Inquiry Possible.
| Many complaints against present freight
| rates in Minnesota have been voiced, and
the session is likely to develop a legislative
/ inquiry into the subject. The DAILY reso-
| luton. passed at the extra session, inquir-
| ing as to the reascEableness of passenger
rates had the effect OF disclosing the divi-
| sion railroads make between freight and