The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-18

sun. Mr.. Larson wanted the members
of the senate committee invited con-
slider the code in joint session with the
house committee. 1t required twenty
minutes to air the views of all the COM
mitteemen and get the withdrawal of Mr..
Larson's motion. Then Mr.. Wallace ex-
planned his plan of work He thought
there were many proposed amendments,
notably among them the tonnage tax
on vessels and the reinstatement of the
500 personal property exemption, which
the committee might readily agree upon.
He believed the committee should clean up
the common ground first and then tArcsh
out the remainder bit by bit until the
whole was in shape to send to the house
or it was demanded by cnat body.
Mr.. w aIlace exposition of his plan
paved the way for Mr.. Rich, who very
frankly stated that he was much more
interested in the proposed constitutional
amendments than in a tax code which,
for the most part, seemed to be an at
tempt to reinforce obsolete laws, instead
of framing a new and equitable system
Of taxation. Mr.. Richs statements elic-
ite.4 the information that the tax COM
mittee had nothing to do VIII the con-
stitutional amendments and aroused his
ire. Re said:
81 had reason to believe that this COM
mittee had the proposed amendments
under consideration. l sat through every
session of this committee on the floor of
the house and listened attentively to
every speaker appearing for or against
the BILL Every speaker talked about con-
Stitutional amendments. The attorney
| general came before US. He talked forty
| five minutes and did not talk about any,
| thing other than constitutional amend
ments. am frank to confess that ] am
| against this code or tax legislation until
| such time as we may have the constitu-
tion so changed that fair laws may be
| enacted
Washburn Flies at jacobson.
| Mr.. Kelly, Mr. Washbura and Mr.. Hur1
| advocated bringing the constitutional
amendment bills before the tax commit
| tee, and Mr.. Iaybourne made a formSl
motion to that effect. That brought ia
cobson out. He heatedly charged that the
| motion was the height of absurdity and
made for no other purpose than the pre-
vention of a committee report and the de-
| feat of all tax legislation. Mr.. Washburn
| insisted that he be given an opportunity
to talk right up to Jacobson. He went
at the member from Lac Qui Parle with
the avidity that he displayed in throttline
octopi and other strange beasts. 'I want
! to tell you. Mr.. jacobson said he that
L am representing my constituents ]
know what they want and know what
| / want. Every corporation and the ma
| jority of the people of Minneapolis are
! opposed to the enactment of this code In
| its present form. If we may know what
constitutional amendments are going tc
| help the people, SO that we can figure or
| some future relief, we are ready to take
| up the consideration of the tax code, but
we want to know where we are att
| Mr.. Jacobson's statement that the pro-
| posed plan was not business-like reused
| Mr.. Hurd, of Ramsey. Mr.. Hurd said
'Mr. Jacobson claims he is a business
! man. So am L He wants to go at this
| matter in a business-like manner. So do
/ I, and I want to tell Mr.. jacobson that
| the constitution is the basis Of taxation
1 If we are to have just tax laws the con
4 stitution must be amended to permit their
enactment. I have no criticisms for the
| tax commission, but it has not arrived
| at the same Interpretation of the act ere.
ating it that I have and the unmistaker
| intent cf the legislature. The bill directed
| the formulation of just code and the
| necessary constitutional amendments "a
permit its PRONUNCIATION and enforcement
| Instead, we have presented to us a code
! framed to conform with the present un.
| fortunate conditions
Burns Butts In.
The wrangle was rapidly taking on 3
personal complexion, when Representa-.
tive Burns broke into warm reprimanC
administered by M. Kelly and precipitate(
the vote. The tenor of all Mr. Burns re
marks conveyed the personal implication
of underhand methods on the part of tn,
gentlemen who were fighting for consid
Grafton of the constitutional amendments
His fourth appearance on the floor will
a repetition of his veiled charges brough