The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-11
The Legislature
G.E.BILL MADE OYER
The House Committee on Taxes Re-
ports Out a Practically New
Measure.
It Is Made a Special Order for
Next Wednesday After
.~-'.-
n noon.

The per cent gross earnings bill Is a
special order for next Wednesday after
noon in the house. The taxes committee
reported out the Fryberger bill this morn
ing after striking out all but the enact
ing clause and substituting a new BILL
which resembles the Shearer-J ohnson bill
quite as much as the original Fryberger
bill By the same report the Shearer-
Johnson bill was killed.
When the report handed in, Mr.
Fryberger moved that the bill be made
a special order aud that it be reprinted
as amended. Mr.. Johnson was inclined
to be facetous at the expense Of the COM
rnttee and Mr.. Fryberger. He said it
looked to him like a new BILL for which
the committee should have credit. How
ever If Mr.. Fryberger wanted to claim
credit for the new bill, Mr.. Johnson had
no objections.
Mr.. Fryberger arose to reply. but was
headed off by MIR. Gillette, who wanted the
bill referred to the judiciary committee to
settle certain point. The bill provides
that the gross earnings tax shall be in lieu
Of all taxes and assessments. The attor-
ney general believes. and so do manly other
attorneys, that if the word "assessments"
is stricken out it will be possible to as
sess the railroad companies for special i'm
provements. The house did not take kind
ly to the motion Of Mr.. Gillette, which
was opposed by Mr.. Burns The gentle
man from Fillmore. backed by Mr.. Arm
strong, protested against any further de-
lay in the consideration Of the bill. The
Gillette motion was voted down aid the
bill made a special order for next Wednes-
day afternoon at ? o'clock. The measure
provides
Section l. That every railroad COM
pany owning operating any line Of
railway situated within. or partly with
in. this state shall during the year 1905,
and annually thereafter pay into the
treasury Of this state in lieu Of all taxes
and assessments upon all property within
this state, owned or operated for rail-
way purposes by such company, includ-
Ing equipment. appurtenances. append
ages and franchises thereof. sum Of
money equal to four (4) per cent Of the
gross earnings derived from the oper-
alton of such line of railway within this
state; and the payment of such sum
shall be in full and in lieu of all other
taxes and assessments upon the property
and franchises so taxed. The lands ac
quired by public grant shall be and re-
. main exempt from taxation until sold or
contracted to be sold, or conveyed as
provided in the respective acts whereby
such acts were made or recognized
Section 2. The term the gross earnings
derived from the operation Of such line
~ of railway within this state as used in
section 1 of this act Is hereby declared
and shall be construed to mean all earn
within the state. and a proportion, based
+, upon the proportion Of the mileage within
the state to the entire mileage over which
-, such business is done, of earnings all
interstate business passing through, into
Or out Of the state.
section 3. All acts and parts of acts
not inconsistent herewith regulating the
payment, collection, time of payment, en-
forcement or reports involving the
amount Of taxes upon the gross earnings
of railroad mpanies within this state
or providing penalties for the non pay
ment Of such taxes, are hereby, made ap-
plicable to this act so far may be. anC
all acts and parts Of acts inconsistent
: with the provisions of this act are hereby
repealed.
''Section 4. Upon failure to pay the
amount Of such taxes legally due upon the
ola ties heretofore provided by law for the
payment thereof in addition to existing
remedies, collection may be enforced ii
a civil action brought in the name of thu
state of Minnesota in the district cour
Of any county.
F.. Section 5. Any railroad company con
testing or attempting to contest this act
or any OF it's provisions shall as a pre-
requisite and a condition preceden
thereto. pay into the treasury of tn
state of Minnesota the amount of take
legally due from such railroad compan.
under the existing laws of this state
which this act succeeds. or Of which law
this act is amendatory.
vi 'Section g. This act shall be submitte'
l. to the people Of this state for their ap
prevail or rejection at the next genera
election for the year 1904"
The rema nder of the bill provides tn
method of submitting to the people.