The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-30
THE PUBLIC EXAMINER.

Granite Falls Journal-The railroads
are back of the bill before the Legislature
that proposes to take away from the pub
lie examiner the right to look after the
GROSS earnings of the railroads, and there
fore the bill should be killed dead.
Hancock Recorder-A good many papers
Of the state, among them the Record, sug
gested that it might be as we'll to not
judge Babcock as the railroad speaker"
of the house until the results became ap-
parent. In view of the fight being made
on Public Examiner johnson by Bah
cocks appointive railroad committee it is
useless to wait longer. It will be remem-
bered that the railroads made full (?) re-
port of gross earnings in order that. the
state might collect the gross tax. ,Nev-
ertheless Examiner johnson has already
collected about $780, of back taxes
which the railroads had lodged. Now it
is proposed to take away -Johnson's power
to bring them to time and give it. to the
especial friend Of the railroads-the state
railway commission. = We will bet a cent
there will be some lively explaining done
by some state solons in the next cam
paign. !.
Wadena Pioneer Journal: Public Ex-
aminer Samuel T.: Johnson discovered the
past year that the railroads had not beer
making correct returns Of their gross
earnings tax, and that there was due the
state over 100000 from this source. Over
100000 has already been paid into the
state treasury. AS consequence the rail-
Mr.. Johnson and orders have been issued
MI. oJhnson and orders have been issued
to kill him off.
Taylors Falls Journal-The fight or
Public. Examiner. johnson gets warmer
as the session advances, and it looks as
though it was the man and not the office
the Legislators are after, Much good work
has come from the office recently, and the
probabilities are that if any change is
| made more. money will be given soon
to secure better work. g. ,,se-, ,~..,.
Elbow Lake Tribure-Several' narrow
| minded, 2x4 legislators are trying to take
| away some of the powers and~fees OF
Public Examiner johnson because he has
rendered valuable services to the state
from railroads. The constituents of these
individuals should keep a close watch OF
those individuals and see that they don't
break into the legislature again. Theil
services can easily be dispensed with. A
man like johnson can't be given too mucl
power and earns all the fees he gets. -.
Adrian Guardian-The Guardian is ir
receipt of a communication from our rep
|resentative, George w. Wilson, enclosing
a copy Of H. F. No. 1913. the bill which has
called out so much unfavorable criticism
| 1t was received too late to be printed this
| week, but it really matters little how il
reads so long as it contains the following
sentences: ID r..
| Sec. 2. All acts or parts of acts comforting
any of the powers and duties herein given to the
railroad and warehouse commission to any other
state officer are hereby repealed. 1873: : 80
/ 1t IS over this section, which takes away
/ from the public examiner the right to in.
spect the railway tax returns that the
| fight has ragged. The public examiner has
] it is claimed, turned into the state treas
1 ury largs sums, running in the aggregat
into six figures, which would have beer
lost to. the state had he not possessed tn,
authority of which this bill cwould depriv,
i him.. Mr.. Wilson's constituents want t,
know why a public officer should not .b
permitted to continue the good work hi
has begun.
Fairmont -NeWs.-To a man up tree i
looks as though the railroad commission
ers were. jealous ofAthe public examiner,