The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-20
ATTACK ON JOHNSON
Expected Bill Appears, Abridging
His Authority to Inspect Ger
tain Corporations Books.
The Measure Seeks to Give the Rail
way Commission That Power
Solely.
(For other legislative doinas OF to-day
see page ia of this lssue.)

(For other legislative doinqs OF to-day
sec page IA OF this lssue.)
The long expected attack OH Public Elk
aminer S. T. Johnson made it's appear
ance this morning. Mr.. Wilson Of Wor-
thington introduced a bill in the house
repeating the law passed at the extra SEES
sion last winter, giving the public exam
liner authority to examine the books and
verify the reports Of railroad and other
corporations paying a gross earnings tax
to the state. Mr. Wilson's bill gives this
power to the railroad and warehouse COM
mission, which, since the passage of the
law last winter, has rivaled the public
examiner in the work of examining the
railroad books. The commission is to
have power to summon witnesses and to
compel the production of books and rec
ords. It is made misdemeanor to OBJ
struct their work, punishable by me
of $50 to $4,000.
The bill was referred to- the railroad
committee, which is understood to be nos
tile to the public examiner and will prob
ably give 1t a favorable report. 1t IS
naively stated that the public examiner
has .'antagonized'' the railroad compa-
MES by his prosecution of the work. This
seems very likely, as he has already COM
PEELED them to pay s83,O30.53 in back taxes
on items withheld from the state in the
past six years. His latest collection was
reported only this morning. The Omaha
road agreed to pay 10,745.12 in taxes on
$685. 1000 which had been omitted by
mistake from it's statements OF earnings
in the past seven years. These heaVy
payments have naturally produced an un-
friendly feeling on the part of the rail-
road companies for the officer who mas
compelled settlement.
The railroad and warehouse commission
never discovered any Of these items untli
after the passage of the law giving the
public examiner this duty. The commls-
sion's expert accountant was then sent to
the companies offices and set to doing
the same work. AS a result the comm1s-
sion has certified to the state audltor
three items of back taxes. The Chlcago'
Burlington 6. Quincy has paid Sllo.zl, the
Wisconsin Central $42.S4, and the Still
water Union Depot company $193.24,
total of s411.29.
5000 1000 Still Coming.
Public Examiner Johnson made -Ihe
startling announcement to-day that near
Nv 5000 900 in taxes were still in contro-
versy between him and the railroad COM
panies He said:
! .If in its wisdom the legislature feels
that the work accomplished by TINS ue
partment in the last nine months, result
Ling in over $275,000 Of back taxes being
Efound against the gross earnings corpora
| tions. $8S, 900 of which has already been
I paid in or absolutely agreed to be paid N
| by the companies, and the development u
| the fact that so many items were being
omitted in the gross earnings reports
which will hereafter result in from $75,oOt
| to 500, 900 additional revenue to the state
every year--if this record does not war
rant the continuance Of the work, ther
have no objection whatever to- their re-
,pealing the law. It is not matter II
which I am personally interested. If tho
law! is repealed it will relieve me Of much
personal work. If it is not, shall con.
tinue to try to do my duty. cannot re-
frain, however, from wondering why oul
gross earnings law and receipts there.
under have not been better understood il
! the past twenty-fi years.