The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-29
FRYBERGER POINTS
TO HIS RECORD
BELIEVES ANSWERS QUESTION
OF FITNESS FOR CONGRESS
He Led Fight in Legislature for New
Railroad Gross Earnings Law
Also That Aimed at Hennepin
1'Tax Title Sharlxs''-His Other
Services.
Services.

Harrison E. Fryberger has issued
statement of his claim to consider
alton for the place as congressman
from this district, and appends a
pledge to represent faithfully the peo-
pie of the district. His statement fol-
lows:
To the Voters of TIennepin County:
The first question that Should be asked
a. candidate for congress is: What SER
vice have you rendered the people of this
district; what claim have you to their
support"
First-As member of the last legisla-
ture introduced and helped secure the
passage of the new railroad gross earn
ings law. This law provides in substance
that the railway companies in the state OF
Minnesota shall pay one-third more In
taxes every year than they have under
the old law. During the present year the
railways of the state will pay in taxes
somewhere between $1,500,00 and $4,000,
900. The new law will be submitted to
the voters for their approval at the No
vember election. If the law is approved
as I feel sure it. will be, it means that
the other taxpayers in the state Of Min
nesota will be saved at the present time
about 100000 annually, and that the tax
payers of Henneptn county will be saved
about $4,000 annually. The business of
the railway companies in this state is
growing each year and their taxes are
increasing, and in the course Of the next
generation this gross earnings law will
save the, taxpayers Of Hennepin county
millions Of dollars. (Ihe bill as originally
introduced also provided that in addition
the railroads should pay their share for
local improvements in cities. such as side
walks, paving, sewers, ETC., and while this
would have been very beneficial to the
city of Minneapolis, yet this provision was
stricken from the law for the reason that
the passage of any gross earnings law was
thereby jeopardized) Various plans for
computing the gross earnings tax were
suggested, and the consideration Of the
various legal questions involved, together
with the work incident to the prepara-
ton of the bill involved a vast amount OF
labor. (See chapter 25S, General Laws OF
Minnesota, 5000
Second also introduced and helped
secure the passage of a law protecting
Hennepin county from "tax-title sharks, u
and providing that in all judicial proceed
lngs for the refundment of taxes the
county must be made party. This Law
will save thousands Of dollars to Henne-
pin county each year. It must be fresh
in the mind Of every voter how much tbs
county suffered before the passage Of this
law (Chapter 231, Laws, 1909
Third also introduced and helped Sc
lage councils, in villages of less than 5000
inhabitants, to grant authority for the
construction Of street railway lines fol
the purpose of connecting such villages
with surrounding territory. This law will
for instance, permit the construction Of
an electric line from Minneapolis, thru
Excelsior to the western part Of Henne.
pin county; and it will also permit the
building up Of a network of suburban
electric lines turnout the state of Mime
sofa. (Chapter 1879, Laws, 1909
FOURTH introduced and helped secure
the passage Of the resolution authorizing
an investigation Of the subject of prison
labor at out state penitentiary at Still
water, and conducted such investigation
The output Of the shoe plant at Stillwatel
amounts to more than one-half million
dollars annually, and the investigation
developed the fact that the contractor:
and were also violating the law by EN-
ploying more men than the law allowed
The large number Of representatives from
the rural districts, however, voted dow
was very beneficial in its results
Among other things, when the stat,
made new contract (this has been don
since the adjournment of the legislature)
much more favorable terms We're secured
The second question that may be asket
a candidate for congress is: What will
you do for the people If elected?" In an
swering the first question, I think I hav
also answered the second. give m.
pledge that If I am nominated and elected
to congress I will do all in my power t.
represent faithfully the people of thi
district.