The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-15

careless to devote any time to the con-
sideratiOn of public questions Of this
kind and leave them entirely to the
officials of the city. This is a peculiar
case. We are confronted with ques-
ton that means a great deal to the
city as municipality and to the peo-.
pie individually. The gross earnings
tax must not be ignored, and we must
consider the improvements which are.
being held up during the tendency of
this matter The committee, having
forwarded to the company the condi-
tions, all the essential ones, of which
were rejected in the answer made Fri
day night, hesitates in taking final ac-
ton before consulting the people, and
we hope that we will receive plenty Of
expressions.
Keller Wants the Tax
Assemblyman Herbert Keller IL
think that the company should pay the
gross earnings tax unless it can give
the city some thing as an equivalent to
it. It seems to me that it is no more
than fair that the company should pay
for the valuable franchise and advan-
ltages which it enjoys. and am in
favor of the city insisting upon the
company coming under the terms of
the city charter.
Assembyman r. D. O'Brien - The
company, I think, should accept tn,
original proposition made by the COM
mittee, though as the question is still
an open one / prefer not to make a
statement at this time.
AsseTnblyman Winn Powers-I feel
that if the city and the company could
get together, the city might make some
reasonable concessions. | think, how
ever, that the company should agree
to pay the gross earnings tax. I am
in favor of making some notifications
in the propositions originally sub
mitted by the. committee, SO that the
matter need not hang fire longer than
necessary We should do something
to get the improvements that the COM
pany proposes to make in the city.
Assemblyman. e. H. Whitcomb-We
must have extensions. and we must
have suburban lines. That I am GER
tain Of I believe that we should se-
cure these improvements under the
best possible conditions. The ques-
ton is important to the welfare Of the
city and do not favor taking action
until we are certain as to what condi-
tions would be the most just. 1 have
been endeavoring to learn the ideas Of
the people on the subject and hope
that at the meeting some definite prop
osition will be formulated.
waiting tor the FuoifC
Assemblyman Frank Yoerg - am
endeavoring to get the views of the
people on this question, which appeals
to me as extremely important. The
gross earnings question is the rock on
which the city and the company split.
and ] want to learn what the people
think on the matter before recon-
mending a course of action. The peo-
pie, however, seem to ignore the mat
ter, but think that in view of the i'm
portance of the issue involved they
ought to be consulted before we bind
the city. think it is up to the people,
as the committee has done all in it's
power.
Aid. Frank j. Hebl-I am in favor Of
consulting the people before any action
is taken.
Aid. Frank J. Huber-We have made
the company a series of propositions
and it has rejected them. 1t is now, in
my opinion, our duty to consult the
people before any action is taken.
Aid. Otto w. Rohland-The question
is of such Importance that am not
prepared to make a statement just now.
I am in favor of consulting the people,
but think the gross earnings tax should
be accepted by the company. 1 am
however, not prepared to say that a
compromise may not yet be effected.
Aid. J. J. Brennan-The people
should have everything they are enti-
tied to, and am in favor of the gross
earnings tax of per cent. think
that the company should pay a fair
price for the franchise it enjoys and
that it should make some return for
the money it takes from the people,
Still I do not want to- see the matter
i hung up and If a compromise could be
effected that would prove favorable, I
would indorse it,
Bantz Hopes for Compromise
Aid. Matthias Bantz-It is difficult to
say, from the present outlook, whether
it will be possible to secure compro-
mise. / am certainly in favor of the
5 per cent gross earnings tax. / be-
lieve that this matter should be care
fully considered by the people mas
much as we have done all we can, and
that we should not take action with
out consulting the people
Aid. Michael j. Moriarty--I am in ia
vor of settlement. think that it is