The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-02
CITIZENS AROUSED
TO MICHAEL'S AID
Many Mass Meetings Called to
Consider Trolley Tax
Question

WIN the next conference between
the general committee of the common
council and the officials of the street
railway company but a week distant,
supporters of the course which Cor
poration Attorney Michael is advocat-
lng regarding the enforcement of pay
ment by the street, railway company
OF the-5 per cent gross earnings tax are
redoubling their efforts to secure a ia
Vorable report from that committee.
Heavy pressure is being eXerted by
potn factions to reach their ends. a
city official, whose experience in mu-
nfclpaf affairs reaches over a long
period of years. said yesterday that it
was not within the time of his MEM
ory that so much public interest has
been manifested in the disposition of a
question relative to public service cor
porations while il was yet entirely in
the hands of a committee with only ad-
visory powers.
The supporters of the corporation at
torney in his desire to carry the ques-
tion of the validity of the tax into the
supreme court, realizing that the fine
points or the argument are to be sifted
out In committee meeting. and that
much will depend upon that commit
tees report, are exhausting all the
means at their disposal in an effort to
make that report favorable to their po-
sition. And, at the same time, realiz-
ing that the question must come soon
before the council for the decisive ac-
ton. they are leaving no stone unturn-
ed in their efforts to be assured that
the matter will receive favorable treat
ment at the hands of that body.
Many Mass Meetings
The belief, which seems to be daily
growing in strength among the people.
II not among the councilmen, that the
street railway company should be made
TO pay the gross earnings tax, will find
voice during the coming week in many
mass meetings. Ward Improvement as
soclatlons, political clubs and trade or
CARNATIONS are arranging for halls, for
speakers and for dates upon which to
hold these meetings. All are anxious
that the meetings shall be held before
next Tuesday, the day of the confer
ence
The statement made by Aid. Matthias
Bantz, in printed interview, to the
ERECT that he believed that the people
or his ward, the Eighth, wished the
council TO compromise the matter with
the street railway company, and that
ne would so vote, has so aroused
Eighth warders that a mass meeting
Will be held in that ward on either
Monday or Tuesday evening Of next
week.
President F. NJ. Dolan, of the Eighth
ward improvement association, under
which organizations auspices the
meeting Will be held, is confined to his
room with an attack of the grip, but
ne said last evening that as soon as
ne was able to be about which he
hoped would be in the course of a day.
he would consult members of the as
soclations executive committee re-
garding dates and Speakers, and that
call Tor the meeting would probably
be issued either Friday or Saturday.
"A great many residents of the ward
have expressed themselves to me since
Aid Bantzs statement of position was
published. and all with whom I have
thus talked have declared themselves TO
be astonished that our representative
should take position which he knew
to be against the best interests of the
city and directly the opposite of his
constituencies wishes.
Approved MiehaePs Course
"At a meeting of the Improvement
association held in December the mat
ter came up for general discussion and
resolutions expressing the strongest
approval of Corporation Attorney Mi
chaers proposed course of action in the
matter were drawn up and passed
without single dissenting vote.
don't remember whether or not Aid
Bantz was present at that meeting
but II he was and voted on the
proposition he must have voted for it,
Anyway, he must know of the action
which We took in the matter. A copy
OF those resolutions was sent to the
corporation attorney
II am confident that If tho uaatbar
is favorable when the night of the mass
meeting arrives, il will be attended by
one or the biggest crowds in the history
or the Eighth, and that resolutions will
be passed by overwhelming majorities
which will clearly define the position in
the matter of the ward voters to Aid
Bantz and every member of the city
council That is the best we can do,
and II BantZ doesn't realize that he is
standing in position very distasteful
TO his ward, and does not get in an
other position before the council vote
Is takenyAI would not be surprised TO
see second mass meeting held and
resolutions passed intimating to the al
derman from the Eighth that his res
lgnatlon from the board of aldermen
would not plunge the ward in mourn
ing.
THE opinion of almost everyone out
here with whom l have discussed the
SUBJECT Is that the things which the
street railway company have offered to
do, in case the fight for tax collection
is stopped, are merely things which are
necessary for them to do in any in
stance. II is about the same PROPOSE
tion as farmers plowihg his field in
the springtime. The street car COM
pany seems TO want the city to hand
them s5,OO0,O00 in exchange for mere
pleasant smile, figuratively speaking
1 would not attempt to explain Aid.
Bantz's position, and I am fearful that
he will not undertake the task in the
ward meeting"
WILL NOT IMPEDE THE