The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-08
M0RIARTY is FOR
THE EARNINGS TAX
Continued From First Page

the meeting was comparatively quiet.
With the man. whom the meeting had
been called to correct, beating the
meeting to the task. there was little left
to be done except to voice the favor of
the ward to the proposition for an ap-
peal.
Meeting a Double header
1t was a very well attended meeting.
The Grand View Heights Improvement
association had intended holding a meet
ing OF its own last night, but at a late
hour decided to practice the doctrine
OF get togetherism which ii is trying to
teach the city council. and journeyed
to Paul Martins opera house, South
Wabasha and Colorado streets, and
joined forces with those of the West
Side Improvement association. The
number gathered speedily exhausted
the seating capacity of the room. but
more chairs were brought in and these,
with the window seats, provided places
for ali.
The principal address of the evening
was scheduled to be that of George
r O'Reilly, assistant corporation at
torney. and because Aid. Moriarty
snatched these laurels from him there
was not the slightest hard feeling. Mr..
OReilly spoke anyway. He delivered
an address in which he briefly sum-
married. the position of the city's legal
department with regard to an appeal
from Judge Lochren's decision against
the city in the gross earnings tax, and
of the effects which the various ac-
tions that the supreme court might
take regarding the original decision
would have upon the city.
He expressed the utmost confidence
OF success in case OF an appeal. stating
that Mr.. Michael was as confident as
any man could be. and that he believed
with Mr.. Michael that the supreme
court would reverse Judge Lochren's
decision He also stated it TO be his
firm belief that the company was
afraid to allow the appeal TO go TO the
supreme court, because it feared the
reversal. In defense of this belief he
cited the strenuous attempts which
the street railway company is making
TO effect compromise
But. taking up the points of this
proposed compromise one by one, he
showed how utterly valueless they
would be to the city as compared with
the benefits which would accrue from
a complete victory in the supreme
court.
Explains Company Promises
In reviewing these compromise
promises he cited the fact that the
widening of Sibley street. towards
which the company promises no def
mite sum, would be primarily a benefit
to it in permitting it to runs its cars
down to the union depot; that the
scent fare from Smelling avenue to
Minneapolis would only benefit a few
families and those only when they
wished TO go TO or return from Min
neapolis, and that the proposed ex-
tensions were all along lines which
would instantly become revenue pro-
ducers to the company.
In concluding his remarks he reit-
Grated the belief of the city's legal de-
partment that were the case TO be car
rled TO the supreme court a victory.
partial at least, would be gained.
A set of resolutions lending the
Sixth wards Endorsement TO the course
being pursued by Mr.. Michael in the
litigation was presented by Lloyd Pea
body, acting secretary of the meeting.
terms of approval, and after reading
them and explaining his views upon
the matter, Mr.. Peabody moved their
passage and the matter was thrown
open by the chairman, F. F. Wilde.
president of the West Side Improve
ment association, TO general discus
sion.
FaVors an Appeal
In support of his resolutions Mr..
Peabody, who spoke from his stand
point as an attorney who had given
the matter thorough legal investiga-
ton, made strong argument for the
appeal or the gross earnings tax de-
cision. He said that there was a
strong leaning on the part of the law
yers or the city to think that the city
had an exceptionally strong case for
appeal. He said that he himself had
carefully examined the arguments pre-
sented to Judge Lochren, and that.
having the utmost respect for that
Jurist, he could see why the judge, in
giving his off-hand opinion in favor
of the street railway company. had
remarked that he realized that the de-
cision in point would probably go i'm
mediately to a higher court, ANYWAY.
and therefore he did not consider il
necessary TO take the time to prepare
an extended opinion.
Mr. fedDOdy stated IL as his firm be-
lief that the case which involved so
much of such vital Importance to the
city should not be allowed to stand up-
on the decision of one man in lower
court, when the supreme court was
open TO the case with the strong at
tendant possibilities OF victory. He.
too, took up in detail the concessions
offered in case of compromise by the
street railway company, showing where
every single one was a concession real
ly To the city railway company and
not 10 the city. He declared that the
street railway company wanted to hand
the city a piece of blank paper in ex-
change for $4,000
Refers to st. Louis Scandal
J. NJ. Hawthorne made a short. tell
ing speech in which he concisely re-
viewed the circumstances of the pres
ent litigation and called attention to
the efforts which the street railway
company was making to influence the
city council in favor of compromise,
comparing those efforts TO the work of
lobbies which had been sustained by
powerful corporations in the st. Louis
council and in various state capitols.
DIR. j. G. MacNamara followed with
speech supporting the resolutions be-
fore the meeting. In the course of his
remarks he took occasion to pay a
graceful compliment to the fearless at
u. - l. - L.