The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-03-22
RANGE COMMITTEES
On Tax Question Go to St. Pault

The various Range towns were rep.
resented at the capitol last week by
their respective committees and feel
confident that the legislature will be
slow to enact any tax laws that will
affect the taxes of range schools and
local government. March 3, Mr.. SAKE
|of Eveleth notified all range commit
tees by phone to report at once in st.
Paul, as hearing on the tonnage tax
bills would be arranged for at that
time or soon after. +. L. Cowen, G.
L. Newberry and M. e. Gleason, rep
Presenting Ely, went to the capitol, as
did also the Eveleth committee. It
then appeared that some one had
turned back the other range commit
tees, most of whom had arrived in
Duluth enroute. There seemed to be
quite little confusion and misunder-
standing as to who had notified the
committees to return home. Not
withstanding, the Eveleth delegation
asked for a hearing and the legislative
tax committee arranged hearing for
March S.
At this hearing Ex-Gov. John Lind
appeared and addressed the commit
tee, setting forth what he considered
to be just in regard to the states
levying tonnage tax on iron ores.
He took the position that it was both
just and right that the state should
enact tonnage tax bill. p. e, Dow
ling. Of Eveleth. also addressed the
committee, and made very marked
impressit by his able effort. The
Ely committee was then asked il it
wished to be heard, but declined until
a hearing could be arranged for all
range delegations. A time was then
set for hearing and all the range
committees were notified. The hear
ing was arranged for Wednesday.
March 18th.
Thos. f. Cole, president of the Oil
yer Iron Mining Co., of Duluth, took
the stand and discussed the various
questions relating to mines, mining,
shipping of ore, values of different
grades Of ore, and the effect of ton
image tax on iron so far as the welfare
OF the miningindustry and prosperity
on the ranges were concerned. He
was asked il a tonnage tax would
cause the steel corporation to abandon
their plan for erecting furnaces and
mills at Duluth. He replied that
while he could not speak for the u. S.
Steel Co.. it did not seem to him that
the steel company would be in very
great hurry to erect plants in states
that were intent on furnishing" the
company, as the proposed tonnage tax
would do, as no other industry 10
| Minnesota has ever been forced to pay
all regular and general taxes and a
Especial one in addition. Mr.. Coles
address was telling blow to the ton
mage tax idea. Other mining men adj
dressed the committee as did also Mar
tin Hughes, of Hibbing; Supt. Van
Dyke, of Coleraine; Supt. Newberry
and Supt. Gilpin.
The various committees feel that
the legislature has come to look at
the tonnage tax question in a differ
ent light. The committees were con-
fronted by some very peculiar situa-
tions when they arrived at the CAPT.
toll. In talking to the authors of
some of the bills providing for ton
mage taxes these members were frank
to tell the committees that all the
range demonstrations were concocted
by the steel company. and that they
were paying the committees to appear
before the legislature, and that the
company forced the schools to make
the demonstrations that were made
when the committee. visited the ram
ges in February.
The bills will be reported by the
tax committee In few days. and it is
expected that instead of tonnage tax
system OF assessing iron properties
will be enacted into law, thus securing
more equitable valuation tax for all
iron properties. However, IL a tom
mage tax should be decided upon. it
will be so small that the effect will be
Insignificant.