The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-04-17

We don't know will do us no harm
10 not propose to be calamity howl
rr, but admit that I like to see good
lines IN all branches of business. For
several years 1t has looked to me as
if the country was approaching a
crisis, but the nation is great ard
strong and tie crisis ray be disas-
trous but viii rot be fatal
Senate Favors Tax Commission.
The senate has raised the lcng
talked of measure abolishing the state
toard of equalization and providing
fer the establishment of permanent
tax commission This tax commission
is to consist of three members, APP
pointed by the governor, who are to
devote their entire time to the work
The salaries are to be $1,000 each per
year. with secretary at salary of
$4,000. Other expenses are also pro-
yided, so that the bill carries an APP
preparation of $4,000 This board is
TO have the supervision of county au-
ditors and all local assessors through
will be under their direct charge and
will be governed by their intructions.
The bill still has to run the gauntlet
Of the house, but | am assured it is
liable to pass there with some amend
ments. We have had so much agita-
ton during the years past concerning
the inequalities of taxation that it is
almost time we settled down to per-
manent basis for action.
Ore Tonnage Tax Killed.
Duluth has had especial occasion to
be happy this past week. The steel
trust has officially announced that it
is about to erect a steel plant in Du-
luth at a cost of SIS 100000 or $4,000
900. Close on the heels of that the
house killed the tonnage tax bill,
which has been a nightmare on the
iron range all winter 1t has been
claimed that if the tonnage tax bill
passed all the schools on the range
would have to suspend and as most of
the children up there are the progeny
of foreigners, who know very little Of
our language, it was a frightful alter
native. do not know whether this is
true or not, but it was a pretty good
scarecrow for the legislature and won
In the end
Following on the heels of this bill
or resolution has been introduced or
dering the taxation of the iron ore
lands in a body, at a gross valuation
of not less than $500, 100000 Almost
anything is liable to happen now
Other Railroad Legislation.
Since tho much mooted compromise
OF the 70 roads has failed there seems
no end to the acts the legislature is
prenared to pass affecting the rail
roads. The senate spent a half a day
lest week in considering bill regu-
lating the transportation Of live stock.
The bill provided that live stock
should not only be promptly moved
within the state but that it should be
moved at the rate of fifteen miles per
hour This was considered onerous
by some of the senator's, but the bill
went through.
Another bill hostile to the railroads
Is being incubated. The railroad and
warehouse commission some months
ago made sweeping reduction in
commodity freight rates, which the
railroads are fighting in the courts.
1t Is now proposed to enact law in
accord with the decision of the rail
road and warehouse commission. As
1t is now the railroads are claiming
that the railroad and warehouse com
mission exceeded its authority If
this proposed law should be enacted
the railroads will then change front
and fight it on the ground that it is
confscatory.
Bill of Six Hundred Pages.
Erick Olson is known of to every
public man in the state He has won
the prize which more than gives him
the whole bakery He was really the
inspiration of the Sundberg senate
committee to ascertain the cost of the
railroads of the state and expected TO
be clerk of the committee. He GER
tainly ought to be- He has now
evolved a bill entitled "An act to
classify property transferred as freight
in Minnesota by railroads. Senator
Garfield introduced the bill The bill
makes AT pages, with an index of 251
pages, a total of 66S pages. 1t weighs
over four pounds and 1000 copies or
dered by the senate cost $1,000 to
print. Erick in early years used to be
railroad contractor. Senator d. S.
Hail. chairman of the senate railroad
committee, says he was in the legis-
lature twenty years ago and Erick