The Virginia enterprise., 1909-03-26
n Memorial to the Mioaesota Senate.
ASKING that 1oaaage Tax 6ill
Re kllted.


One such wac the proposed ton.
mage tax measure which passed the
house of representatives in the Min
nesota Legislature on Wednesday of
last week, and the scribes embodied
their opposition to the noxious
measure in memorial to the state
senate asking that the bill be killed,
this being the fret concerted action
on the part of any range organiza-
ton toward the thwarting of south
ern Minnesota greed as evidenced
in the unjust measure establishing
a system of double taxation on the
product of this section. The men,
orial, a copy of which will be sent
to the senate as popular express.
sion of range sentiment, wac as fol.
lows:
ITO the Senate of the Legislature of
the Minnesota:
"Whereas, the house of represent
,tatives of the Legislature of Mime
sofa has passed so-called tonnage
tax bill whereby it is proposed to
levy tonnage tax upon the iron
ore mined in Minnesota, and
"Whereas, There are in the terri.
tory in which the principal iron
mining operations of this state are
carried on more than $1,000 people
entirely outside of those concerned
in or engaged in mining operations
but nevertheless wholly dependent
for their livelihood and prosperity
upon the liability: of the iron min.
ing industry, and
"Whereas, The tonnage tax bill if
enacted into law is certain to make
the mining of iron ore in this state
unstable and uncertain, and there.
by directly, most seriously and
most injuriously affect the welfare
OF every one of the $4,000 persons
aforesaid by mating their very
livelihood precarious and insecure
and
"Whereas, We are confident tina,
the tonnage tax bill has been pass.
ed by the house of representatives
under a total Misrepresentation Of
the conditions which actually exis,
upon the iron ranges, that it has
been passed under the mistaken no.
ton that it will seriously affect no
body but the Steel corporation and
other rich owners of iron ore living
outside of the state, but on the con
trary it will seriously injure the
business and depreciate the value
of the property of every man in this
part, of the state, therefore
Be 1t Resolved, That we, the mem
bers of the Iron Range Press Asso
citation of Minnesota, do deplor<
and denounce the passage of the
tonnage tax bill az calculated to de
stroy property values and ruin tht
business of business men of al
classes upon the iron ranges an6
put in jeopardy our local govern
ments. our schools and our liveli
hood, and
"Be 1t Further Resolved, That w
respectfully petition your honora
BILE body to reject and disapprov'
of this tonnage tax measure end t
apply to the iron range country an<
to it's people the same methods o
taxation which prevail in all othe
parts of the state"
Another matter receiving due at
tention was the prospective appoint
ment of a fourth judge for the elev
enth judicial district, the action o
the body being prompted by the, at
tempt of Duluth to secure such ap
poiutment, whereas the judgeshil
was created at the requert of ant
for the purpose of alleviating con
ditions on the range, and indicted
the following resolutions to Cover
nor Johnson touching upon thi
point:
ITO the Governor of the State o
Minnesota:
"Whereas, It appears likely tha
a certain bill now before the legie
lature of Minnesota for the creatio,
of an additional judgeship for tn
Eleventh judicial District will be
come law, and since the move t.
secure said additional judge wa
taken for the principal purpose Q
affording relief for the Iron Range
of St. Louis county, and was .natu1
;allv supposed that the Range
would receive first consideration il
the matter of the appointment &
the new judge, and with such. unde,
J. fstanding only, the measure ;recei,
FED the, ,eudorsement of the Rang
press, therefore be it
"Resolved, by the Iron Rang
! Press Club, ata neeting:held in Wi
ginia, MINI, on March 20; 1909, -:ths
it is the urgent desire, andia hereb
: made the he,express wish of all .th
twelve newspapers represented j
b |.thtst association, 'thatsthe 9overu<
Of the State Of Minnesota appoint
q -. Is