Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-04-02

Ay both houses. Every one concerned
In the cases now before the courts
regards their full adjudi cation g Of
the highest Importance, not only or
principally because Of the particular
rates involved, but because Of the set
tlement of incidental issues. The de.
cision of the courts will settle the val
uation of the roads, which is in dis
pute. It will decide whether or not q
state is prevented from making fair
1ntrastate rates on roads doing an In
terstate business, if those rates incl
dentally affect rates in adjacent
states or rates on interstate traffic,
1t will more fully define the thing
which must be taken into considers
ton in deciding whether or not rat
is or Is not just. It will define, tot
the rights of the state and the fec
eral government in the uncertain tw:
light zone where both now assume t
exercise authority. On these an.-
other accounts. it is considered unde-
sirable at this session to enact any
legislation which will in any way at
feet the litigation now in progress.
= + =
It was to this cause, too, and to
these same influences that the Spoon
er bill to increase the tax on gross
earnings of railroads from to 6 per
cent owes it's indefnitsbostponement.
The tax commission had, in it's annual
report, pointed out that the present
rate of per cent was less than rail-
roads would have to pay if railroad
property was assessed and taxed in
the same way as other property.
Many members thought this an injus-I
tice and the result was the introduce
ton Of the Spooner and other bills to|
increase the gross earnings rate The
opposition to these bills was on thet
ground that their passage would Affect
pending litigation and the result has|
been that they have been acted uponI
adversely.
/. j. +
Tax legislation lags. One measure
which was passed by the house looks
to the decrease Of taxes, another to
their increase. The first is the Stuart
bill, which reduces the mortgage reg
1stry tax from 50 cents on 800 to 10
cents. The reason given for the re-
duction Is that the tax, instead of be-
Ing paid by the lender, as designed,
is shifted onto the shoulders of the
borrower. The measure to increase
revenues is the Thayer bill, which
provides for stamp tax Of cent on
500 on all transactions on boards of
trade and chambers of commerce. An
other measure relating to taxation
provides for uniform assessment of
all classes Of property at 40 per cent
Of it's value.
!. !. !.
Representative Lennon of Mfnneap-
oils wants the state to abandon all
the issues it has raised in the rate
cases now on trial and seeks to have
legislative commission appointed by
the lieutenant governor and the speak
er to see if they cannot reach with
the officials Of the railroads an AMIGA
BILE adjustment of their differences. It
is altogether likely, however, that the
people will have greater confidence in
securing Justice. and they want no
more, from the courts than would re-
suit from any agreement reached by
any committee of legislators likely to
be appointed. While the expense of
the trial is great it is really small
when the issues involved are consid-
cred and not too great price to pay
for finding out once for all whether
the railroads control the state or the
state controls the railroads.
- /. + i.
The most remarkable thing Of the
session perhaps has been the COM
plete and sudden collapse of the or-l
ganized opposition to the establish
ment at New Brighton of the Armour
plant. The most plausible explana-
ton so far given is that Mr.. James J.
Hill has put his foot down. What
ever effect the establishment of such
a plant might have on other interests
there can be no question that it would
be tremendously to the advantage of
the merger roads. This advantage
Mr.. Hill would not be at all likely to
forego for any slight discomfort the
establishment of packing plant at
New Brighton might possibly cause
the students at the university or the
agricultural school or the residents in
st. Paul's suburbs. Under the circum
stances it is not at all improbable
that Mr.. Hill has exerted his influ-
ence, which is known to be great, with
the men behind the Rowe bill and in
duced them to drop the fight. There
is, to be sure, some talk of the enact
ment of a law giving the state board
of health increased supervisory pow
ers in the matter, but this is mere
talk, and such a bill, even If it could
be passed, which is doubtful. would
not amount to anything.
/. i.
Reapportionment is deader than al
door nail The senate committee.
after laboring all winter, evolved al
scheme to cut the senate down to-
fifty members, but giving the house
4 Il >ra&A ~