The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-02-14

button Of the legislative districts of
the state. Besides, many of the con-
servative members of the house think
the present time inopportune for the
consideration of tonnage tax bill. 1t
Is pointed out that the constitutional
amendment proposed by Mr.. Dunn
levying a 1-mill tax for good roads
purposes will add largely to the taxes
paid by the iron interests. 1t is not i'm
probable besides that at the present
session the house will favor the bill
increasing the gross earnings tax on
railroads. The range roads, in pro-
portion to mileage, pay much more
towards this than roads located else
where and this tax comes indirectly
out OF the Golfers of the steel trust.
Why, it is asked, complicate matters
and eIdanger the passage of the re
apportionment bill, the gross earnings
tax bill and the good roads bill by
counting the opposition in which the
attempt to force the passage of a
tonnage tax bill at this time would
certainly result? OF course these mat
tiers do not touch the principle of the
bill, but they are practical objections
against taking up the matter at this
time certain, and properly so, to have
weight with those urging the reforms
to which have referred.
j. j. +
In this connection have it from ex-
cellent authority that powerful infiu-
ences are already at work to bring
about the defeat, for political reasons,
of the good roads legislation in the
senate, to which the house has given
a practically unanimous endorsement,
or such a modification of it as will
render it imperative and ineffective.
/ have hitherto explained the object
and purposes of Mr.. Dunn's bills.
From the best information can gather
| these bills are generally commended
| throughout the state as affording both
the funds and the machinery by which
| beginning can be made to make the
| country roads what they ought to be.
| Moreover the 1-mill tax proposes to
| levy on the large cities their fair pro-
portion of the tax for good roads, from
which ultimately, though indirectly,
/ they will receive the benefit. The
taxes which will be paid by the coun-
ties OF Hennepin, Ramsey and st,
Louis far exceed what can possibly
/ be- expended on roads within their
borders. In view Of the importance
of this legislation to the rural dis
| tricts of the state, the favorable &C
ton of the senate is matter of such
vital Importance that feel it my duty
to direct attention to the character of
the opposition to Mr.. Dunn's bills which
/ has been brought to my notice.
! !. i
The house refused the other day to
go on record in opposition to the pro.
posed Canadian reciprocity treaty
Sentiment was, however, fairly well
divided between those who approved
and those who disapproved of the
agreement to practically wipe out the
trade barriers which have been erect
| ed between the United States and
] Canada AS was natural the opposi
ton to free trade with Canada came
largely from the representatives of ag
ricultural communities. Mr.. Harding
put it very well when he said that
farmers had, by being given nominal
protection on their products, of which
they could see no direct advantage
for years consented to pay roundly fol-
the protection of the products of East
ern manufacturers. Now, when the
protection had became real, and added
to the value of agricultural products
it is proposed to take it away anG
open the gates wide to the products
of cheap Canadian lands.
j. i i
There are several telephone bills be
fore the committees of the house ant
senate for consideration and hearings
on them have been begun. Legisla
ton is desired to require different tel
ephone systems to make connection!
over each others lines. Railroads arr
required to do this. 1t is contendet
that in the public interest telephon.
companies should be compelled tt
make such connections at a reasona
BILE charge satisfactory to the railroad
commission or some other supervisor.
authority. The multiplication of rura
telephone lines and independent com
panies makes this almost essential i
the public is to have efficient service
Naturally any reform in this direction
is strenuously opposed by the loni
distance lines, who always have ;
corps of officials present at the hear
ings, while the public is generally in
adequately represented.
i. !. i.
Senator Kunze's bill providing for
public holiday between May and Oct
1 to be designated by the governor an
to be known as Minnesota day ha
been reported out favorably. Beside
the desirability of such a holiday t
Il IN, I,