Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-22
mical government. The majority

faction fight for the supremacy Of
upholding the old school political
power, as dominated by the various
corporations, the Brewing associa-
ton, and we might add the Twin
Cities, realizing as they do that there
is a general awakening among the
people in opposition to their rule and
power. They feel that something
must be done to check this growing
sentiment as against them, hence we
find that some of the very members
that guarded so tenderly the interest
Of the dominating powers are now
anxious to call an extra session for
the purpose Of quieting their own
conscience, and if possible, appease
the wrath Of the people.
If they are sincere now, why were
they not sincere and honest enough
last winter to formulate a plan, where
by the Legislature could reach these
corporations with just and uniform
tax. So long as they have no tang
ible evidence as to the valuation OF
corporation properties, such as rail
road and iron ore, SO long will they
fail to reach these properties, with
a just and uniform tax. The pro-
posed increase from to 5 per cent
on the gross earnings Of the railroads
is Of course the lowest that can be
proposed at this time, and the meas
ure introduced at the last session,
embodied that increase, and was de-
feated by vote Of 26 in favor, and
88 against; defeated because Of a
prevailing suspicion among a large
number of the members, that it was
a measure sanctioned by the railroad
corporations themselves, in order tc
ward off the enacting Of any other
measure into law, that would tend to
bring about more just and fair tax
alton upon their properties. Then
again some Of the promoters Of this
measure had been and was strongly
against the Tonnage tax, and voted
to defeat that measure, a measure
that would have brought revenue
Of one and one-third million dollars
into the State Treasury yearly, il
passed. Strange that those very
members who were so strenuously OPP.
posed to this just and fair revenue
measure, should now advocate the
necessity Of calling an extra session
for the purpose Of enacting some
other revenue measure touching 8
corporation that do not now seem te
oppose the increase Of this proposed
tax.
Then again, we believe there never
has been in the history Of the State
where there has been so many gooG
laws proposed, as there were at the
last session of the Legislature, anG
never in any Legislative body Of this
state has such large number OF
true, loyal and honest members as
sembled as there was assembled in
that body far above the average, in
determination to further the cause
Of good government, day by day, they
stood the test, fighting like one, to
gain inch by inch, the victory that
seemed to them, at times so near, to
redeem the trust imposed upon them
by the people of this State, but to
no avail. Always in the minority,
their measures were ruthlessly de-
feated, and their efforts vanquished.
Is it not possible, Mr.. Editor, that
on account Of Judge Sanborn's de-
cision, and with the expectation that
the Supreme Court will uphold that
decision, multiplying the rate law, as
enacted 1907, that the railroad cor
poration, foreseeing the storm Of dis
approval about to break forth on ac-
count Of such decision, that they
were willing to concede, yea even
anxious to submit to an increase Of
the gross earning tax from 4 to 5 per
cent, thereby quelling the demands
Of the people for more just and fair
increase. Should the present mem
bership again be called into an extra
session, to consider this very propos-
ition, we doubt very much that an
agreement could be reached, whereby
a law could be enacted to tax these
corporations. Some holding to the
idea that 6 or 8 per cent, yea even
10 per cent would not be too large