The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-02-03
MANkATo COMMERCIAL CLUB
TAKES THIS ACTION.
Discussion of eastman Bill Brings
Out Opposition to It's Adoption;
Reapportionment Is Given An
Airing Also: Committees APP.
pointed Look After Legislation;
the Tub Factory.

QOtntCu LOON ~TtcF kcQiSIdtOUI
the Tub Factory.
From Mondays Daily.
There was a fair attendance of
business men at the meeting of the
Commercial club Saturday night to
consider bills now before the legis.
lature affecting Mankato's welfare.
directly or indirectly. Some of these
bills were considered, and it was
Saturday night, to consider other
measures, and to go over more fully
some Of those already considered,
after more information has been OBJ.
tanned upon them. 1t is hoped that
the three representatives in the leg.
islature. as we'll as Senator Works,
will be present at that meeting.
In the absence of President Patter-
son, Judge Cray was chosen to pre-
side at the meeting, and w. d. Will
lard was chosen secretary
List of Bills Pending.
Senator Works was called upon
and gave list of bills pending be-
fore the legislature that interested
Mankato. One was bill doubling
the gross earnings tax on telephone
companies and requiring that connec-
tions be made where there are COM
peting lines; another provided for
taxing water power; one was a bill
to save to Mankato the tub factory;
one was the eastman distance tariff.
Senator Works said that he had IA
vored this last bill, but lately had
questioned whether it would be
good for ATankato. He had made
personal investigations, and had
found that it was not all that was
claimed for it, even in Iowa. A
large stone shipper of Mankato could
ship to Fort Dodge, competing with
a plant only thirty miles from there
He had asked that the meeting be
called to get the views of the people
on the bills. Then, there was the
reapportionment bill. He would
draw bill to present Monday, max
ing an appropriation for Minneopa
park. State Auditor Iverson had
agreed to allow $4,000 for repairing
the road leading into the park, and
he suggested that the Commercial
club or Automobile club cooperate in
fixing the road all the way from the
city. The normal school seeks a
large appropriation for a new build
ing and for an outside heating plant,
amounting to about $125.0OO. The
Commercial club had forwarded
bill to Representative Just for a
state agricultural school for Man.
kato. He was afraid that this bill
would hurt the chances of the nor
NAL, while there would not be
ghost of show to get the agricul.
tural school. The bill ought to be
withdrawn.
Judge Cray suggested that the bills
be taken up one at time, so as to
facilitate matters, and the telephone
bill was first taken up.
Against Telephone Bill.
H. L. Schmitt moved that the sen.
ator and representatives from this
county be instructed to vote against
it. The discussion developed that
the present tax is three per cent
on gross earnigns, and Mr.. Willard
said that this works out equitably,
with the local tax. Senator Works
said that he had not been able to
find any reason why the tax should
be increased, and said that he had
expected to vote against it anyway
Mr.. Willard said that the bill was
intended to hurt the Bell company,
but the local companies ought not
TO cut their own threats doing IT,
Mr.. Schmitt observed that the people
were more interested in cheap rates
than in hitting the Bell company.
The motion was carried, and the
meeting considered the bill to COM
pei telephone companies to- connect
Senator Works said that he would
rather not be tied down at present
on this bill until he knew more about
1t. He would send printed copies Of
the bill to members. He YVES dead
against having the state railway and
warehouse commission having con-
troll of telephone companies.
Mr.. Willard did not know about
the advisability of having the lines
connect up, but was against putting
the companies under the state rail-
road and warehouse commission, ow-
ing to its favoring the railroads as
against the shippers.
Mr.. Schmitt thought the railway
and warehouse commission the prop.
er body to have charge of forcing
the companies to connect. If the
commission was not fair, elect one
that would be.
Judge Cray did not see how there
could be reasonably uniform rates
unless the matter was put into the
hands of the commission or some
other control.
Mr.. Willard said that in Wisconsin
the public utilities commission has
charge of all of these things. The
only telephone connection provided
for was for long distance service, he
supposed.
Referred to a Committee.
Mr.. Schmitt moved that the matter
be referred to committee of three
-