The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-03-15
BEFORE THE SENATE
Upper Branch of Minnesota Legisla-
ture to Consider Super-Tax
Iron Ore Bill Today.
Amended Road Bill Passed the Senate
Friday-Measure is Special
Order in House Today.

st. Paul, March 14-The super-tax
iron ore bill is a special order in the
Senate for two o'clock tomorrow af-
ternoon. There is now and there has
been for weeks past powerful lobby
at work against this bill. But one
would not know it from reading the
city newspapers. The opponents of
the measure are not overlooking any
bets. They are on the job night and
day and Sundays. A week ago it
looked as if the bill stood at least an
even chance of passing, that is, judg-
ing from the expressions of senator's.
But there has been a change of front
6 on the part of several senators who
were supposed to have been friendly
to the bill. My guess is that the bill
will be defeated. But before it's de-
feat is accomplished there will be a
red-hot debate which will be partici-
pated in by several of the older men,
bers who will take the negative side
of the question under the leadership
of Senator George H. Sullivan. Mr..
Sullivan is a good and plausible talk
err. Senator James A. Carley of Wa
basha county, who is an exceedingly
bright young attorney and probable
nominee of the Democratic party for
governor in 1918, will lead the fight
in behalf of the bill, and he will be
assisted by Senator D. P. O'Neil of
Pennington county. Mr.. O'Neil is
earnest and forcible, and hits from
the shoulder
y: x: y:
There are ugly rumors afoat 'Anent
this super-tax bill, but I do not take
much stock in them There is room
for an honest difference of opinion on
the merits and dement's of the meas
ure. There are those who conscien-
tiously believe that the iron proper
ties. are already taxed high enough
higher than any other class Of proper
ty and that the super-tax is inequita-
BILE, unscientifc and unjust. On the
other hand there are those who argue
that iron ore is diminishing product
that rs or 80 years hence there will be
no iron ore left to tax in this state
nothing but holes in the ground-and
that in the matter of taxation it should
be treated differently from other pro.
perty.
x x: x
It is my own deliberate opinion that
the two per cent tax, in addition to
the ad valorem tax, will not work any
hardship. If I were convinced that
the super-tax would injuriously affect
the interests of the people Of St. Louis
or any other mining counties no pow
err on earth could induce me to vote
for the bill.
* * *
Measures recommended by the eff
cheney and economy commission will
have the right of way in a few days
There is considerable opposition to the
public domain bill and also to the
bill divorcing the grain inspection de.
partment from the railroad and ware.
house commission. Both of these bills
may pass the senate but they will have
a hard time of it in the house.
X y: X
BY a vote of 60 to 8 the amended
road bill passed the senate last Friday
The bill is special order in the house
for tomorrow afternoon. There will be
slather Of amendments offered tc
the bill in the house, but the friends
of the measure are in hopes that il
will pass practically as it came from
the senate.
Some of my newspaper friends are
criticizing me severely for introduc.
ing bills which, they say, are detri.
mental to the newspapers. A couple
of weeks ago I stated my position or
the bills in question. In this connec.
ton I beg pardon for reproducing the
following article from the Chasks
Herald, written by Hon. Fred E. Du
Toit, a former respected member Of
the Minnesota State Senate:
Not on Your Life. ~.
"Bob Dunn seems to be DESERVING
his friends. First his old stand by thu
steel corporation and then his news
paper brothers.. How sharper than :
serpent's tooth it is to have thank
less child" Eden Valley Journal.
Good old Bob Dunn deserving his
friends would indeed be wonder oil
the age. Bob Dunn has never beer
false to a friend or cause, and yor
may rest assured Bro. O'Brien thai
he is true to his colors today. His ap
parent desertion Of the steel corpora
- ton is to our way Of thinking only
mythical. Bob has always been will
the people and he undoubtedly real