New Ulm review., 1920-10-20
CITY PROGRESS
Is HANDICAPPED.
ASSESSMENT EXEMPTION OF
RAILROAD PROPERTY rs
IMPEDIMENT.
AMENDMENT NO. 4, IF PASSED,
WILL ALLOW TAXING FOR
IMPROVEME TENTS.

| lMPROVEM ENIS.
Mayor L. A.. Fritsche is in receipt of
communication from the League of
Minnesota Municipalities, urging him
to bring to the attention of the voters
of New Ulm the proposed amendment
to the Constitution of the state, where
/ by the word assessments is dropped
from the exemption under the gross
earnings tax law, thus leaving railroad
property liable for special assessments
by which it is benefited.
Legislature Finally Acts.
Through the efforts of the League of
Minnesota Municipalities and es-
pecially it's legislative committee the
Legislature has finally made the pro-
posal and it is feared that unless the
amendment, which is No. on the
pink ballot, is carried at the general
ele ction, Tuesday, November Q, it will
be difficult to secure re-submission.
The danger Of defeat is through lack
of interest and information, rather
than as result Of any animosity to-
ward the proposed. amendment on the
part of the voters, as the ballot will be
long, and failure to vote ''yes'' will be
equivalent to voting "no.'
Railroads Are Exempt.
The constitution of Minnesota pro-
vides that there shall be levied upon
railroads in this state a gross earning
tax in lieu of all other taxes and as
sessnsents. The word Assessment"
has been interpreted by the courts Of
the state to include within it's meaning
| special assessments which it is neces-
sary to levy from time to time against
the property of the railroads when
some Improvement has been made
adjacent to that property and for
which the railroads should, in all
justice and equity, be required to pay
it's share as all other owners of ad-
jacent real property must do. And
yet, under the present wording of the
law the railroads cann6t be so com
PEELED to pay.
Hardship on Municipalities.
The result of the situation is hard
ship upon the municipalities of Mime
sofa when they want to make special
Improvements upon such of their
streets as lie adjacent to. railroad
property. Miles of streets in cities
of this state are remaining unimproved
because of this situation. The general
! funds Of the cities cannot stand to
pay the railroads share of the expense,
nor can such expense in fairness be
super-added to the share OF other
property owners adjacent to the street
. to be improved. Sewers and side
walks have gone unlaid, watermains
cannot be put in and special crossings,
other than those which the railroads
i can be compelled by law to provide
!. across their rights-of-way, cannot be
made for the convenience of the public.
Experience along these lines have
+ been had right here in New Ulm in
, recent years when the city council at
tempted to compel the M. & St. L.
and the Northwestern railroads to
put in sidewalk across their rights-o of
way on First North street and on First
7 and Third South streets, respectively
r Rural Districts Also Suffer.
> The rural communities, as well as thu
: cities and villages, suffer from tn,
present situations. Drainage project
I are blocked, bitches often cannot b
dug and necessary culverts cannot b
put in. The country districts need tn
; gross earnings tax amendment as mucl
= as do the urban communities.
DON'T Overlook Amendment
. In order to change The existing law
the Legislature in 1919 passed the gros
earnings tax amendment, which take
special assessments out from under tn
# Constitution and the supplemental,
statute, and allows the municipaltyt t
IS levy special assessments against rail
q road property the same as agains
r other private property. In order fo
5. this to become the law, the Constitu
$. ton requires chat it be ratified by
+ majority Of those voting at a regula
le election at which it must etsubnnittet
e This amendment. together With thre
It others, is to be submitted at the gener;
y election, Tuesday, November Q. 4.
, that time many things Of great in
IS portance are going to be decided:
le President of the United States S goir
i to he elected. a Governor Of Minnesnt