Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-07-17
INTERESTED READER
Editor AskOy American:

Editor ASkOV American.
have been a reader of your inter-
esting paper for some time and enjoy
your articles on different topics. Like
many of your readers, 1 have been
following Mr.. Beckman's and Mr..
Brandes' articles on the proposed cut
in iron ore taxes. l agree with you
that such a reduction should be
fought and the people of the state and
our Legislators should be on guard
against any such favors to the already
prosperous steel corporation.
Another bill which you have men
toned is the bus tax reduction, which
was granted the Twin City busses at
the last session and voted for and sup
ported by our representative, Mr..
Therrien. The following is taken
road Brotherhoods' state legislative
board of 1929: 1.-The transports of
passengers for hire by bus lines is Il
growing utility. Heretofore the tax
on such busSes has been 10 per cent
of the base cost on busses operating
uSt"CCu lWO vi lllOiC ClllcS.
Buses operating within the con-
fines of city or as auXiliaries and
feeders of street car lines or car
rying passengers to and from hotels
and ,lepOts pay a tax of pa per cent
of the base cost. The reason for this
small tax is because of contingent
service rendered.
"On some street car busses the
regular car fare is paid which ell
titles the passenger to transfer
good on street car lines. Others
charge a straight bus fare. Buses
operating between hotels and depots
sometimes operate free to patrons of
the hotel as courtesy and apprecia-
ton Of their patronage. This service
was the main factor in establishing
the minimum rate of the "a per cent
tax.
THE busses operating between ST.
Paul and Minneapolis charge a
straight fare of twenty-five cents eX-
cept the Lake street and Marshall
ave. line which charges 1919 cents
within the confines of both cities to-
tai of twenty-five cents. None of these
bus lines give transfers. There is
nothing contingent on the service
rendered.
Bills were introduced in the House
and Senate amending the law so as to
take operation of busses within the
limits of two or more contiguous
cities from commercial passenger
transportation and put it under local
bus lines carrying passengers from
railroad station from or to places
in the vicinity thereof thereby
changing the classification for tax
alton purposes from 10 per cent TO
"a per cent of the basic cost This
is a very substantial saving to the
street car company operating these
busses. Where they have paid 10000
of taxes heretofore, now they will pay
$4,000.
AS an example of how corporation
legislation is expedited, will say.
This legislation was hardly month
old before it became "a law. 1t was in
one committee one day, the other
committee two days. special orders
were granted to insure its passage.
Representative Starkey likened it as
a sister to the Brooks-Coleman law,
and it was just like making the
street car company present OF
SS,0000O from the trunk highway
fund
Now | call your attention to the
fact that Mr.. Therrien voted for this
bill If it could have been stopped
from passage it would have saved
enough trunk highway revenue to
have paid the interest on nearly
$50, 900 worth of refunding bonds
annually.
VIM. ID. ANDERSON.
Brook Park, Mimi. Route 2.