St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-21
AN INHERITANCE TAX.
The House Members Favor the
TriDciDie.

Principle.
Immediately after recess the house
went into committee of the whole, with
Mr.. Fleming in the chair. First on the
list were II. F. IS, introduced by Mr..
Peterson, and H. F. 96, introduced by
Mr.. Hopkins. Both pro vide for the
levying of an inheritance tax of D per
cent on all over 500 in cert ain cases.
The authors of the bills explained
wherein they differed, which is simply
in the method proposed for collecting the
tax. r.PeterSon'S bill makes the county
treaSurerS and county attorneys the col
lecting officers, while Mr.. Hopkins bill
creates the office of tax attorney. Each
gentleman argued for his own bill. but
stated they had agreed to submit the
matter to the house for its decision as
to which bill was the most desirable to
enact into law.
Mr.. Blocker argued for the principle
of the bills, but hoped Mr.. Hopkins bill
would be recommended to the house.
Mir. Greer called attention to a senate
bill proposing a constitutional amend
ment TO the same effect. tie said the
question to be considered was whether
or not the state was ripe for the passage
of such a law, and he favored submits
sion of the question to the people, as
provided in the senate bill.
MIR. German moved that both bills be
indefinitely postponed. He said that
the supreme court had already declared
such a law unconstitutional under sec
ton of the constitution, and for that
reason he favored submission of the
question to the people, as proposed in
the serate bill.
T7Infabnr w caft1Ah n ~ fhn
legal status Of the matter, but lie did
not like the tax agent provision.
Clearly CONSTITUTIONAL.
Mr.. Wilson, of GoodhuP, made log
zeal and concise argument for the con-
sttutiOnalIty of such law. The re-
ceiving of property by descent or devise,
he said, was q privilege conferred on
certain persons by the state, and had
been so held by nearly all the highest
courts, including the supreme court of
the United States. Therefore the legis-
lature had power to regulate 1t. by taxa
ton or otherwise. He quoted many de-
csions in support of his argument for
the constitutionality of such law if
passed.
Mr.. Abbott asserted his belief that
such tax should be levied. He would
regulate it only by the size Of the estate.
and make it from 50 to 80 per cent. Mr..
Peterson'S bill met his approval, be-
cause it was simple, fair and safe.
Mr.. Moore took the ground that Mr..
Hopkins bill created another Office for
the lawyers. Therefore lie was opposed
to it.
Mr.. Young SAID the Judiciary commit
tee had especially objected to the pro-
vision creating the Office of tax agent.
If such bill was to be passed he hoped
it would rot contain that provision.
Insurance Money Excepted.
Mr.. Winston offered an amendment
executing from the operation of the law
all life insurance money, which was
adopted.
Mr.. Blocker offered an amendment
which provides that county attorneys
shall begin suit for administration in
cases where heirs or devisees refuse or
neglect 10 do so. II was adopted. as
was also another amendment by the
same gentleman providing penalty for
acceptance of any fee or DrIbe by APP