The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-10-18

n 49, - - ~sEDp - - - n
complex machinery Of our state gov
ernment, so carefully and wisely con-
structed by the Republican party is
to them still incomprehensible, and
their ignorant experiments. if not pre-
vented, may throw the machine out OF
gear and work serious injury
Find Not the Author.
h The Democratic state platform pro-
ceeds to indorse what 1t terms Gov.
Lind's proposition to the last legisla-
ture for tax reform, by which the cost
of state government would be betrayed
from corporate taxes only. Let me
draw your attention to the fact that
this proposition was not original with
Gov. Lind, by any means. I find, on
page 4 OF the biennial report OF the
Republican auditor OF state, the Hon
r. G. Dunn, which was laid before the
legislature when 1t convened, in Jan.
uary 1897, the following recommenda-
ton.
The modern tendency in taxation bs
states Is to lessen the tax rate upon
realty and derive increased revenue
from taxes upon corporations, inher-
itances, etc This, 1t seems to nae, is
the proper time for our state to make
an advance toward this system OF
taxation"
And, furthermore, Republican Iegis-
latures have acted upon the state au-
dftor's recommendation, by passing
laws imposing a tax upon inheritances
and foreign corporations. and there Is
no doubt that before very long the cost
of state government will be entirely
betrayed by such taxes.
The Democratic state platform con-
cludes by demanding that the gross
earnings tax on railroad earnings be
increased to per cent. as recommend
ed by Gov. Lind to the last legisla-
ture" sss
Not Even Recommended by Lind.
AS q matter OF fact. Gov. Lind's S mes
sage to the legislature of 1899 contains
no such recommendation; but find oh
page 20 Of the state auditors report,
submitted to the legislature of 1888,
several days in advance of the govern
or's message, a Recommendation that
the legislature increase the gross
earnings tax to per cent. IT is true
that the governor recommended an in
crease in the tax, but he made no such
specific recommendation as is claimed
in the Democratic platform. No one
to-day denies that the plan of taxing
the gross earnings Of railroads is the
best and most convenient that could
be devised. The Republican state
platform indorses the plan and urges
that the rate Of such taxation be
maintained at such a figure as to-
make the tax annually collected from
the railroads equal and uniform with
the taxes imposed on other property
throughout the state.
While on this subject of taxation,
let me draw your attention to another
matter which would not be surprised
to hear had also been appropriated by
our Democratic friends. I refer to the
Taxation of Mines and Mineral
Lands
in the northeastern part of the state.
Formerly this class of property es-
capped all other taxation by paying q
state tax of cent per ton on the gross
output OF the mines, and the total
amount of tax for any one yeafsranged
from $s,9s0.o0. in 1891, to s24, 72t.00, In
1895. In 1896 Attorney General Childs
furnished the state auditor with his
opinion, to the effect that the / cent
Etax per ton was unconstitutional: and
all mines and mineral lands were,
therefore placed upon the assessment
rolls Of the different counties. to be
assessed and taxed the same as the
property of other corporations and In
dividuals.
Prior to that time the counties in
which the mines We're situated had not
received a cent Of taxes from this
property. and the burden of maintain
ing the county government, admins
trative, judicial, etc, was borne by the
small property owner. The legislature
repealed the law providing for the |
cent per ton tax. and in 1896, and since
that year, the property of the mine
owners has been taxed upon an as
sessed valuation, like other property
Each year the valuation has been in
creased, and for this year the amount
OF taxes paid by the mine owners is
about $3.50, 10000. and it must be re-
memtered that nine-tenths of this tax
goes into the treasury of the county in
which the property is situated, the
state receiving the other tenth. The
result is that the burden Of taxation
upon the people has been decreased at
least one halft in the counties affect
ed. I might also mention the, fact that
Republican legislature gave to the
state board Of equalization the power
to raise the Individual assessments OF
mining and other corporations, pow
err which has aided greatly in the
equitable distribution Of the burdens
Of taxation.
Democratic Claim Rfdicu1ous.
T may safely and truthfully say.
there is not and has not been wise
and beneficent legislative or official
act or recommendation in the interests
of the taxpayers Of the state that has
not had Its initiative with Repub-
Iican legislature or Republican state
official and as it has been in the past,
the people may reasonably expect it
will be in the future. For our political
opponents to lay claim at this time to
the credit of initiating any of these
acts or recommendations is not only
ridiculous but it is untruthful and dis
honest. The question OF taxation has
always been given the deepest and
most careful consideration by our Re-
publican legislatures, and IL radical
action has not been taken as rapidly
as some may have desired, that is, in
my opinion. an evidence of that care
fui conservatism which should always