The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-12-28
AFTER TAX DODGERS.
State Auditor Wants New Tax Laws in
Place OF the Old Worthless Ones.


State Auditor Wants New Tax Laws in
Place OF the Old Worthless Ones.
A complete revision OF the Min
nesota tax laws and the establish
ment OF u board of control in charge
OF the finances and management or
the IA state institutions are urgently
recommended to the legislature in the
biennial report Of State Auditor r.
L G.. Dunn, advance sheets OF which
have been issued.
The auditor bases his arguments
fer new tax laws on the fact that they
| are admittedly faulty and have been
| amended and amended until they are
utterly inadequate. He states that
one third OF tile personal property in
the state escapes taxation altogether,
while ut least % per cent of that list
ed is practically untaxed because of
defective laws.
| The appointment of Il tax commits
sion to draft an entire new law is
recommended. This body would ex-
anime the tax laws OF various states,
selecting their best provisions, and in
addition draft provisions best fitted
for the impartial enforcement of the
revenuc laws. in justice to all classes.
| On the supposition that the legisla-
ture may act favorablY on the recon-
incubation, Auditor Dunn suggests
that the body adjourn ut the expira-
Lion Of go days to meet again for a 30
lday session i'm 1902 to consider the re-
port of the tax commission and pos
sibly OF measures for the establish
ment of Il board of control.
| The state auditor suggests with
reference to the establishment of Il
board of control hat Il heavy saving
',f expense can be obtained in manag-
Ing state institutions, if they are put
under the authority of one board. and
not in charge Of individual boards of
4 maIiagers.,as al present. The diff
cuIties met through the present sys-
item under which each board works
independent of the others, Mr.. Dunn
thinks. should be remedied with Il
4 board of control. The workings of
the proposed system in Iowa. where
it was adopted in 1898. are mentioned,
with reports showing that there the
one board has saved $3.50. 900, or n per
cent of the cost CT maintaining the
state Institutions III the first year
Of its operation. In Minnesota the
annual cost of the II institutions is
more than a million Of dollars, in 1899
ST. ,002.1 1873. and in 1900 ST, 124, 1874.
Iowa has a larger institution popula-
ton, but cared for it in 1899 under
the old system at a cost of 81, 148. l26,
and last year under the board of con-
troll for S966.492, or for S127.702 less
| than Minnesota paid during the same
year to maintain smaller population.
Mr.. Dunn believes that Il board Of
control in Minnesota would save the
state 5000. 900 annually, and that UNI
der the proposed system the cost Of
supplies for the institutions could not
only be reduced. but brought to the
lowest point. and that the expense
accounts of various unsalaried boards
could be permanently done away with.
During the two years covered by the
report. state institution support am
Iounted to 50, 1876 1923, and the cost of
new buildings and repairs S500,000
more.
The report calls attention to per-
sonal property assessments and states
that owners of monies and credits
wilfully perjure themselves and re-
fuse to bear their share of taxation.
/ The enactment of law or the inclu-
sion of Il provision in new tax law
to compel tax dodgers to pay their
fair rate is urged. Attention is call
ed to deficiencies amounting TO 1884,
500 for wolf bounty claims, burial Of
sailors and soldiers, state board of
equalization and publishing the con-
stitutional amendment. The war
claims against the government, work
of the board of investment and land
and timber matters also receive con-
sideration. A recommendation is al
so made that the terms OF county
auditors and treasurers be heightened
to four years.
The new piti. organ at tile Catholic
church last Sunday first pealed forth
its joyous notes. The organ is a good
one and its music can be heard in
every corner or the large church.
Mrs. Croze and Mrs. Korby presided
at the instrument and did admirably
in. every sense.