The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-09
THE TAX Reform MoyEMEyr.

THE Tx REFORM MOVEMENT.
The last legislature authorized the APP
polntment of a commission for the re-
vision of the tax laws of this state and
the governor appointed such commits
slon' composed of the very best men
that could be chosen for the discharge of
sucn duty. That body has been at work
Since last winter in gathering data, and
IN examining the operation Of the taxing
systems of other states Its work will
the 6 o be believes, be well done. and
Will find ready acceptance by the state
authority
No knowledge whatever exists as to
the changes or reforms which will be
recommended by the state tax commits
sion, and it would be useless to speculate
on the results Of its work. The i'm
portance Of that work and the need of it's
being well done cannot be exaggerated.
The greatest internal problem Of Ameri-
can government is the tax problem. No
one phase of that problem exceeds in i'm
portance any other, and no mere improve
ment in any one direction will meet the
requirements of the situation. If the
state of Minnesota is to receive the bene-
fits which must necessarily come from
a proper revision of it's taxing system
the tax commission must handle this
great problem like men Of courage and
brains, and must not be deferred by it's
difficulties in any direction
On the subject of the taxation of per
SERIAL property alone, the matter is sur
rounded by difficulties which no one
seems to care to confront and which are
looked on as practically insuperable. Yet
here is one point at which an absolute
ly new departure is dictated The sys-
tenn of taxing personally now in vogue
is a scandal and a disgrace. 1t is a bur-
den to the honest and thrifty poor: and
it is a very hot-bed of perjury and fraud
The makeshift methods resorted to from
time to time to work out some sort of
solution of this deplorable state of things
partake in themselves of the most un7e-
sirable characteristics of the evil aimed
at
The paltering with this subject which
has so long been in progress mostly in
the interest of large aggregations OF
single tax idea we'll to the front. The
plan of imposing all taxation on real
estate has not yet had such a meas
ure of public consideration bestowed on
it as to lead to the belief that the pub
lie would favor it, or will favor it for
many years to come. But, as the general
subject of taxation now stands, there can
be no doubt whatever that the plan will,
unless radical departure more general
ly acceptable, is devised, receive much
mere favor than is shown to it noM
The chaotic condition right here in our
own community is evinced in the facil-
ity with which a few blood-suckers have
been able to defraud the county as well
as the individual in connection with I'M
paid taxes. That species of fraud, and
other frauds which pass for legitimate
transactions, but which involve the most
notorious usury and extortion, amounts
ing in most cases to barefaced robbery,
Pare daily in operation under the shadow
of our involved taxing and tax-collecting
systems
There is little doubt that the direction
in which any substantial advances will
be made in the Immediate future in gov
ernmental administration toward SUBJ
| stantial reform of existing systems will
be that of taxation. The distinguished
men who make up our state tax COM
mission have a great opportunity to place
form. Will they do so?
They may or they may not But Of this
| fact they may be assured, that no mere
| codihcation of the existing tax laws,
and no mere sticking plaster method OF
treating a. grave public sore will answer
| the purpose for which they received
| their appointments. These gentlemen may
go step farther and consider it
| reasonably correct statement, that,
whether their plans and suggestions are
| or are not adopted, their work will be
| held In esteem by the intelligent senti-
ment of the state just in the degree In
| which it indicates their comprehensive