The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-18

credits This class of property does not
bear Its just burden of taxation and the
legislator who could draft a bill and have
1t enacted into a law. that would bring TINS
class of property from hiding, have 1t
placed upon the assessment rolls, and there
properly valued. would be a benefactor to
the state am of the opn0a tha of i tbs
state escapes taxation. This is true, not
only of Minnesota but Of other states as
well.
In 1899 the legislature of New York ap-
pointed a joint commission of both houses
on taxation, consisting of six members.
They labored earnestly and long, and after
a most searching investigation, they have
this to say of personal property assess
ment: 1--WE have every reason to believe
of the state in his report to the legislature
of 1899, that no more than per cent of
the personal property. of the state Is as
tally correct. This condition of affairs
the state has long been the subject of
complaint and has been prominent feat
ure of the report of every special commit
tee AMI commission charged with the in
vestigation of the subject, and has been
given serious attention In the annual mes
sages of all governors to the legislature
for more than quarter of a century; and
it never has been seriously contended by
those who speak in the interests of per-
sonal property that such a condition WIS
either equitable or Just but 1t is claimed
that the condition is inherent in any sys-
tenn of general properly taxation because
reached and the difficulty of placing per-
sonalty on the assessment roll.
Chicago has recently had a tax revival,
brought about in large measure by a
change in the method of assessment. The
old plan of an assessor for each district
was abolished. Five men were selected to
do this work under the supervision of a
Board of Review. Mr.. Upham, president
of the board, gives an interesting and in
structive account of the plan of operation,
whereby the assessment in the civ
raised two hundred million dollars, and 1t
was done he claims, in the main, by every
feeling and seeing that his neighbor did
likewise. The trouble usually Is, that the
person liable for the tax does not want
to, and will not return for assessment a
large amount of property, while his neigh
bor equally as well to do, escapes taxa
tion Too often the burdens are shifted
them, and placed upon those who are I'M
able to carry them without hard struggle,
for many men otherwise honest, resort to
questionable means to avoid the payment
of taxes.
1 realize that 1t is a difficult problem to
find a specific method that will place all
butt am sure that better methods than
those now in use In our state, can be
adopted.
l think the concsnsus of opinion of all
who have given the subject of taxation the
most careful study and research, are of
the opinion that revenues should be raised
on real estate and personal proptry. 1
am inclined to that view, and believe that
orr own state in time can, and will be
relieved of this mode Of taxation.A great
advance could be made in this direction IL
we had a franchise law similar to the
one In New York. All corporations operat-
but every other, both domestic and foreign,
would have to submit to the operation of
the law # said companies refused or
licenses could be revoked. The franchise
law. understand, is working admirably in
New York. and under date of Nov. Goth,
board Of Tax Commissioners, writes as fol-
lows. 'The first year of operation of the
franchise law there was an increas, of
franchise: of one hundred and seventy mil
lion. This is placed upon the assessment
rolls In tax districts where the property is
rates.
will not discuss this subject further.
Our present laws are certainly very de-
fectivc, and ! agree with several of my
predecessors in office, as well as State
Auditor Dunn, that a tax commission should
be created for the purpose of drafting
all requirements. Action should be taken
at once. so that said commission might
Immediately proceed with the work in hand
and. If possible. report bill during this
session Of the legislature. If this canont
be done and the plan proposed by State
Auditor Dunn meets with favor, the COM
Jan. list, 1902. l know that the subject of
taxation is one upon which there Is the
widest divergence of opinion, but It seems
to me that there should be none as to the
necessity of tax commission for our state.
Said commission could collect and collate
laws, from all the states and select those
which are best and then draft q law that
would be vast improvement over our
present inefficient system of taxation You
will find this subject of tax commission
fully and ably. presented in the report of
our state auditor, and you will do we'll
to read and carefully study the same.
BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CoRREC
TIONAL AND CHARITABLE
INSTITUTIONS.
Equally important with the collection of
taxes, is proper disbursement Of the
moneys thus received. In round numbers,
year, 81, 600 10000 will be needed for cur
rent expenses, and for the one succeeding
S1,10O 10000, and for new buildings and
correctional and charitable institutions of
81, $50, 100000 for the next biennial period.
/ am convinced that there should be
all these institutions. Such a board, com
posed of experienced business men, nom
partisan In its character, the members re-
services, and devoting all their time and
energies to the discharge of their duties,
would be vast Improvement over the
large saving to the state annually, and this,
too, without in any way lessening the eff,
cheney OF the service to the, inmates. The
ical influences and all purchases would be
made at wholesale, and after receiving
competitive bids.
To illustrate how this would result, I
quote an extract from the report of State
Bard of Control Of Iowa:
'.The large surplus to the credit of the
august 3st 1882 to s1a 1889 Is arge On
due to the methods In purchasing supplies,
and holding every person to strict ac-
erty of the states. No argument Is needed
to prove that our system Of purchasing sup
plies for all the state institutions together,
merly, and under full and fair system of
competitive bids, is a great improvement
over former methods, when each institu-
ton made Its own purchases for only pres
ent needs. and practically no opportunity
was afforded for competition. At some Of
the, institutions, merchants had been sup
the stimulus of competition the same par
ties bid on the same articles from ten TO
twenty-five per cent below the price for
merly received. Canned corn was costing
some of our state institutions 81 20 per
dozen; we contracted for a supply for one
year at 65c per dozen, standard article,
"Other instances Of saving In this manner
might be multiplied indefinitely, but it is
unnecessary, for no one acquainted with
business will deny that the methods mr.
sued must effect great saving over bur
chasing in small quantities, from retail
merchants.
'Tn concluding this subject, we may be
pardoned for pointing with pride to the
record made. not alone In the saving effect
ed by purchasing the supplies for our state
institutions In a businesslike manner, but
of far more importance is the fact that the
unfortunate and helpless people entrusted
to our care, are now better fed and better
clothed, than they were before being plac-
ed under the control Of this Board.'
do not wish to be understood as cast.
Ing any reflections on the management of
our institutions by the various boards
under our present system, In fact, 1 am