The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-02-01

the next meeting Of the city council
to render any assistance in their power
to further the defeat"
The following circular was therefore
prepared and mailed:
Dear Sir:-The proposed new tax
code has such radical changes, and the
time for its consideration is so short,
that we believe it impossible for the
people of the state to secure any knOWl-
edge Of the provisions of the proposed
law.
One idea Of the proposed law is to
cut down to the lowest amount, the
exemptions from taxation. It is pro-
posed that the only exemption shall be
$25. This means that any person own
ing $50 worth of household furniture,
fuel, clothing, etc., shall be taxed on
$25 worth.
Surely this is not the desire Of the
common people. 1t would be unfair to
the poor man whose only possessions
are the contents of his modest home.
We maintain that the present exemp-
ton of 500 is low enough, and the tax
code should not be changed in this
respect.
We oppose the proposed system of
taxing vessels. It would be Of no bene-
fit to any person in Minnesota. 1t
means that vessels registered in this
state would go to other states, and
instead of increasing the revenue from
this source, Minnesota would lose all
she is now receiving.
The tax code proposes to tax all
grain in store in elevators within the
state on April 1 Of each year. The
result will be, that, in order to escape
taxation the elevator companies will
move to some other state where the
system Of taxation is more favorable,
or that they will add the additional
cost Of taxation to the storage charges
and thus deprive the farmer of just
that much profit on his grain.
Under the proposed code it seems
quite probable that the big grain in
terests and elevators of Duluth would
be moved over into Superior, Wis,
where the tax laws are more favorable.
Such action would take away the
steady employment of hundreds Of men
now engaged in handling, weighing,
inspecting and shipping grain from this
port. This is department of trade
which the laboring men of Minnesota
cannot afford to lose.
The world has recognized the STAN
dard of Duluth wheat. This trade is
now placed in jeopardy and will re-
uuire all the assistance we can get to
protect it.
BY taxing wheat ~ per cent, a hard
&c no q
farmer, who, being in open competi-
ton with the world, will necessarily
have to pay the tax levied against who
ever holds the wheat, for in all cases
the producer or consumer pays the tax,
but in this case the producer will not
escape.
The new code requires that all bank
deposits shall be listed for taxation on
April Of each year.
Now, it is obvious to any thinking
man that depositors, to avoid listing,
will withdraw their deposits a. day or
so before April /, thereby avoiding, per-
haps a. per cent tax. To enable the
banks to pay the depositors they will
call in all loans, causing an annual
stagnation of business. This will
make the law imperative and it will
not attain the ends for which it was
ntended-namely, the taxation Of all
money.
This is a subject that vitality con-
Germs every citizen in the state. The
code, if adopted, will be the means of
running the business and homes of the
masses to a large extent, and until a
more practical code is proposed let us
adhere to the law that is now in force.
Seeking your consideration and sup
port to secure equality and justice, we