The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-02-14


Wh1cn nave framed tax codes with view
70 .1uils equal and just taxation. eLet
your purpose.te to SO .legislate that taxes
may ne apportioned in fan and equ1t-
able manner to all classes and kinds of
property. 1t is not my purpose to an
alyze the proposed code in detail. COM
over our present inefficient system. That
provision alone which provides for a
franchise tax on public service corpora
tons will bring large revenues to the
state. Corporations of this character are
SO taxed in many states of the Union.
Without going into details permit me to
permanent tax commission. In the state
OF Michigan law was passed providing
for such commission--tha being practi-
cally the only change in then existing
law-and the first year after the same
went into operation assessments were in
creased about $3.50, O000 600.
Every interest should have an op-
portunity to be heard, and no injustice
should be done to any industry or to
any individual. The large interests of our
state will probably be represented and i'd
mind that the man who has for years
| uncomplainingly paid his share and more
OF taxes cannot appear; but his rights as
a citizen and taxpayer should neverthee-
| less be considered. The best way to aid
him is to see to 1t that all who have
contributed too little or have escaped al
together pay their full share, and in that
event his burden will be lessened
1t is confidently predicted that the en-
actment OF this code will result in large
ly increasing the assessment in our
state. If so, the rate of taxation will be
| materially decreased, and if those who
oppose the listing of all property at it's
| as assessment increases the rate de-
creases, less opposition will be heard.
This, however, suggests matter which
| certainly calls for your most earnest con-
sideration. The issuance of bonds by
| municipalities is limked to a percentage
of existing local assessments. If you SO
iegislate that assessments will be ma
.terially increased, then you should. con-
slider the DISABILITY of enacting meas
ure which will prevent the corresponding
increase of municipal bonded indebted
ness.
: would recommend that an amendment
be made placing the exemption on per-
it has been for many years. This will ~be
especially beneficial to the people of small
means. This suggestion, 1 am advised,
meets with the approval of the tax COM
I would also suggest that the bill be
SO amended as to require the listing of
property. on May LIST rather than April
LIST, for the reason that the time to pre-
pare for putting into operation the new
code, If it passes, probably, will be too
limited to make the necessary prepara-
lions for proper assessment.
Our grain men express the fear that the
proposed code If put into operation, would
be against their interests and drive their
business into Wisconsin. By making the
date of listing the same as in that state
transit, although temporarily stored in
elevators, would place these interests
upon an equal footing with those. of our
should be done: All other grain. except
that ir interstate Transit is assessed and
taxed in WISCONSIN, as .other personal
property. on May 1st. This suggestion,
provaT OF the tax commissio3s~sS
The proposed code provides for the re-
peal of the vessel tonnage, tax. In this
respect pee allow me to make the following
Every good Citizen takes pride in the
commercial advancement of his state. 1t
should be our policy to foster tendencies
which promise greater wealth and pros
perity to any section Of the state. AL
though remote geographically from the
seaboard,. it is apparent, unless prevented
by legislation, that this state may soon
outstrip many of her rivals in the mag
nitude of her shipping interests. The reg
lstration of vessels navigating interna-
tionsl waters !; at the port Of Duluth indi-
We bear in mind that interstate tonnage
is beyond the taxing power of the state,
and that the revenues derived from a
tonnage tax upon vessels must always
greatly exceed what would arise from
any other method applied to that class
of property, it is, apparent that the sub
careful consideration. trust therefore,
that you will be able to enact legislation
which, while not in violation of the. con-
stitution, will preserve to the state adj
vantages already gained, and present no
impeachment to the growth of our infiu-
ence over navigation upon the Great
Lakes. -
By request of the commission to revise
our general laws, submit the following
Inasmuch as Chapter 241 of the Laws of
1901, providing for the appointment by the
justices of the supreme court of COM
mlssloners to revise, codify and annotate
the existing general laws. expressly ex-
cludes from their consideration ''Stat-
utes on the subject of taxation" and, as
it is desirable that the revision, when
completed, should contain all public laws,
appropriately arranged, it would seem
will be conducive to that end. Itsis OBJ
vious also that the work of the commits
sioners is of such character that it should
not be tunduly hurried. The legislation of
the past thirty-five years has reached an
enormous bulk, much of which is now
obsolete, and, on many Subjects, redund-
ant and contradictory. Only. the most
patient research and painstaking labor
can reduce it to that harmony whichrthe
public interests require. Thatztfe work
may be. continued in such manner as to
be taken at the present session. The
commissioners will submit for your con-
SHERATON some suggestions on the subs
ject, to, which invite your attention.
The entire matter now rests with you.
1t is for you to decide whether the work
of your tax commission will be in vain
VI IOl. Il trust, anu ndy6 1altl to be-
lieve. that your deliberations will result
in great good to the state and that al
tax law will be placed upon the statute
books that will equal if not surpass that
of any other state in the Union. -e-.. Z.
/ am advised that the members of the
tax commission, if desired, will at all
times during your session, be ready and
willing to respond to your cali and give
you whatever assistance and information
you may request.
At this time, 1 desire to inform the legis--
lature of the suit. brought by the State
of Minnesota against the Northern Sc
curities Company of New Jersey. Believ-
ing that this. corporation was organized
for the purpose Of evadingl and viola ting
the laws of the~State of Minnesota by
consolidating the properties of the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific Railway
companies, which companies own parallel
and competing lines of railway within the
state, I requested Attorney General
Douglas to bring suit in the name of the
state to prevent such consolidation. That
such consolidation is against the law is
clearly shown by reference to our stat
utes. I quote from sections 2716 and PIT
of our General Statutes.
Sec ZIG. mo railroad corporation shall
consolidate with, lease or purchase, or in
any way become owner of or control any
other railroad corporation, or any stock,
franchises, rights or property thereof
which owns or controls a parallel or
competing line.
Sec. PIT. mo railroad corporation, or
the leSsees purchasers or managers of
any railroad corporation, shall CONSOLE
date the stock, property or franchises of
~ ft0,1 IL.