The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-17
THE TAX COMMISSIONS REPORT.

THE TAX COMMISSIONS REPORT.
The report of the tax commission Is
in the hands of Gov. Van SAINT, and
ready for the consideration Of the
legislature whenever that body shall
be called together, which will probably
be in four or five weeks. The report
and tax bill together make about eight
or nine newspaper pages of fine type.
The report of the commission is
largely explanatory of the bill, and the
account of the commissions work.
While some of the city papers will
publish the report in full, it is mani
testify too long for country papers to
handle, for that reason it would be
good idea for the state authorities to
have it printed in supplement form
and send it out to the newspapers of
the state to circulate and so get it. be-
fore the people in its entirety. There
are probably none but what would be
glad to do this 30 as to get the matter
thoroughly before the public. Through
such scheme the people generally
would have chance to become famil-
lar with it, where otherwise they
would know nothing about it, further
than what little they may be able to
pick up about it from comments upon
this or that feature by the papers.
This is matter the governor should
take note of at once and bring it about
within the next ten days if possible so
the people may have time to see it.
A few of the important features of
the bill which we note at this time are !:
1t abolishes the state board of review
and substitutes for it a state tax
commission with enlarged powers. It
also does away with the county and
town boards of review, and provides
for county supervisor of assessments
TO be elected by the people, the town
assessor is also retained.
1t also provides for the assessment of
all property at its full value. This is
a good feature. And reduces the exemp-
ton on personal property from 500 to
$25.
Another and important feature is the
publicity of assessments which is pro-
vided for. This is to be reached
through the printing and mailing of
assessments to taxpayers in all tax
alton districts SO that every taxpayer
may know just what value is put up
on the property of his neighborhood,
and gives him chance, if he knows
anything about property that is not
assessed, or if assessed, has not been
returned at its true value, to have the
same corrected. This will entail a
great deal of work in the county
auditors office, as it means a letter ad-
dressed to every taxpayer in the
county, but it is said to have proved
very beneficial where it is in force.
1t further provides for the taxation
of all public service franchises at their
actual value: These values are to be
reached by deducting from the stocks
and bonds the value of the real and
personal property. This feature will
result in large addition to the tax
able property of the state.
The assessment of mines is left to
the state tax commission to be made
upon an ad valorem basis as in real
estate.
These are some of the more i'm
portant features, and will generally
commend themselves to the taxpayers
of the state. The feature of assess
ment at full value was adopted by
Wisconsin last winter, and is said to
have worked we'll there, resulting in
placing on the tax rolls much property
which had heretofore escaped listing.
1t will result in greater equality and
fairness to all.
It has been urged in some quarters
against the consideration of the report
at special session this winter, that
it would result in mixing matters up
as regards the assessment and tax levy
for this coming year. We do not see
wherein this will result thusly any
more this coming season than it will a
year later. If there is anything in
this claim, than it is all the more rea-
son why the legislature should be con-
vened to act upon it this winter. The
date for its taking effect can be fixed
some months ahead, so as to escape
this years assessment, and it would
then be one year in advance of what
would be the case if left to regular
session. But if the legislature acts
promptly upon the matter, there will
| be time to allow it to take effect this
year.