The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-02-14
TAX Law LEGISLATION.

A bill has been introduced in the
house providing fer the calling of a
constitutional convention to frame a
new state constitution. While the bill
comes from source opposed to the tax
bill submitted by the commission, yet
it is not plain that it was introduced
with the sole thought in view of
complicating the situation so as to
defeat that measure. Such bill pass
ed the house year ago and was de-
feated by the senate. The, discussion
of tax revision has opened much ne W
light upon this question and many
who have heretofore been opposed to
the calling of convention are now in
favor of it. There is no question but
that the bill will com plicate matters
more or less unless the house en-
phatically insists that the measure go
over for consideration until after the
tax bill is disposed of and then be
taken wholly upon it's merits. Our pre-
sent constitution is getting to be more
or less patchwork of amendments. 1t
was most admirably suited for the
state through the years that have pass
ed, in some respects, but that it has
not been wholly satisfactory is demon
strated by the patching process that
has been resorted to of late years. An
up-to-date document to conform with
present day conditions is what is now
wanted, and it will cost no more TO Sc
cure it now than it will a few years
later, and the state will gain the ad-
vantage that will accrue from it. The
present tax discussion has demon
strated that an entire revision as to
tax matters is badly needed.
1t is evidently the purpose of the
enemies of the tax measure to kill it
by loading it down with amendments
if possible. They may be able to do
this, and then they may not. Many
of them do not seem disposed to accept
q modification of the sections of which
they complain, but plainly show their
desire to kill the whole bill. In this
they over-reach the mark from their
standpoint Some of the provisions
complained of are changed little if any
from the present law, but their full
and strict enforcement has been pro-
vided for. That is probably what
hurts. But it is possible that even
should the bill be killed, the session
will not be wholly barren of results
Many who are opposed to it advocate
the passage of the proposed constitu-
tional amendments, though they may
fly the track as to this when it comes
to face it. Several members propose
that if the bill as it now stands, or
with such practical notifications as
may be suggested, can not be passed
that the constitutional amendments be
passed, and also bill providing for
the taxation of franchises, with one or
two other features regarding personal
property. Such a course it is claimed
would add some $50, 900, 900 at least to
the assessment rolls of the state, and
would fully repay the calling of the
extra session.
IF in addition to this Auditor Dunn
would then move for the enforcement
of the law as it now stands, for as
sessing at full value the state would
not be in such very bad shape as to
tax matters. 1t is also proposed to
craete a tax commission. If the section
providing for a county supervisor of
assessments were added, it would i'm
prove matters.
1t is a curious fact that among
those from whom comes the
call for an income tax on personal
property, or some kinds of it, are
some who have heretofore most vigor-
ously opposed an income tax being
levied by the federal government, on
the ground it could not be enforced,
and would result in making liars out
of those having taxes to pay. 1t is not
plain wherein as state measure this
could be enforced any better than as a
federal law. 1t cannot be denied,
however, that in reaching many kinds
of personal property, it would by far
be the most just and equal law, and
that with good state commission, to-
gether with a county supervisor,
of assessments who would do
his duty, and paid for put
ting in all his time in that Office dur
ing the entire year, that it could prob
ably be enforced much better than a
law assessing that property as now
provided 1t would doubtless bring
hundreds if not thousands of dollars
into the state and county treasury 8,
where now little or nothing is realized.
But it is queer the consistency of some
of those advocating it,
n