The Minneapolis journal., 1902-01-28
Pass Bill and Delay Operation Till
Constitutional Amendments Be-
come Operative.
Many Legislators Favor This Plan.
for It Gives Time for Study
and Adjustment.

amendments next fall, and after year Of
considering the question put the bill in
shape next winter at the regular session.
''This is the first time have stated my
position on the bill but that is where
stand. I favor the bill, and will stand for
the best method of passing it,
Senator F. B. Snyder. of the thirty
ninth district said:
IT 9 Journa ais proposition is
worth very serious consideration. I am
still studying the bill, and have not made
up my mind. There are many things in
the bill which are meritorious, and which
want to see incorporated into our tax
laws. OF that am sure, but 1 am not
sure as yet just how much of the bill 1
favor, or what course is best to pursue"
Senator Potter Discusses 1t.
Senator E. G. Potter of the fortieth dis
trict. who is strongly in favor OF deferring
the bill to the next session, said
Il am still very much in favor OF my
original proposition, and consider it the
wisest plan to pursue. But L n
] ourna proposition is. so much better
than the original plan that I consider it
worthy Of careful consideration.
John c. Sweet, representative from the
thirty ninth Set, said:
Chapter IS e TIE Laws of 1901, pro-
viding for the appointment Of the tax
commission in section 2 which defines the
duties of the commission contains this
provision: The commission shall also
prepare and report bill or bills rroyid-
ing for any constitutional amendments
which may be necessary for properly car
rying out the system of taxation accom-
mended by the commission. It is thus
apparent that it wasSin the minds of the
+ hlegisla tors that some amendments to the
| constitution would be necessary in order
TO give us a perfect system of taxation
The commissioners, in their report, assert
that they would favor graduated income
tax in lieu of any personal property tax.
were it not for constitutional limitations.
! ''To gain this happy condition, however,
II do not think we ought to- risk con-
| tinuation Of our present laws which are
4 admittedly ambiguous and inadequate
81 have not fully made up my mind on
| the subject, but my present impression IS
| that this bill with possibly some amend
ments which can be made without any
great change in its provisions, snould De
passed at the extra session
''There is merit in your ,>..estion not
to have the law take effect TIL 1903, and
| chief among these, In mJ Judgment, is
that the friends and enemies OF the law
would then both be interested in working
for the adoption Of the constitutional
amendments so that In 1903 the legisla-
4 ture. may give us the system that Will
| be satisfactory to all.
| Senator Wilson said: "That certainly
! strikes me as an improvement on MT.
Potter's plan, to say the least. don
! think the amendments would ever De
heard of if left to take their chances with
out any special effort or inducement 10
bring out vote on them"
Insures Success of Amendments.
j. E. Bell, president of the Hennepin
| County Savings bank, 1ndorsed
urnars suggestion heartily, and de-
clared that in his belief 1t would be the
| best solution of the problem.
II. L. Jenkins-It strikes me as q good
scheme.
A. G, Paul, President of the CONNER
| cial Club-That isn't bad idea. haven't
any hope Of the adoption of any amend
ments to the constitution except under
some such conditions as T b e'J ou rn q
proposes.
Frank H. Carleton said: "It certainly
/ looks like good proposition. 1t will con-
| tribute to the passage Of the constitutional
amendments, which would otherwise be
very difficult matter.
Henry w. Childs, former attorney gem
| eral and member of the tax commission.
was hardly In ne position Nan 70 our a1ssass
gestion is the most sensible have heard
in some time
W. !. Hahn. the Minneapolis member Of
| the commission, said: 'That Is mat
ter of policy, and not the concern OF the
! commission. We are being criticized for
!, repOrting q bill just as we were In
structed to frame. The constitution re-
| oufres all property to be taxed uniformly.
| The legislature in creating the commits
/ sion directed us to make tax code, whicn
/ should .include complete system Tor the
lust and equitable taxation OF all forms
Of property, both tangible and Intangible.
single exception We have done. .rse
what we were instructed to do, and what
i everyone expected us TO do, and the same
/ newspapers that favored the tax oommis-
sion bill now criticize us for doing what
we were ordered to do. should be sat
favored the taxation OF all forms OF prop
! erty on an equal basis. but that they
have changed their minds.
i Another Compromise Plan.
General Hahn is preparing q bill at the
request OF Mr. Wallace, who refers to 1t
4 i'm his interview. II the bill is passed
] to take effect Immediately, this other
/ measure will be introduced. 1t provides
that for bonding purposes, cities shall Do
limited to 5 per cent of the 1901 valua-
tton until 1904, so they cannot take ad-
vantage of the greatly increased valuation
! to issue more bonds.
! General Hahn said this morning:
zone OF our wealthy citizens was talk
ing about the tax bill to me the other day.
\ He said: Your bill is good thing. I
am ashamed of myself every spring, and
| Will be only too glad to list everything
/ I have honestly, IL can be sure that
everyone else is doing the same. tning.
There ia lust one fault have to find with
! your bill, it will increase our assessed
\ valuation and make it possible under the
s per cent limit for the city council to
issue more bonds and increase our taxes.
/ / told him that objection was easily met.
It would only be necessary to pass 2
bill providing that for purpose OF BOND