The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-10
The TAX BILL

The work of the tax commission is nm
ished. The result is presented to the peo-
pie of the state in the columns OF L e
Journ Ia l. to-day. The bill which will
be submitted for adoption by the legisla-
ture, and the report of the commission,
explanatory of it's provisions, occupies
eight pages Of his paper. The matter has
been in hand but a few hours and mani
testify any comment on 1t at this time
must be cursory and general. ..
Four principal facts are noted with re-
gard to this new bill, which are these:
1t provides for improved machinery in
tax levying and tax collecting, the most
important feature of which is perma-
nent tax commission, taking the place OF
the board of equalization, supplemented
by tax supervisor in each county.
In the second place it provides for pub
licity in larger degree than is now OBJ
tanned with regard to assessments and
valuations, and notable illustration of
this feature is the mailing of assessments
to tax payers In taxation districts, so that
every tax payer may know what value is
put upon the property Of his neighbor,
and whether his neighbor is bearing his
fair share of the public burden. This is
publicity, not through the newspapers,
but through the mails, and is no more
offensive, probably, than the ratings Of
commercial agency. The plan has been
in operation in other states and has been
80 successful in securing equal and fair
taxation as to commend it strongly to the
Judgment Of the commission.
Another feature Of the bill is the as
sessment of all property at it's full value.
Returns are made under the oath of the
property owner, with the usual penalties
attached for false swearing. This is a
great Improvement upon the old system
of figuring out assessments at 40 or SO per
cent Of actual value and makes for greater
equality and fairness. ...r
The fourth important feat re of the
bill is the taxation of all public service
corporation franchises at their actuel
value. All real and personal property is
taken out and the value of the franchise
is arrived at on the basis of the market
value Of the stocks and bonds. This
means a large increase in the taxable
property u lue SIdIe ana more eQulLa-
BILE distribution of the tax burden. This
applies to express and sleeping car COM
pan1es, street railways, gas companies
and other corporations holding franchises
from the state and rendering public SER
vice, except railroads. The gross earn
ings system of taxation Of railroads now
in effect is not disturbed.
It is understood that the commission
would have been favorable to the taxation
of the output of iron mines on the tonnage
basis if they had found practicable way
of doing it. Instead, they have provided
that the property shall be assessed as
other real property, but the valuation
shall be supervised by the st ate board OF
taxation. This is matter which interests
the city Of Duluth and ST.. Louis county
more than any other part of the state, as
1t will greatly increase the county reve-
nues from property which has hitherto
escaped with very light taxation These
are a few Of the more interesting features
of the bill which it will be interesting to
discuss in greater detail as opportunity
offers.