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

winch nave framed tax COOeS with q view
to full equal and just taxation. eLet
your purpose,te to so 1egislate that taxes
may be apportioned in fam and equit-
able manner to all classes and kinds of
property. 1t Is not my purpose to an
alyze the proposed code in detail. COM
mend 1T to you as a vast Improvement
over our present inefficient system. That
provision alone which provides for a
Franchise tax on public service. corpora
lions 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
call your attention to the provision for a
permanent tax commission. In the state
OF Michigan law was passed providing
cally the only change Sin then existing
law-and the first year after the same
went into operation assessments were in
creased about $3.50, coo 900.
Every interest should have an OPP
portunity to be heard, and no injustice
should q, be done to any industry or to
state will probably be represented and
seek a hearing, but we must bear in
mind that the man who has for years
uncomplainingly paid his share and more
of taxes cannot appear; but his rights as
citizen and taxpayer should neverthe-
less be considered. The best way to aid
him IS to see to It that all who have
together pay their full share, and in that
event his burden will be lessened
IL is confidently predicted that the en-
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 its
full money value will bear in mind that
as assessment increases the rate de-
creases, less opposition will be heard.
certainly calls for your most earnest con-
sfderatiOn. The issuance of bonds by
municipalities is limked to a percentage
of existing local assessments. If you so
will A.
terially increased, then you should con-
slider the advisability of enacting a meas
ilre which will prevent the corresponding
increase of municipal bonded indebted
ness.
! would recommend that an amendment
be made placing the exemption on per-
1T 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
1st, for the reason that the time to pre-
pare for putting into operation the new
code, If 1T 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
and exempting all grain in interstate
transit, although temporarily stored in
elevators, would place these interests
upon an equal footing with those of our
should be done. All other grainz except
that in interstate Transit IS assessed and
taxed in WISCONSIN, as .other personal
property pc Us on May lst This sugsestiod'
provaF OF the tax commissioiss~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
should be. our policy to foster tendencies
which promise greater wealth and pros
though remote geographically from the
eaboard, 1T IS apparent, unless prevented
by legislation, that this state may soon
outstrfp many of her rivals in the mag
nitude of her shipping interests. The reg
istration of vessels navigating interna-
tlonal vat 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. I 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
yantages already gained, and present no
impeachment to the growth of our influ-
ence over navigation upon the Great
Lakes.
By request of the commission to revise
our general laws, 1 submit the following
Inasmuch as Chapter 241 of the Laws of
1901, providing for the appointment by the
missioners to revise, codify and annotate
the existing general laws, expressly ex-
cludes from their consideration 'sStat-
utes on the subject of taxation" and, as
1t is desirable that the revision, when
completed, should contain all public laws,
appropriately arranged, it would seem
advisable that such legislation be had as
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 unduly 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. Thatstfe work
may be continued in such manner as to
accomplish the best results, action should
be taken: at the present session The
commissioners will submit for your con-
SideratiOp some suggestions on the SUBJ
ject, to which l invite your attention.
The.entire matter. now rests with you.
It is for you to decide whether the work
of your tax commission will be in vain
or not. 1 trust, and haye faith to be-
lieye, that your deliberations will result
in great good to the state and that a
tax law will be placed upon the statute
books that will equal if not surpass that
of any other state in the. Union. :.
l 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 legfs-
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 evading~ 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.tffe
state, ! 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
utes. I quote from sections 2716 and PIT
of our General Statutes.
Sec. 2716 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
Sec. 2717 mo railroad corporation, or
the lessees, purchasers or managers of
any railroad corporation, shall CONSOLE
date the stock, property or franchises of
such corporation with. or lease or pur-