The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-26
AS:IO TAX 81. !.
= > -,
ON INCOMES
All Three Parties Take P Posi-
tions Favorable to It's. !
Consideration. -
Facts About the Income Tax
as a Revenue Producer
r.
49, ., in Other States.

The chief result accomplished by the
recent extra session Of the state legis-
lature was to pass an act submitting to
the people, to be voted on at the polls
this fall, proposed constitutional amend
ment giving the legislature power to raise
revenue by. levy Of an income tax. Among
the Incomes that may thus be taxed un-
der the proposed constitutional amend
ment, the legislature specifies: Income.
from credits Income arising from all
personal property" income of all persons
above the sum of 81 200, - and likewise
an income or gross earnings tax upon all
corpora tions holding public franchises
The republican convention pledges the
support of the party to these constitution
al amendments. ~.-.. -.-. =. ~--s-s ~ &.
The democratic platform demands "the
adequate taxation of public service cor
porations and the taxation of incomes;
and we favor the amendment of the con-
stitution to that end" 49,. .~~.
The populists declare "that the system
Of taxation now in vogue in this state is
grossly unjust and believe that "state
taxes should be levied on franchises, in
comes and inheritances.'' -. =. :: ! =.
D. UuDCA AeI VI Adl CCuO1dtcS v du CduL, ISOS-
ing and Meighen, therefore,, are pledged
more or less completely to the principle
OF an income tax as a source of state
revenue, and the legislative candidates
of the three parties are likewise infer
entially SO pledged.
Former Governor John Lind favored a
st ate income tax in his last legislative
message. in this language: *zz: .ts
In my judgment, there is only one remedy
for this evil, and this is to substitute we'll
devised system Of state income taxation in
place of the present unjust and Intellectual
method Of taxing personal property. A very
moderate income tax. would result in more
certain revenue, remove the injustice and in
equality of the present system, relieve trade
and production and further the permanent
interests Of society. To enact valid In
come tax law would probably require an
amendment to our state constitution
+ The recent state tax commission de-
plored the fact that the present state
constit ion did not allow them to frame
an income tax provision and strongly
urged the early amendment of the con-
situation. The report of the commission
has something like fifteen references to
the undue limitations of the constitution
and winds up with the following demand
for early amendment thereof:
In conclusion, the amendment OF the tax
provision of the constitution, for the reasons
urged In this report, should be early effected
In their present form they are an insuperable
obstacle to proper legislation. =
Among the reasons named for amending
the constitution is this: at permits the
taxation of neither incomes nor occupa'-
tions, and prevents the adoption Of forms
of taxation appropriate to the subject
taxed" Page AZ Of the report says: eve
have reached period in our indust rial
development when incomes as b source
of revenue cannot safely be omitted" on
page 55 the commission says: The rapid
ly growing sentiment in favor of an in
come tax, whet her 1t shall be ultimately
adopted or not, suggests a reason for
Legislative freedom in revenue measures y
On the same and preceding page the
commissioners name public service cor
porations. mining companies and incomes
as taxation subjects likely to require leg
| islative attention, and suggest consti-
tutional amendment similar to that of
Wisconsin and New Jersey, giving the
| legislature adequate power. ts
Three political parties, the present and
| former governor, the legislature and the
tax commission therefore, all appear to
be on record for an amendment of the con-
stitution that will permit Minnesota to
establish the income tax as feature OF
its revenue system.
It is now up to the people, The adoption
Iof the proposed constitutional amend
ment will give the legislature the neces-
sary power to cope with the subject, and
begin the work of drafting a new tax
law in this direction at the coming win
4 ter session. s s.
| Income Tax ON Corporations.
In fhe ease az railroad telentone ] II