The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-06
!, COMMISSION.

Pursuant to your enactment, the fol-
lowing citizens of our state were appoint
ed as tax commissioners, to-wit: Hon.
w. J. Hahn. Hon. H. w Childs and Hon.
G. S. Ives. The duties of the commits
sion were specifically set out in the act as
follows:
The duties of said commission shall
pc to make tax code for the state Of
Minnesota. Such code shall include a.
complete system for the just and equita-
BILE taxation of all forms of property,
Doth tangible and intangible, and shall
be properly indeXed and prepared in the
form of bill or bills for presentation
TO the legislature Such code shall in
crude provisions for permanent tax
commission, and shall define it's duties
powers and compensation. The commis-
sion shall also prepare a report and bill
or bills providing for any constitutional
amendments which may be necessary for
properly carrying out the system of tax
alton recommended by the commission.
RealIzing the magnitude Of the task
and the limited time prescribed, the COM
mlSsloners Immediately commenced their
work upon receiving their appointments
For nine months they labored incessant-
"; they visited other states and famiI-
larlzed themselves with the tax laws
Ihere IN vogue; they also visited many
portions of our own state, thereby OBJ
tanning much information of value. After
becoming thoroughly familiar with tine
tax laws of other states and the defects
OF our own system. they set earnestly to
work IN the preparation of the proposed
measures HOW SO FAMILIAR TO all OF
That their work has been done faithfully
and conscientiouSly cannot be gainsaid
and for the earnest honest and impair
tial discharge of their duties they are en-
pie of our state.
The gentlemen composing this commits
sion are lawyers of eminent ability and
have in the past occupied such plrhIic no
Elt1onS as fitted them especially for the
onerouS burdens which they assumed
Ihese facts suggest most emphaticaily
the wisdom of carefully considering their
work oone and refra1ning from criticism
until their proposed measures are thor
oughly understood. 1t must be borne in
mind that limitations were placed upon
Inc commissioners by the constitution
Th1S fact made their duties particularly
eXactIng, and that you may fully I'M
derstand the difficulties under which they
iabored / refer you to their report. which
accompanies the bills proposed by them.
GOVERNOR COMEDIES
BILL is DEFECTIVE.
That the measures proposed are per-
1ect no one will claim; even the commits
SlonerS assert that a more satisfactory
ccde might be framed were it rot for
CONSTITUTIONAL limitations. Nevertheless
that the measures proposed are an i'm
proVement over the present inefficient
system of taxation will not be doubted
Tor moment. | am aware of the fact
mat opposition to the adoption of the
measures has arisen, and has occasio1Ied
many suggestions looking to the defeat
OF the measures or the postponement
OF their consideration. In my Judgment
1t is wise to meet the issue now. To tenn
porize will simply amount to deferrfng
the consideration of the very questions
which now confront u.s. No time will
ever be more oppOrtune than the present
TO meet this great question Of taxation
so important to the welfare of our state
If in your judgment the bill is defective
let 1T be amended. If too drastic let il be
changed. Counsel among yourselves
earnestly and Candidately, and make
Whatever changes your wisdom dictates
as proper. The suggestion that the mat
ter OF legislation be delayed until the
constitutional limitations be removed
does not commend itself to my Judgment
for we have no assurance that the peopIe
will ever remove these limita lions,
TAXPAYERS WILL NOT
PROTECT THEMSEI. YES.
Past experience demonstrates that so
large a percentage of our people per-
Eistenuy fail to vote upon constitutional
amendments as to make submission ouite
uncertain. Hence, deferring this i'm
portant matter Will in all probability sim
ply delay the consideration of the is
sue which now cOnfronts. you. If the
bill proposed is passed by you, and sub
6equently the constitutional limitatiors
are removed, then the law can be So