The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-02-13
THE TAX CODE.

Will Tic ulOSI uluOuio PiOOiOA wv
presented il for solution. To frame
an equitable tax code is an herculean
task, requiring patience, reflection
and judgment, supplemented with
something deeper that mere smat-
tering of economies. Every bust
ness interest in the state will be af-
fected, and whether benefcially or
adversely depends upon the charac-
ter of the enacted code. Capital is
timid, sensitive and fugacious. If
it cannot get fair treatment and
profitable employment in one local
ity it will seek another. Unjust
and oppressive tax laws will either
drive it from the state or into con-
cealment. Therefore it behooves
the legislature now in session to
consider well every provision of the
code it is now framing, and. In its
every bearing. Festioa leate-make
haste slowly-was a conspicuous
motto in the old Roman senate
chamber. The Legislature OF Min
nesota would do well to keep it in
mind, if not in sight. Deliberation
is necessary, and 1t would be far
better for the state, and for the
party in power, to consider the re-
port of the commission at length,
debate it in session and discuss it
outside, settle upon such provisions
as are admittedly good, and then
recommit it to the commission, en-
larged by say the chairmen of the
respective tax committees OF
both branches, and take up the
amended report a.year hence. Con-
sidering its Importance and its per-
manency what matters it If it re-
quires two, three or even five years
to perfect it? Rather delay than
mistake.
The Pioneer Press, in offering
wise counsel to the Legislature, sug-
gests an income tax as feature of
the new code, rather than the taxa
ton of Understanding and divi-
dend-earning investments, and sup
ports it's position with premises and
conclusions which leaves little room
for controversy. Credits are not
taxable assets at their face value at
any given time-but their earnings
are not on'y legitimatley and equit-
ably taxable, but the tax imposed
upon them is less onerous and more
easily collected than upon any other
form of property. This is what an
income taxs would do-take a fair
portion of such earnings, cheerfully
surrendered to the state because it's
justice would be universally con-
coded. That class of personal prop
erty, the easiest to conceal, would
bear its burdens, instead of crawling
to cover.
y
Furthermore, to the gross earn
ings tax on railroads, and compre-
hensive and equitable tax upon cor
porations it would be easy to add
sufficient income tax to pay all the
expenses of the state government
without levying dollar of direct
tax upon realty or personal proper
ty. That form of taxation would
only be necessary for county, city,
and township purposes and school
When this condition obtains one
). the most serious and perplexing
,roblel.cs in taxation has been for
ever solved-that of equitable as
,essment throughout the state.
If Ramsey county, then, should +
please to overvalue or nndervalue
he real and personal property with
n its borders. what need Stearns
county care? All that would con-
FERN us would be a uniform basis
f assessment of like classes of
in the several cities or
ownships in our own county. No
tate board of equalization will be
would have nothing
o do. Perhaps the railroad com
mission, or the labor commission,
with expanded powers could see
that such taxes are levied apd col
Iected. The local and county
boards, composed of men familiar
with local conditions, could be re-
lied upon to adjust and eqaulize the
valuations of the property
within their respective jurisdic-
tons. A little care in providing
methods in detail would construct a
law for assessing which would meet
with general appreciation and give
satisfactory results.
II Il n
Another feature is worthy OF
careful consideration: In order to
tighten, or rather distribute the
burdens of taxation, recent law
permitted taxpayer to divide his
payment into two equal Install
ments-one payable in the spring