The Minneapolis journal., 1902-02-11

urge the adoption Of certain substitutes for
the tax on personal property if my choice
were confined to the tax as it now exists or
a substitute for it. By some Of these other
plans, you can, if you desire, raise more
revenue and impose the burden more evenly
ana with much greater justice than it can
De IMPOSED by any system of ad valorem
taxation upon personal property.
The Local Option Plan.
as local option in taxation and says: ut
should be left to a large extent to the polit-
lcal SUBDIVISIONS of the state to determine
for themselves the objects for which revenue
IS to be raised therein and the subjects from
which 1t is to be exacted.''2 This plan has
been tried in several other countries and, in
modified forms, in some parts Of the United
States. 1t allows progressive communities to
experiment for their own benefit and to the
peneht OF all the rest. In its report the COM
mission quotes letter from the late David
A. Wells, one of the greatest authorities on
taxation In his day, In which he gives un-
qualihed Endorsement to the plan of reduc-
Ing the size Of the political unit which shall
decide questions of taxation
The problem Of taxation presents different
phases in the great cities Of Minneapolis and,
ST. Paul and in the sparsely settled rural
counties The system which may do yery
we'll for the rural community is oppressive ih
great city and productive of all kinds of in
justice. --s.
The state Of Minnesota has great oppor-
tunlty to make magnificent advance. If
it uses. this opportunity wisely it can not
only increase the prosperity Of Minnesota. but
also furnish an example to all the other
states OF the union. The proper course for
you to pursue is perfectly plain and simple.
Your commission tells you. and what it saws
IS 1ndorsed by all authorities, that you should
amend the constitution and be free to i'm
prove. At the same time you should avail
yourselves of the large knowledge and ex-
per1ence of this commission. Continue its
members In office and add two business men
to increase its representative character. IN
struct them with free hands to make q new
code for Minnesota which shall be all that
they desire to make it, unaffected by the re
stra1nts that were imposed upon them when
they framed the code that Is now before Won
Legislators Asks Questions.
j. A. Peterson asked Mr.. Purdy what
ne would recommend in the way of a tax
law in lieu of the one proposed. Mr.
Purdy said that almost any system was
preferable. Mr.. Peterson asked him TO
recommend some special one. Mr.. Pl1rdv
SAID That the Paris plan Of taxing a man
in proportion to the value of his home.
while a bad one, was much better than.
the proposed Minnesota system. Senator
Wilson said: "You have been free from
constitutional limitations for 100 years,
and you do not think your system much
better than Mtnnesota's. Will It take US
lOO years under an amended constitution
to bring about improvement in our tax
laws?" Mr.. Purdy said that tax agita-
ton In New York had been growing for
only thirty years.
1T is healthy to have trouble over your
tax laws" he said. "If you don't have
have growing pains all the time
Mr.. Washburn asked as to the best
method of taxing franchises of public
service corporations. He replied that all
occupying several tax districts should be
assessed by central body. He believed
1t more exped1ent when possible to reduce
street railway fares than to increase
taxes.
Speaker Dowling asked .'WouId You try
to amend the constitution or wait for
constitutional convention?"
IT would amend the constitution" Mr..
Purdy replied.
Mr.. Riley asked Mr.. Purdy il the New
York law provided way of reaching notes
or making them disclosable There ia M
way that I know Of" said Mr.. Purdy.
The ancient Romans had a pretty good
system. They used thumb screws. But
that was not entirely successful @
On motion of Mr.. Anderson rising vote
OF thanks was rendered to Mr.. Purdy for
his address.
ea Country Bankers Received.
"A delegation of country bankers was
present and short talks were made by
Judge H. r. Wells, Of Preston, and "A. B.
Stephens, of Crookston. Judge Wells at
tackled the entire system proposed by the
tax commission. He objected to the ma
chinery introduced, y including the state
tax commission, the county board Of re-
view, and the county supervisor. Mr.
Stephens pleaded for passing the consti-
tutional amendments and said 1t could be
done If the matter were agitated. He
said the only bankers he had seen who
favored THE law were from Fargo and
Grand Forks. u.s.
This afternoon Gideon S. Ives of the
tax commission held the floor
No sessions will be held tomorrow,
Thursday morning livestock men will be
heard and representatives OF building and
loan associations. Thursday afternoon
State Auditor Dunn will address the COM
mittee Hearings will be continued FRI
day Il any one appears desiring to be
heard.