The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-16
TAX CODE WILL PASS
SENATOR MILLER THINKS COMMITS
SLOWS GENERAL ideas WILL
BE ADOPTED
CHANGES WILL NOT BE MANY
General Scheme of Assessment Pro-
posed by Tax Commission VIII
Prevail, Thinks the Rock
County Senator.

Senator H. ]. Miller of Rock county,
sizes up the legislative situation at the
end of the second week as follows:
AS we get farther into the considera-
ton of the tax CODE and as t~@ opposi-
ton to 1t is more fully and more clearly
disclosed, we shall be able to determine
more certainly Just where the shoe
interests most seriously affected will
make the Ioudest protest, and be first
to appear before the legislative commit
tees to give expression to their opposi-
ton. The protests thus far have come
from the elevator companies, the vessel
owners, the milling interests and the city
bankers. Except the bankers, they all
declare that if the new code is passed
they must either quit business or move
out of the state. And yet they ali agree
that the farmer will get the worst of it.
AL All the opposition, by the way, discloses
itself in pathetic pleas on behalf of the
tanners in particular and the man of
small means in general. But as yet there
has been no satisfactory answer to this
proposition, Conceding, as we must, that
at least all the property now assessed
Will be assessed under the new law; that
the total sum to be raised by taxation
will not be increased by the new law, and
that the only effect of the change will
be readjustment and equalization of the
tax burden, who is going to suffer, and
what cause is there for alarm? Assum-
Ing then, as we certainly may, that
more property will be assessed under the
new law and that this addition will be
property which now escapes taxation are
we not justified in assuming that the
burden of taxation will be lighter for
those Who are now paying either their
just proportion or more than their proper
share?
The proposition to pass the necessary
constitutional amendment bills and post
pone action on the tax code has earnest
advocates, but does not seem to meet
with much favor. The imperative need
OF reform in our system of taxation is
everywhere recognized, and the sentiment
is strong among the members that the
duty which the legiSla ture has undertake
en- to perform cannot now be shirked
Ihere IS strong disposition to take the
pu1 py the horns, and meet the emer-
gency fearlessly. The advocates, of this
poncy are in favor of giving to all pro-
testing interests a full and attentive
nearing, and to all the questions involved
the most careful consideration-then to
act on their best judgment and put the
proposed reforms into immediate opera
ton. II the new law can accomplish hall
That is fairly expected of it, the benefit
TO the state by the gain of a years
operation will be worth many times the
cost OF a dozen extra sessions
Tax Code Will Pass.
A few things respecting the action to
pe taken In relation to the proposed new
tax code are now practically predeter-
mined. Ihere IS strong probability that
enacted.
certain that features of the code nre-
pared by the commission will be ma
ter1ally amended. The provision recon-
mended IN relation to exemption will he
dtpudlated and the present exemption of
S!VO VIII be continued The recommended
uon as to vessel tonnage tax and the
taxation of grain in transit will prob
ably be changed. The proposed c0nsti-
tutlonal amendment relating to the an
poruohlnent OF state taxes to the several
counues will meet with opposition In
ueu OF this it is not improbable that q
constitutional amendment will he cnh
mltted providing for the exemption of
circuits, including mortgages and other
eVlGences of Indebtedness, and the sub
sututlon of an income tax on credits.
SdiafleS Tor professional services, and
OIher forms OF Intangible property
constitutional amendment providing for
d tonnage tax on the products of mines
Will be proposed and may be submitted.
Inc new code as it will finally be passed
IL any code is passed, will embrace the
general scheme of assessment euualiZa-
ton, levy and collection recommended nv
the commission, together with its pro,
VISIONS TOR the creation of tax commits
sion, ana the plan proposed for the tax
atlOn OF franchises and the property Of
banks, brokers and stock iobbers and ali
corpor atoms, including building and loan
associations, street railway companies.
gas. water, electric, heating, power wharf
or boom companies, telegraph telephone
express, sleeping car, freight line and
equipment companies ETC. In fact, there
Will be very few changes in the main
BODY of the code as prepared by the
commission. The fight will be made upon
a lew vital features and the changes to
be made, though possibly few, may be
important. What these changes will be
cannot now be predicted.
IO1a