The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-26
JACOBsON'S TAX BILL
Provides for a Complete System, In.
GLIDING Ore Taxation.

Provides for a Complete System, In
Guiding Ore Taxation.
In explaining his tax BILL introduced
this morning, Mr. jacobson says it is de-
signed to secure the berefts OF the best
features of the tax commissions bill, but
differs from THAT document in providing
Tor tonnage tax on iron ore. 1t is
understood, however that the bill was
drawn ny member of the late tax COM
mission.
My bill, If adopted said MI. Jacobson,
will add to the states revenue from pub
lie service and lining corporations at
least $225. 900, and with the gross earnings
bill past last winter, will bring enough
revenue to the state SO that it will no
longer be necessary to levy direct tax
for state purposes. It will bring $3.50 900
to st. Louis county alone in taxes from the
mining corporations, and will produce for
the counties of Hennepin Ramsey and ST..
Louis, 100000 more than they now re-
ceive.''
Mr.. Jacobson's bill provides for per-
manent tax commission but retains the
state board OF equalization. The two are
to work together The bill summarized is
as follows:
Section l, defines street railway company,
and section requires every such company
to make an annual statement to the county
auditor or state auditor. The form Of this
statement is taken from the tax commission
bill. 1t requires the company to list its cap
ital stock and bonds and give the amount of
dividends paid. It also requires to list tbs
value Of its franchises.
Section provides penalty for failure to
make report of 500 for each day after
June and provides for summoning the off,
GERS by subpoena to answer questions under
oath.
Section 4 provides for assessing street rail-
way companies under three heaGs-real es-
tate, personal property and franchises.
Sections 5 and provide for statements to
the county and state boards of equalization
when street railways extend beyond the linn
its of town or county and provides that in
such cases the taxes shall be apportioned to
localities on mileage basis.
Section defines gas, water, electric, heat
ing, power, wharf and boom companies en-
joying franchises and privileges as public
service corporations. -.-
Sections 8, 9, 10, II, IL, Is and ID provide
for statements from these companies.
Section Is provides for their assessment.
Real and personal property are to be as
sessed separately and subtracted from the
total of the capital stock and funded debt.
The difference is to be used as the basis for
ascertaining the value of the franchise.
Section 16 defines telegraph, telephone,
freight line, express, sleeping and equip
ment companies, and section II provides for
statement from these companies which
must include the gross receipts from bust
done within the state, from business
partly within and partly without the state
and business wholly without the state. They
must also give the mileage within and with
out the state. E
Section IS provides a penalty for failure
to make statement to the state auditor.
Section 10 requires the state auditor to lay
the statements before the tax commission
which is required in section 20 to lay them
before the state board of equalization The
latter board has authority to summon officers
or agents of these companies to appear with
books and papers, and section 81 provides
for fine or imprisonment for failure to ap-
pear.
In section % the state board of equaliza-
ton is given authority to make the assess
ment and in section % the board is en-
powered to make the assessment arbitrarily
if no return is made.
Section "a makes the aggregate value Of
capital stock and funded debt the basis of
valuation for such companies, and section
rs provides for assessing the real estate. The
value is then to be apportioned on mileage
basis and state tax is apportioned to coun-
ties and districts. The attorney general is
empowered to bring action against compa-
MES which are in default and the state treas
Of any company in default, which may, after
sufficient notice, be sold at public sale.
Section IS provides a tax of cents per
gross ton upon all ore hereafter mined in lieu
Of all other taxes. It is to be paid into the
county treasury on or before the fifteenth
day of May, August and January. Such
taxes are to be distributed between the coun-
ty and the state in the same proportion as
real estate taxes. Mining companies are re-
quired to keep a record of all ore mined and
to make statements to the state tax COM
mission three times year. The taxes are
made lien on the property
Section 80 and following provide for the
state tax commission of three members, to
hold office for terms Of six years. The sal
aries are $4,000. They are provided with a
stenographer at 81 200 and are to hold regu-
lar sessions at the capitol on the first Tues
day of April, July, August and September
The tax commission is empowered to summon
witnesses and examine them upon OATH They
are required to comply with rules and regu-
lations of the state board of equalization, to
exercise upervision over assessing officers and
county boards of equalization, to investigate
and report as to inheritances, to change the
assessed valuation Of mineral lands, to in
vestigate irregular assessments, to visit the
counties at least once year and hear COM
erty OF companies taxed under the act, to
report to the legislature biennially, to hear
applications and abate taxes. ....s.
% The commission is authorized to reassess
undervalued or omitted property.
Section 40 appropriates for the tax commits
sion and the state board of equalization $15,-
GOO for salaries and 1000 for expenses.
The act is to take effect upon passage.