The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-01-31

False statements would be subject
to the same punishments as perjury.
"The assessor himself would be
guilty of a mlsdemeanor if he failed
to make you take the oath.
"You would simply have to make a
public statement of the actual value
Of every thing you had in your home
and your business or commit perjury.
"Under the present law there is an
exemption Of 500, but under the pro-
posed law the exemption would be but
s25.
II say this proposed code is so in
quisitory that it goes to the inner
most corners of your private business.
The merchants would simply have TO
furnish the assessor with "A public in
ventory Of his affairs, including his
credits and what he owes.
Briefly, every business man must
strike off a trial balance on the first
day Of April each year and then swear
that lie has listed everything at its
full value.
Now. the direct effect of this pro-
posed law would be to increase the
valuation OF pr0perty-tle tax rate
may he lower, but the state valuation
will be higher. and your taxes would
he from three to four times what they
are now.
'"rhe commission also proposes to
lax all grain found in the elevators on
April 1. AS IA result of this, Duluth
would either 60 out of the elevator
business and Superior would get it,,
or else the elevator men would have
10 add the tax TO the elevator charg-
es, and the farmers would get just
that much less for their wheat.
land now as to invisible property
stocks. bonds aud other securities.
Suppose widow living in st. Paul
had received $4,000 from her husbands
insurance. She would 20 TO some
friend probably in the banking bust
ness. and ask advice as To investing
the money to the best advantage. He
might recommend Northern Pacific
4s, and ten shares would bring her an
income of $500 annually. The tax
rate in st. Paul is mills, and that is
as high as it can he pushed. Under
the proposed tax code she would have
to pay $29 on each share, n0twith-
standing the fact that the Northern
Pacific road had already paid lax
on these shares under the gross earn
ings law.
Under the present law the farmers
in the state have escaped much taxa
tion. but if they are compelled TO LIST
: all their grain and farming land at
I its full value, will they not be hit and
l hit hard?
RI NOW as to the proposed constitu-
: tional amendment Of this tax com
omission. They propose that section
s 2 of article shall he amended as fol-
: lows" ''.s
| 'All taxes shall he uniform upon
. the same class of subjects within the
? territorial limits Of the authority
: tevying the taxes; and shall lie levied
aud collect Ell under the general laws
, for public purposes.
This is as different from The pre-
sent law as light and darkness. Ii
makes ii wide tiiScriminaI ion possible.
There could he diScriniilIal ion he
tween individuals aud commune les
Duluth might he called on 10 pay one
IN bnr .llavut,,rS .,pI Al liz
auolher Tie Whole question was
equality would be swept away.
T 1.-The commission also proposes to
amend seci ION of article 8 as fol-
!, lows:
The legislature may 10y general
laws provide for The apportionment
10 counties, OF he amount of revenue
10 he raised therein for stale pnr-
/, poses, and may in any law proyiding
for such appnri ionnenL atIi lloriZe The
counties 10 select HE subjects upon
which the revenue is 10 he raised
therein for state or county purposes.
aud 10 apporlio such revenue among
ciii les, villages and townships of the
county.
by this the sovereign right of the
people is delegated to the legisa-
Eture''
There was considerably more of he
address. but IN closing Mr.. Cotton
urged that both the lax code aud the !
proposed constitutional amendment |
| Il Il CO
what he considered might lie !; fair
substitute.
"Drink nothing thnut seeing it,.
sign nothing without reading it,. and
| make sure IL means nothing more
| than ii says. Don't go to law unless
you are forced 10 and have something
| To lose In any business never wade
| in where you cannot see bottom. Put
| M, do in fI,o I,h.,I re =, l,,., |