The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-28
A NEW PLAN AS TO THE TAX Law

Undoubtedly much OF the apprehension
professed with regard to the injurious eff
feet of the proposed new tax law upon
certain lines of business and certain
forms OF property is sincere. It is, in
our view, however, magnihed far beyond
the proportions which the facts Justify.
But whether well-founded or not. the
feeling Of great apprehension having
taken form, certain lines of business may
cation of new methods Of assessments and
| a new basis OF valuation-new, not SO
much in theory as in the proposed prac-
tice.
The journal would therefore urge
this plan with regard to the tax law
After careful consideration OF the bill
proposed making a very few amend
ments that seem to be important, but
leaving the general scheme as it stands,
pass the bill to go into effect In 1903, in
stead OF 1902.
Submit the amendments to the consti
tuition at the election next fall.
Let the tax commission, continued In
Office by special act proceed to con-
struct new tax law in accordance with
| the new amendments and in line with the
recommendations they have already Of
|:fered.
| Let the new law be reported to the leg
islature which conyenes the first week in
January, 1908, and which will have ample
| time to consider and enact new law be-
fore the first Of April, when the assess
! ment Is to be made.
This will have the effect Of repeating the
law adoptedat the approaching special ses-
sion and put on the statute books, with
only one years delay, such modified tax
system as the proposed changes in the
constitution will allow, and give to the
state a law free from the most serious OBJ
jections raised against the pending meas
ure.
This order of procedure is urged for
this reason:
To lay aside the bill, as has been pro-
posed, taking no action upon 1t what
| ever, but simply submitting the amend
| &c RI n
tain defeat of the amendments and tc
leave us in the end no further advanced
toward tax revision than we were before
we commenced. ~
This statement is based upon our OWL
experience in this state in passing
amendments to the constitution expert
ence which shows that no amend
nent to the constitution of this state has
4 even been adopted by clear majority Of
all the votes cast at the election at which
it was submitted Large numbers OF
voters, when they come to these amend
ments on the ballot, pass them by because
they have failed to inform themselves as
to their Significance, and not being in
formed choose not to vote upon them al
ALL In 1896 we so amended our consti-
tuition that no further amendment can be
adopted except by favoring majority O.
all the votes cast at the election at which
It is submit ed-not simply majority
cast on the amendment. The effect OF
this is that every voter who does not
) vote upon any amendment at all, but does
vote for any candidate, Is counted as
voting against it.
In view Of our experience it is morally
, certain, therefore, as previously stated
that these amendments will not b.
adopted unless special inducements ar
offered.
!, This extreme probability is strength
ened also by the experience of othe
, states. In Nebraska, for instance, wher'
a similar constitutional provision exist
, with regard to amendments to the consti
tuition no amendments have been passes
for many years, although frequently sub
mitted.
The ournal would. therefore, sug
} gest that instead of simply leaving thes
: amendments to be voted upon by them
selves and subjected to all the opposition
which they are sure to meet with from
public service corporations and other in
terests which may be disposed to resis
l any changes in our present system of tax
alton, the legislature adopt the plan pro
posed. This is urged in order that tn
i amendments to the constitution submitte
2 at the election this fall may have tn
benefit of all the discussion and consider
: alton and attention that would naturall
= be enlisted in support OF them and b
l certain of adoption to the end that tn
!. new law, already the statute books
. may be amended and revised as to it
Objectionable features.
z In other words, the value Of the adop
1 ton Of this law at this time, the date o
its effectuation being deferred. and its re