The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-20

makers or the people for the stirring
needs of a more complete and equitable
tax law than that which We had.
While the interests Of the great tax-pay-
ing populace should not be considered as
belonging, by right, to any particular
party, the evidence is too strongly appar-
ent that in this particular instance a
party Is, and from the inception of the
proposition to revise the present tax code
has been, behind the proposition, and
that party the republican. What
ever is done therefore, with the
measure before the legislature, will re-
dound to the credit or discredit of that
party. There can be no shifting of re-
sponsibility from the shoulders of the
legislative members to those of the tax
commission nor to Governor Van SAINT.
done as directed. It is now up to the
legislature to determine whether the
greater part of a years hard labor by
three competent, painstaking and con-
scientious citizens, who accepted the
onorous duties of formulating a tax code
weed out and cure many Of the inequali
ties of our present system shall be wasted
and come to naught, or whether, with a
few minor amendments, the people will
be given a system of taxation that will
more equ1tably distribute the burdens
and force the wealthy citizens and COR
porations to come nearer paying their
just proportion towards the conduct of
public affairs.
There has been great hue and cry from
the cities that If the proposed tax law
is passed it will ruin the farmers! 1t Is
truly pitiful to note with what deep
seated solicitude some of the metropolitan
papers and not a few of the great cor
porate interests OF the state suddenly feel
for the "dear farmer These briny tears
dropped at the portals of the Minnesota
farm homes are shed for the occasion.
They are not needed. They are not sin
cere They are intended only as guise
to cover other features Of the bill which
probably strike home at some of the larger
interests that have successfully evaded
paying anywhere near what they should
under the present imperfect tax law. What
$50 per acre on his farm If his rate be
/ per cent or SIS per acre If his rate be
2 per cent? The farmers lands and chat
tells are get at able. Then why not mako
the property, real and personal. Of other
people, the same, and put a tax on all
at the full value? The rate will be re-
duced in Just the proportion that the as
sessed valuation is increased.
The writer was informed when he was
in st. Paul recently that a certain whole
sale establishment there pays on it's
stock of merchandise an assessed valua-
ton of about $4,000, when in fact it car
ries goods to the value of fully $1,000. 900.
Just think Of It,. Here is concern that
pay less than one twelfth Of its real
valuation. And it Is one Of hundreds of
others. The bigger the concern the great
er the opportunity to evade anything like
a Just assessment. It is the "little fell
lows who pay the taxes. Is 1t any won
der, therefore, that circulars are sent out
from St. Paul and Minneapolis by the
thousands decrying the tax bill-and all
too poor to own q parent? Or are the
parties behind these circulars ashamed to
expose themselves to public view?
That there are some features of the
proposed tax bill that should be amend
ed is probably true. But that it is all bad
or that there is SO much of it bad that
the whole scheme should be laid over to-
give the strong interests in the state time
and opportunity to kill 1t later on, we do
not believe.
There is a quiet whispering going on
around the state capital that the COVER
nor made mistake in calling the legis-
lature together. Possibly he did. But
who Is at fault II such an error has been
made? Surely not Governor Van SAINT,
in the light OF the action Of the general
session Of 1901 in cutting its time limit
short for the avoWed purpose Of being
called together to take action Oh the bill
authorized by It's own act and formulated
by a commission OF It's own creation.
1t seems to us that If a mistake is
recorded in this special session matter 1t
Will be when the legislature adjournsl
without doing something tangible with the