The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-28
MEASURE A BAD ONE
DULUTH BUSINESS INTERESTS so
REG ARD NEW TAX
LAW
WILL FIGHT IT TO A FINISH
Changes Are Too Radical and Would
UnsettIe Business-ObstacIe to
states DeveIOpme
equal Taxation.

Under the leadership of Senator Bald
win and Senator Daugherty the people
of Duluth have formed a belligerent army
to fight the new tax law to a finish in
the coming extra session of the legisla-
ture The special committee of Duluth
business men and officials has determined
to camp on the trail of the legislator and
contest every inch in the fight for SUI
premacy. So long as st. Louis county
can make itself heard the legislature will
never pass the new law complete and
without discussion. The special commit
tee has prepared statement of its case,
in which the new law is most vigorously
denounced. Among other things, this
statement says:
The proposed law has such radical
changes, and the tine for its consldera-
ton before the legislature meets is so
short that I'VE believe it impossible Tor
adequate knowledge of the provisions, or
any realization Of the effect of the oper-
alton Of the proposed law.
While the commission, in its report.
state that they have endeayored to pro-
pose a practical law rather than one
theoretically perfect, it would seem
that an entire departure has been made
from the settled system of laws, not
only in this state, but in all OF the
neighboring states. The central idea of
the proposed law seems to be to secure
the highest valuation of all property
within the state for taxing purposes, to
cut down to the lowest amount the eX-
emptions from taxation, and to enforce
by the most rigid penalties and in
quisitorial methods the collection of all
taxes.
The effect of the operation of such a
| law upon the state of Minnesota While
surrounding states have laws more near
~ like that of our own with reference to
assessment and collection of taxes, can
only be conjectured 1t will certainly
place q very serious obstacle in the way
of the development of the state by the in
PRODUCTION of any new capital. If the
stock in trade of the merchant, includ-
ing all of his credits, must be itemlzed
and sworn to at it's full cash value, and
made public record for the benefit of
all of his competitors, not only in this
state, but elsewhere, and taxes must be
paid upon this valuation rather than upon
the decreased valuation allowed in other
states, it seems clear it would offer n
very great inducement to such merchants
to remove from the state. The manufac-
turer and jobber will find themselves in
the same condition.
At this time in the development of the
state, when every effort should be
brought to induce the location here of
manufacturing industries, and when our
business interests as whole should be
! foStered and encouraged it would seem
to be very doubtful at least whether the
state should enter upon any such
| taxes.
While these matters apply to the state
as a whole, there are certain matters In
which the city of Duluth may have Pc
| culiar interest. The jobbing and manu-
featuring interests of our city are rapidly
growing and need encouragement rather
than repression. The present law with
| reference to the taxation of vessels has
made Duluth the home port of innumera-
BILE craft plying our lakes and every
where advertising the city of Duluth,
while our laws with reference to grain
shipping and taxation have built up a
great market at the head of the lakes.
The JobbinS Interests.
The effect of such revised tax code on
the jobbing and larger mercantile inter-
ests of the state would be extremely det-
rimental, to say the least, and in some
cases. in lines which are handled on a
narrow margin of profit, might prove
practically prohibitory.
1t should be remembered that the job
bing of merchandise, to be successful
! must compete with old established
houses, doing large business in other
| states in cities where they are en- en-
couraged by reasonable taxation to grow,
and are recognized as very important
factors in the material upbuilding of the
! community.
This has always been the policy in
| our larger cities, and any such radical
change as that now proposed will have
the effect of increasing the expenses
which must necessarily be added to the
| cost of goods to the consumer. Nearly
all the iobbers of this state are develop
Ing their several lines in a way which
is highly gratifying to taxpayers, who
observe and can appreciate the results.
There is no doubt but what. as a class,
they have contributed equally with any
others to share the public burdens of
| taxation The proposed publicity of their
affairs and the advertising of the credits
granted by them could hardly prove a
[ Satisfactory measure however viewed.