The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-02

tapestries, cut glass, gold and silver
plate, oil paintings, costly bric-a- brac,
rare books and etchings, and numer-
GUS other articles which person of
humble means cannot own, pay only
fraction of their just taxes, for the
reason that they are not truthfully
listed by their owners; while the poor
teamster, with his small homestead
and two work horses, none Of which
can he hide, even tho he had the
disposition to do so, has to pay full
taxes on his real estate and personal
property.
The savings Of the average small
business man, the clerk, the mechanic,
the laboring man, are put into a
home. This home cannot escape tax
alton, and under existing conditions
1t not only pays its just taxes, but it
pays the percentage. which should be
assessed against personal property.
This is estimated to be anywhere from
80 to SO per cent. In other words,
real estate is said to carry from one
third to one-half more than it's just
share Of taxes.
Is it any wonder that the tax sys-
tenn breeds discomfort?
If an equitable division of assess
ment were made between real and
no longer be able to say that Mime
apolis real estate is not an attractive
investment because of the high taxes.
The way to bring about this condi-
ton is for the owners of personal
property to tote fair by honestly
listing their properties. 1t will be a
glorious day for Minneapolis when it
can be said that her citizens do not
shirk just taxes-a glory that will
wipe out any stains that may have
been left by bribe-taking city Off
Gals. Another way is to list all per-
sonal property under oath and attach
a penalty for false returns and en-
force the penalty whenever neces-
sary.
1t has been said that such drastic
measures would drive capital out OF
the city, but there are those who be-
lieve that for every dollar SO driven
| out, three would come in for invest
| ment in our real estate, attracted by
an enforcement of tax laws which en-
courage rather than make it burden
! to own real estate.
! Capital Would Not Be withdrawn
| 1t is doubtful If any amount of cap
| ital would be withdrawn from the
city,, One would not care to admit
| that ones capital was being placed
elsewhere to avoid its just taxation.
Make the office Of assessor elective
and put in man who would dare tc
enforce the laws. By such course
it would not be necessary for the
county commissioners to employ a ta2
| expert to unearth unlisted persona
property, the disgrace Of which
course does not SO much lie in such
employment, but in the fact that the
necessity exists for some means O.
reaching those citizens who will no
pay their just share of the taxes te
support the city in which they live.
Without going at length into the
subject Of special taxation, it may be
said that the principle Of special as
sessments for park purposes is essen
those which are general resorts, ant
where special attractions and amuse
ments are provided, are established
for the benefit of the whole city. The!
are in no sense exclusively enjoyed b!
the people living in the locality, ant
the benefits to the value of the prop
erty in the vicinity are usually mucl
overestimated. There are numerou
examples in Minneapolis of the falla
cy of the idea that surrounding prop
erty is benefited to the extent of tn
value of park and Of the ruinou
effects Of the assessment of such sup
I posititious benefits. Parks should b
paid for out Of the general park fund
real and personal property alike, o
from the proceeds of special bon
issues which should be voted upon b
the people of the whole city. Their
are thousands of residents of Min
; neapolis who do not own real estate
but who do own personal property
They are benefited by the parks a
. we'll as the holder of real estate. VIII
should they not help to pay for them