The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-09
PRESENT TAX LAW
WORST POSSIBLE.
LAWSON PURDY DISCUSSES LIVE
TOPIC BEFORE BUSINESS MEN.
He Says There Is Little Hope Of a
Change for the Better Until the Con-
stitution of the State Is Materially
Changed Present Defects Are Point
ed Ont

The general discussion of the Mime
Hotel Nicollet by Lawson Purdy, sec
rotary of the New York Tax Reform
association, was we'll attended by rep
resentative men OF Minneapolis and st.
Paul. The dinner was under the aus
pieces of the Minneapolis Business Mems
association: Mr.. Purdy was introduced
by E: Y: . Lyman the president president;
Until the constitution Of Minnesota is
amended SO as to remove the restrictions
upon the power Of the legislature with ref
erence to the determination of the subjects
of taxation and the manner of imposing
taxes upon property, very little improve
ment can be made In the tax system OF
this state. - -.
Something can be done at once and
something should be done to remove the
causes of friction between the counties
and between the counties and the state
government. So long as the state depends
for a part of it's revenue upon the general
| property tax levied upon all property as
assessed by local assessors and equalized
by a state board, some friction will con-
| tinue. z.- ..g- .
| Can't Remove Direct Tax.
That there would be sufficient reve-
nue. from gross earnings taxes on rail-
road and other sources to do away with
the direct state tax, Mr.. Purdy did not
believe to be a well-founded hope. 1t
is not desirable at any time that the
entire revenue be raised by special
taxes. Elastic forms OF taxation are
a restraint upon extravaganza produced
by an excess of revenue over needs.
lie said:
j A plan has been proposed for raising
funds for the state which does away WITT
the necessity for equalization, and ye
furnishes revenue according to the need!
of the state. BY this plan the amount re-
quired by the state. is apportioned to TIT
several counties of the state in proportion
to the local revenue raised by each coun
ty and the various districts within eacl
county.
In drafting such law great care mus
be exercised in framing the definition o
revenue with reference to local condi
, lions. It is generally desirable, for ex
ample, to eliminate special assessment
, and money raised for permanent improve
ments as we'll as money borrowed.
, Hindrance to Just Taxation.
Some of the hindrances to equabl
y taxation under the Minnesota law MI
Purdy cited thus: Lack of a state in
q spection and supervision OF local as
SCISSORS; members Of the state board o
SHuoAAA1eAO1A3 VIII AoPAOnSho VIZ
- large, can pay no PARTICULAR attentlo
q q to their duties on the board, as the
n n are permanent officers of the state. an
d are otherwise busy; the constitutions
l. provision and the statute requlr1n
= property to be assessed at its full .valu
5 is disregarded; every county and tai
y ing district is a law unto ITSELF. a:
SCISSORS who assess otherwise make falls
e oath, and so do propertyholders VIII
3, return property at less than marke
h value.
e Laws Can't Be Worse.
~ The permanent remedy is constit1
Il tional amendment. Mr.. PurdY said:
y. Your safety IS not in constitutional r.
- straint, but lies in this, that you, cann
. have worse tax laws than are possible III
der the constitution you have, and it W
IT take very ingenious men to frame wor
l. tax laws than you have now. At the san
le time, If you keep your present cons.it'
10 ton, which canonizes an untrue theor
OF you may be sure that ingenuity will be e.
n, pended to devise a worse condition for "
ID than that which now exists. ; 7
ID He suggested as a remedy perm
% nent board of state officials appointe
by the governor, with powers similar
n, those Of the state board Of tax COZ
I'd missioners in New York, on the grou1
u that such appointment would undouh
ag edly result in an improvement in loo