The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-16
SHOWS DEFECTS IN
CLASSIFICATION
ANDREW ECKSTEIN ARGUES
AGAINST SYSTEM OF TAXATION.
New Ulm Speakers Views Arouse En-
thusiastic Discussion at st. Peter
Conference and Reference Is Made
to st. Paul's Science in Tax-Dodging
:, New Officers Elected. ~

to st. Paul's Science in Tax-Dodging
New Officers Elected. H.,
Special to The journal.
st. Peter Minn., Nov. 16.-Delegates to the
Minnesota state conference of Charities and
Corrections decided to hold the next conven-
ton at Red Wing and elected the following
officers:
President, Frank L. Randall st. Cloud; first
ivce president, Professor F. L. McVey Mime
apolis; second vice president, DR.. l.. c.. Weeks,
Detroit; secretary and press agent E. D. Sod
enbergcr, Minneapolis enrolling secretary, II. |
G. Withrow, Duluth executive committee, Rev. |
non Fails: Mrs. J. L. Washburn. Duluth; Theo |
F. Leeb, Winona; H. II. Nelson, Anoka An
drew J. Eckstcin, New, Ulm.
An important paper read yesterday after |
noon by Andrew ]. Eckstein of New Ulm. 1t !
entitled 'Taxation and County Boards of |
Equalization," and treated of the inequality |
and injustice of the present system. In his
plea for just taxation. he offered criticisms of
the 500 exemption law, taxation by class- |
fcation and not by actual value, the plan of
electing assessors by popular vote and the
practice of county and state boards of equali-
zatio1 of dealing with totals at the expense
of individual items.
Weakness Of the System.
Showing the weakness of the classification
system, Mr.. Eckstein said:
II have figures from the assessments as
returned by the state board in 1908, giving the
averages in two classes of taxable goods
household goods and wearing apparel. and farm
tools, implements and machinery. To show a
few variations. will take Brown county, with
an average on household goods Of $31.17 and
Of farming machinery $3.50: In Olmsted
county the former is $5244. and the latter is
5000. In Winona county the former Is $72s1
and the latter Is $21 40; in Cottonwood county
! the former is $19S1 and the latter $21.8O.
Here have subject for study. have taken
two counties with the same average, prac-
! tically, farm machinery, but with diff
ference in household goods amounting to more
than 800 per cent. Unless we have conditions
| that would argue in favor Of expensive house
hold goods in the one county. we cannot an
| Swer these figures In any other way than to
state that the system Is defective.
! AS remedial measures he favored the levy Of
per capita tax, the removal from assessors of
all suspicion Of fraud caused by the failure to
! list property thru personal friendship
account of political obligations. by having them
appointed under civil-service rules, and the ap-
| pointment election of competent men to boards
| of equalization.
Must Eliminate Generalities.
:'We are DEALING" said the speaker, with a
subject that has caused society to bleed for
! 5000 years of which have record. Knowing
| that we must wipe away generalities. We
must make all men pay equally toward govern
ment support we must disentansle the con-
| fusion OF classhcat1on; we must place the
assessors beyond the realms Of incentive for
| fraud; we must aim at fairness and equality,
and we must force men to return honest sched-
uies to assessing bodies. And with that task
ahead of us-a multiple task that is Of vast
moment-let not forget that the good Of
things is not in talking and theorizing, but in
| doing"
| Mr.. Eckstein's paper, which was enthusiastic-
| ally discussed, gave G. A. Nash of ST. Paul an
| opportunity to explain the taxation problem
| 1T presents itself in Ramsey county. According
| to Mr.. Nash, the heavy property owners in his
| city have tax-dodging reduced to a science, he
making the declaration that the jobbers' asso-
mi han
| the list to st. Paul's boss, whom he broadly
hinted was none other than cardinal Dick''
the assessor also member Of the ring, in such
way that the valuations are not Increased
lie cited one instance where a jobbing firm re-
turned its property at $275,OOO, but withdrew
| $lOOoOO at the suggestion Of the assessor.
Will Urge Legislation. 80 -:.*
T. F. Leeb of Winona concurred in the rec
concentrations made by Mr.. Eckstein and Of
appointed to frame bill embodying his points
and including a section which would REQUIRE as
SCISSORS to appear before county boards of equali.
zation when summoned by the commissioners,
and providing for their compensation while en-.
gagged in such service.
The Valne of the State Conference to County
commissioners was the subject of a paper read
| by A. O. Cowles of Mantorville and b. d.
Solenoerger: general manager Of the Associated
| Charities of Minneapolis, talked on ''Vagrancy"
ne endeaVored to discourage the passing along''
system, whereby counties seek to evade respon-
slbllity for dependents by purchasing transporta-
| tion for them to another county DECLARING tha+
1t results in the making of tramps, begears and
petty thieves. His idea of solving the Question
was was to to nola paupsrs until their legal residence
can oe ascerta1ned or their relatives commun1-
Gated with, and then ship them to the places
where they actually belong.
| Inc commissioners listened to an excellent e.-
temporaneous pc talk by Judge John W. wills
| OF 81. faui. and Professor William A. Schaner
or the University of Minnesota spoke on the
value OF ''Iraining for Public Service"
Resolution Adopted.
Increased pay for county commissioners was
demanded in a report submitted by A 7 Eck
stem, chairman Of the legislative COMMITTEES.
!h1s matter was acted upon at the convention at
Faribault in 1904 but the state legislature
enacted law not to the liking Of tha cow
m1ssloners. and yesterday morning they adontcd
the following resolution:
49,. BE ,. it resolved, That the State Associa.
tlon or County Commissioners of the state of
Minnesota recommend to the legisla ture Of
Minnesota that, to encourage the participation
OF business men in the work Of the commits
SlonerS, nat rate Of compensation Of S5 ner
diem for actual services, be adopted, and
be 1t further resolved That the present
system be abolished because it is discriminat
ing against the time and energies Of men in
poorer counties and in favor Of commissioner
of wealther counties, whose work is less and
whose facilities for attending meetinos nro
better" "'e
In choosing their officers, the commissioners
elected Andrew J. Ecksten, New Ulm, presj-
cent; Louis Pfund Ada, vice president; A. O,
Cowles, Mantorvlle, secretary.
After the adjournment of the commissioners.
section the delegates were taken to the ST.
Peter state hospital in carriages, shown thru
ehe INSTITUTION and entertained at luncheon by
Superintendent and Mrs H. A, Tom1inson
When they reassembled in the hospital chane
tor the final session, the committee on reso
iutlons reported an expression Of thanks to the
local churches the people Of ST. Peter anf
Dr. and Mrs. Tomlinson This was adopted by
the conference. The members declined to q
On record as desiring the establishment of ciyi
service in the state government