The Minneapolis journal., 1906-11-05
Provisions Were Drastic,

"By that code, all personal property
was to be found, and made to pay it's
share, just as real estate, which is in
plain sight Of the assessor, is made to
pay. The commission, sworn for the
task, did not finch from recommend
ing even the harsh and obnoxious means
necessary to compel moneys, credits,
stocks, bonds, ETC., and grain in the
elevator, to be taxed as well as the
farmers cattle and machinery, and the
easily found household goods and furni-
/ ture of the man. of moderate means.
The present constitution not only calls
for the taxation Of all, but it demands
way. at the actual cash value. ...- -
"Every we'll Informed citizen Of Min
nesota knows the result. After a
heated Legislative session, called for
the express purpose Of acting upon the
report Of the tax commissions; after ex-
haustive arguments for, as well as
against, the monstrous and intolerable
Injustice Of such tax methods, and after
repeated promises were made by the
tion Of the drastic new tax code meth
ods; that If it was not adopted, they
would at once unite in securing; the
adoption of such amendment of the con-
stitution, as would permit of just equit-
able and less obnoxious ways Of com
pelling moneys, credits. bonds, stocks,
etc.. and other personal property, to
pay q proper share of governmental ex-
pense, the tax code bill was defeated
by a narrow vote. Much bitter feeling
was engendered by the contest, and bad
blood and bad names were thick about.
May Reap Whirlwind.
"To their credit, it must be said,
that the most of the scared crowd who
fought SO hard to defeat the tax. code
and In good faith fulfilling the prom
| ise they then made, and are helping
carry the present amendment. It is
greatly to be regretted that Mr.. Walk
er and few other rich men like him,
| are in opposition, and positively
against the only hope Of reforms in tax
methods, in the near future. If they
succeed (as it is fervently hoped they
may not) in defeating the proposed
complain Of the whirlwind Of harsh,
drastic tax legislation, sure to follow.
eff our present constitutional basis
| of taxation is to continue, it must be
understood that another tax bill, along
| some such lines as those presented by
| the late tax commission must come
| again, and come quickly. And when it
| does come, it will not fail Of passage,
for those who pay their full share Of
taxes now, and know how much prop
| erty Of others escapes, will not then
of the claimed injustice Of the method,
but simply because they propose to
escape taxation entirely. No. matter
| how unjust and intolerable such law
will be, and how utterly hopeless Of
execution in practice, it will be along
the lines of the present out-of-date con-
stitution (Which Mr.. Walker pretends
to think good enough), but which a
multitude Of narrow men think is ex-
actly right, and which many other
men, not so narrow, will be confirmed
of getting personal as well as real prop
erty to pay its share Of the public bur
dens.
Would Be Bitter Medicine.
A dose Of the present constitution.
really, attempted to be enforced, will
quickly bring men to their senses and
| Walker will then, most likely, be work
ing. for such amendment Of the consti-
tuition as IS now proposed, and be glad
Of the chance. He ought to be now,
instead Of being afraid to trust the
Legislature.
Wisconsin has trusted her legisla-
ture to do the right and reasonable
thing with regard to taxation for over
fifty years, under a wider open basis
Of taxation than that proposed in Min
nesota, and has gotten along admirably.
So can Minnesota.
/ Mr.. Walker mentions the difference
in phraseology between the 5000 ex.
emption authorized in our present con
stitution and that now proposed in
one the word shall being used and in
the other may and evidently thinks
to prejudice citizens of small means