The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-18

ara size ana unmarked, are ShuHled and
cut He will stand for no heather Chinee
practices, and if there Is any gunplay he
will cash in and quit by the open door.
The Taxation Conference.
We cannot have too much light on
this question of taxation. The confer
ence Of the state board of equaliza-
tion with the county auditors, which
has been called for Feb. 8, may not
arrive at any new standard Of values,
and may not work out anything Of i'm
mediate use, but it will set people to
thinking, and it will give the officials
themselves a chance for exchange Of
ideas. i,
The county auditors at their meet
ing this week debated the subject some
what. The auditor is a sort of super
visor for the local assessors. He gives
them instructions when they start out,
he acts as clerk of the county board
of equalization that passes ION their
work, andshe has the right to add new
assessments on property the assessors
have omitted. The auditor may do his
work in a perfunctory sort of way, Or
he may take hold and drill the assess
ors on thoroness and on uniformity in
listing different classes Of property. The
auditors, in their meeting, raised the
old question whether property ought
not to be listed at it's full cash value.
That is what the law requires, and
there is no good reason against it ex-
cept that the increased valuation might
result in increased taxes. The power
that makes the assessment is not the
same power that makes the levy, and
there is no guarantee that higher as
sessment will be followed by lower
levy.
In one way the assessment of. proper
.ty at it's full value would be an ex-
cellent thing. It would draw the at
tention of every taxpayer to the ques-
ton. Publicity and discussion are
needed to help pass the constitutional
| amendment that is to be submitted next
fall. We all admit that the present sys-
tenn of assessing personal property is
a makeshift and a farce. Moneys and
credits either escape entirely, or else
pay q tax that is almost confscatory.
| The object of the amendment is to
open the door for new tax code that
will equalize the burdens. The more
the burden is felt now the more keen
will people be to get the reform in
operation. i.
| The coming tax conference can only
agree on methods Of enforcing our pres
emit antiquated law. It will try to fl
q Just ratio to be used on all classes
| of property. Now, while the law re
| quires property to be listed at full
value, the authorities work on a 81
| per cent theory, but without any prac
teal equality. Some property is as
sessed 100 per cent, some rs per cent
some so, and some as low as 80 an6
IS per cent. This is admitted, and al
we will have to work under the OLE
laws for at least two years, the confer
ence will do some service if it can ar
! rive at more equal scheme. It can
not do everything and cannot force the
assessors to leave the old ruts, but a
/ greater harmony anu cledfeF uHdef
standing among state and county off
cials cannot fail to bring good results.
The unionist party was somewhat
i elated yesterday over the return Of al
/ Of Chamberlain's candidates in Birming
ham, due likely to the home popularit,
Of Mr.. Chamberlain. The landslide to-
| ward the liberals continued In othel
parts of the country In London the.
made gain Of twelve seats. At TIT
rate the polling goes the liberals ant
laborites will have about 400 member!
Of the next house Of commons
I We should like to have Poultney Bige
lows candid opinion Of the new north
west passage before our congressman in
PRODUCES a bill for deepening, dredging
ballasting. counterscarping and "for 9th
er purposes
i Poultney Bigelow is going to reply t
Mr.. Taft. This is what we have feare,
from the first