The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-21
City News
SEES DEFECTS In
!. TAX AMENDMENT
CHARLES T. THOMPSON ANALYZES
THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
Approves Provisions but Believes In
heritance Tax and All Gross Earnings
Taxes, Except for Railroads, Would
Be Abolished-May Exempt All
Church Property.

Charles r. Thompson read a paper On
";Tbe Proposed Constitutional Amend
ment Relating to TaXation' before the
last meeting of the Six O'Clock club,
in which he analysed the probable eff
fects of the change. On the whole,
Mr.. Thompson approved of its provl-
sions, but he named some defects winch
call for explanation. He believes the
Inheritance tax would be abolished en-
cept those on railroad companies would
be abolished until reenacted by the
legislature. The amendment would also
make it possible to exempt all church
property from taxation. Now only
! PROPERTY used for religious or charita-
BILE purposes may be exempted.
Mr.. Thompson discussion was as
| follows:
The voters of Minnesota ut the next general
election will he called upon TO express their
| approval disapproval of proposed amend
| ment to Article of the constitution of the
state relating 10 taxation. The amendment Is
SO sweeping in its terms, and makes such radical
changes in the provisions of the constitution
which have been in force since the organization
Of the state. that it IS of the greatest iinl'or-
! tGnce that everyone who desires to vote intel
i lgently on this subject should give the matter
his careful consideration and close study
The proposed amendment is found i'll Chapter
1SS of the General laws of Minnesota for 1908.
entitled An act proposing an amendment to
| Article . of the cons titutiOn of the state of
Minnesota relating to taXaton.' BY the pro-
! posed ampnlrant all tie sections l. .. 3 and 4
of Article. .. and q general amendment to the
| article are practically wiped out The amend
| nent referred to passed by the legislature
Of Minnesota in 1890 and adopted by the voters
at the general election in 1896. and relates to a
| gross earnings nNOu sleeping. parlOr and
drawing room cars telegraph and telephone COM
u.uiaS domestic insurance and foreign Insurance
mic mining
building companies
ed would repeal the four articles of the consti
tuition above enumerated and the amendment OF
1886. is embraced in one section containing fewer
! now stands
1t would consume more time than is allotted
to ,le this evening to give in full the articles
of the constitution. they now stand. to which
the new amendment relates. y mere reference
to their substance will be sufficient for the pur
POSES Of this paper.
The present Section | of Article provides
that al, taxes raised in tn" state shall be as
nearly ccual possible. and shall be leviet
upon property according to its cash valuation
Taxes shall b. enualiZed and uniform thruOu
the state. 70 this section has been added by
various amendments provisions for the levEiEG
of special assessments for municipal Improve
ments. without regard to the cash valuation
Of the property upon which the levy is made
such improvements. for instance, paving. sew
or and water pipes,-and also provisions for: TIT
ipvyng and collection of tax upon inhcritances
legacies. heuuests. devices and gifts Of ever!
Kind.