The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-08-11

they have given little attention anG
study to the intricate questions con-
nected with taxation. Our sister state.
wisconsin, stands among the most
progressive OF the states in this re-
spect, and its people are determined
that their system, which is compara>
lively good shall become better. Ev-
cry state campaign there involves
some proposed change in the tax sys.
tenn. The Minnesota constitution so
hampers and restricts our legislature
that we have been unable to take any
step in advance in the matter Of as
seSsing, levying and collecting taxes.
The result is that we have system
OF assessing that makes each county
and even each political division in the
several counties constantly attempt to
escape its just and fair proportion 0,
state taxes and shift the burden upon
some other locality. 1t is needless to
say that this system which allows one
county or one section of the state to
escape it's fair and just proportion or
taxation also enable one individual tn
escape the burden of taxation and shift
it upon his neighbor.
The storm of protest which Mr.. Mi
nors attempt has aroused in this COM
munity ought To turn peoples atten-
ton to the system which is the cause
of the whole trouble. Th. people of
Minnesota have had at least one chance
to vote upon Il constitutional amends
To make some ctfectual change. Either
because voters knew so little about
taxation or because they thought that
the matter was of no interest to them
so few voted upon this question that
the proposed amendment failed We
think that few more sustained eff
forts such as our assessor has made
will produce good results. 1t ought to
be plain to all that system of taxa
ton which provides for taxes which
can be conveniently lodged is poor
system. 1t encourages perjury and
promotes inequality in the matter OF
taxation. 1t ought to be an easy mat
ter in Il state like Minnesota to raise
sufficient revenue for state purposes
without depending upon the work OF
fEf,;o
were raised from taxes upon foreign
corporations doing business within the
state and from railroads. telegraph and
express companies and other such
agencies, as is done in some states
there would be no incentive on the part
of local assessors and county boards
returning small valuations in order TO
escape their just share of the state
tax. The inequality resulting from this
cause is very great and it is become
ing more and more SO as the cities Of
the state grow in size Our State Board
of Equalization. which is appointed
from judicial districts without respect
to the population or valuation of the
different sections of the state. only adds
to the evil that is perpetuated in the
contest in the first instance is to re-
turn as low valuations as possible and
developes before the State Board of
Equalization into Il contest between
the cities and the country.
1t would be hard to imagine "a sys-
TEN better calculated to promote i'll
justice and equality in taxation. When
our system is considered in respect to
the different classes of personal props
erty assess:ble it is even worse BY tax
ing personal property such AS house,
hold goods which rich and poor alike
must possess and from which it is
impossible to escape because that
property is always in view. and by at
tempting to assess securities such a..
mortgages. notes, stocks and other evil
dences of Indebtedness which it is all
ways possible to conceal and which
are possessed by the rich alone, an easy
method is provided by which the rich
may escape taxation on the greater
portion of their property, while there
is no possible avenue of escape for the
poor. The direct result of the system
is that the small householder and small
business man pays. far more taxes In
proportion than his rich neighbor who
owns valuable securities.
The attempt which MIR. Minor has
been making to reach concealed prop
erty by arbitrary assessments has re-
suited in an increased amount of per-
jury and evasion on the part of those
can rarely be uncovered should never
be attempted for it is only the unfor-
tun;tc and the extremely conscientious
that pay such a tax. 1t is. of course,
easier to criticise a system of taxation
than to formulate one. Perfection In
taxation is impossible. When taxation
was first instituted taxes were collect
ed only against those who were too
weak to defend themselves against the
extortion. In a certain degree that is
still true. But it ought to be an easy
matter for the state of Minnesota t"
be at least abreast of the times in this
important matter. Instead of having