The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-21

unlawful influences upon the members or the !
legislature by interests, desiring to escape TAX
alton.
Section 4, which would be wiped out by the
amendment, relates to the taxation of banks
aud their property. towit, notes, bills dis
counted purchased, money loaned and all
other property or effects. The only substitu-
tion for this would be the proviso that taxes
.:shal be uniform upon the same class of sub
jects,'' The cash and other personal property
of the banks would be- subject to taxation
to the same extent the property of an
individual. if the legislature passes law tax
ing such property.
adopted in 1896 providing for gross earnings
tax the property of certain corpora tions
would be wiped out by the amendment II
adopted, and nothing Is provided to take It's
place.
Commands Attention.
Opinions differ as to the wisdom of requir-
ing sleeping. drawingroom and parlur car. com
panies to pay gross earnings tax into the
state treasury. In lieu of all other taxes: and
there is more serious question whether
telegraph and telephone companies. which en-
JOY the protection Of various municipalities and
operate almost exclusively within such NIL
inequalities, should pay only II gross earnings
tax to the state, in lieu of all other taxes IN
my Judgment the proposed amendment should
be scrutinized in this particular with great
care O.: ..-- =
If the amendment Is adopted it is a. very
serious question whether a fair method can
be ascertained by which telegraph, COMPANY
engaged in interstate communications, can ne
reached for the purposes of taxation, tho iocal
telephone companies might be so reached; or
whether an epress company could be SO
reached or whether foreign insurance COM
pany could be so reached Mining companies
of courses might be reached by assessing
their tangible real and personal property. IN
any event, the amendment would permit the
taxation of corporate franchise, which the
corporat ton itself counts generally as Its most
valuable asset.
in view
amendment would he Just one. 1t seems
wrong that corporations of this charac'eS en-
joying the protection of the mnnlclpalitles'
should not be compelled to contribute some
thing for the running expenses of the n2uHlri-
i palities in return for the protection Whlch
| they enjoy. -,
The question how the pron'r OFFICIALS 'ou lI
find some Just basis upon which to assess ana
tax the property Of such corporate ons Is now
ever, a subject too broad to be consldefeo Ill
tho present time $3.50.
! The eff,ct of the amendment If adopted.
would be as follows: =;
First-The gross earnings tax on railroads
would be retained: all other gross earnings
taxes would be abolished.
| Second-The exemption of the property Oh
ecclesiastical CORPORATIONS would he enormous
" increased, while the exemption OF @2oo PEI
capita now given by the constitution to eaci
taxpayer would be stricken out, ana II ""'','
he left to the legsla ture to say now locI
If any. Of the former $500 exemption snooi'
be allowed. and to whom 1t shooiu Ut 'ilo y.
TElrd-The legislature would be empowered "
say what Dronerty should and what should no,
! he subject to taxation. 1t conlG exempt 1t"
personal property and levy All taxes "Eon ltu
property or vice versa. The only i,hi' "o.
tb;s ncwar would be the provision tnat Nhei
one class of propcrty is made liable to taxation
then the taxes u.'on all the PROPERTY III ina
class must be UNIFORM. 49,,
FoErth-The provisions. aHthoflzllis, All l"''''
itnnce tax would he abolished. ,
| Cifth--The leyying of a special tax upon th'
real estate benefited thereb?, in order 10 rats'
funds with which to make special assess"eA''
would still be authorized.
Sixth--The Legislature would be Po"erless u
levy a tax or to authorize one for any othe
than public purpose.
The. Benefits He Sees.
The brief study which have been ap'e "
give to this subject has enabled me to dlscoVe
four advantages which might result from III
amendment: e. !.
First-It would make system OF taNatlo
more elastic-a thing which to many seems
be very desirable.
Second-It would make it possible, if the leg
islature should do its duty. to compel pllp.lc
service corpora lions enjoying special privilege
within cities and counties ana OWNING Fai.
able franchises and other property TO pay .ne'
fair share of the taxes for city ana County Il
we'll as state purposes. ~. n. r..
Third-lt would prevent any arrangement o
contract with any persons or corporations. ONE
than a railroad company. by the terms OF "hlc
they could escape general taxation -. =.
Fourth-It would prevent the levylag on take
| to provide Il bonus in aid OF railroad q
anyaother similar ENTERPRISE.
T.. The objections which seem to me to be IN
most apparent are the follownC
First-The exemptions from taxation above
to ecclesiastical bodies are already generous
= the increased exemption provided for nEsth
amendment would. i'll my Judgment: be un1us Z ilat
dangerous. ~ 81; .$% &@@sa $I.,:
Second--The rover over taxation. given toAth
, legislature by the amendment would bee e1
) tremely dangerous. believe there are man
rcrfqctly honest legislators. but VIC should thin
, several times before comforting such pnWe
1non any LEGISLATURE and thus subiactng Ii
members to ouch influences as will be b:"uSt
10 bear uron them by representatives or inte
ests which will certainly seek exemption frol
taxation. ~ 1---- ia
Third-The power to tax inheritances. "a lor1
of taxation in which | firmly believe, viii /
taken away, ~
Whether the advantages outweigh the >obie'
tions is a question which / have net vet DECIDE
= for myself. II is of the most mportaf
! n,,estons eyer submitted to the electors OF tn
state FOR decision We should give the subJet
Y tnoro investigation and careful consideration
! and having Dc cided what is the right ansWt
f to the question. we should engage in Il calnpaiG
of education prepara tory to the election.
= The New Amendments. -:
t The text of the proposed -amcndmer
G is as follows: =" . A4A =.