The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-10
Tax Absurdities Demonstrated.

The tax conference in st. Paul yes
terday gave a fine demonstration of art
full lodging. It's main purpose was to
agree on ratio for assessing property.
While the law requires assessments to
be made at full cash value, custom
sanctions a general departure from the
rule. Some kinds Of property are as
sessed at 80 1-8 per cent, some at so
per cent, and some at nearly full value.
The county auditors wanted an agree
ment with the state board Of equaliza-
tion to take uniform rate, but when
they came to discuss it themselves, some
troublesome fellows WHO believe in en-
forcing the law declared that no basis
but 100 per cent could be adopted by
anybody. So the auditors tried to pass
the problem over to the state board.
The astute members Of that body
lodged it on the plea that they weren It
holding legal meeting. OF course they
were just as able to make recon-
| mendation then as next fall, but they
had to get away from the question in
some way.
So the conference failed Of Its main
| purpose, and the failure was inevitable.
It is too late to begin making assess
ments at full value. On account Of
fixed levies this would necessarily raise
taxes, and it would also nullify all the
classifcations Of counties by law, ac-
cording to assessed valuation. In such
a dilemma it was no wonder the state
board took refuge behind a technicality
When all is said, it must not be denied
that the board Of equalization Is
political body. It tries to do even JUS
tice, as rule, but its members have
always in mind the prestige Of the
governor who appointed them. The
Lind boards in 1899 and 1900 made
political capital, and boards ever since
have been following that example. A
dilemma such as the county auditor
proposed throws the board into panic
The weakness of our present tax sys
| tenn was emphasized by the failure o
the conference. The farce Of. stat
, equalization was made more apparen
: than ever. The local option argumen
> Eby w. L. Harris gave everybody foo
for thought, and the position taken b
: him is approved by the most enliggh1
\ ened tax authorities of the day. Locs
= option is not possible till we hav
e. passed the amendment to the constit,
- ton that is to be voted on next fal
n but as soon as it is made possible, loc'
y option should be the rule. Less tha
r. 10 per cent Of the tax paid in HEM
h pin county goes to the state, and co.
a troll by the state breeds injustice. 4
r. Auditor Halden of Duluth argued ye
m terday,; the state should simply appo
= ton to each county Its share OF Il
A. state tax, and let the county. raise Il
~ amount in its own way. Increased &C
= porations taxes will reduce the sta
le levy every year, and should soon wi
"a it out, when local option will be
~ evitable. Till then the state tax cou
~ be distributed according to the Pur'
az plan, adopted by New York. The
- the state tax burden Is shared by cou
be ties according to the amount Of tax tn
"a collect for local purposes, exclusive
~ special assessments. s.. H,
The only real lesson learned from tt
- tax conference is that we must not t
= to pass the constitutional amendme
~. next fall, r., ~z... 80. p. ..-