The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-17
SYSTEM TO RAISE Taxes
Senator Turner Presents His Personal
Views Concerning the Mannel
of Raising Money.

of Raising Money.
Spokane, wash. July 7.-Declaring
that direct taxation Is crude and
unscientitic, former United States
Senator George Turner of Spokane
points to indirect taxes, excuses and
tmposts as the solution, adding that
this change can be accomplished ny
suitable legislation without consti-
utional amendment. He holds that
the state taxing system is wrong,
because lands are made to tear the
entire burden. He added:
81 say that lands are a to bear
the entire burden because the taxes
from other kinds of property are so
inconsiderable as not to be worth
computing. 1t always will be SO
unuer a system Of direct taxation.
Personal property is movable and
capable Of such easy TRANSFORMATION;
and many forms Of it, as money,
diamonds, stocks and bonds, are so
easily concealed that 1T is hopeless to
expect to have them listed for taxa
ton. Yet the wealth of our people
i'll personal property is rs great and
probably greater than it is in real
estate; and since that form Of
property can not be reached for
taxation and never has been in any
government under the sun, it is
unfair and unjust to make real
estate, which includes the land of
the farmer and the little home OF tue
lahorer and mechanic, pay a Gouble
burden. 1t is not only unfair and
unjust, but it is wholly un, eces-
sary.
"Any system of direct taxation is
crude and unsclentitic and but Little
better than that which subsists IN
Tulkey and China. No civilized
government nov resorts to it. The
United States is now raising ST., O0O,-
GOO, 900 a year in taxes without
levying a cent IN direct taxes, and
it is so easy that no man in the
country feels the pinch of it.
son the other hand, here in
Washington, with one-eightieth of
the population OF the entire country
aud more than one-eightieth of it's
wealth, and with an expenditure for
our state, county and municipal
governments less than one.eigh5ieth
OF tuat expended by the national
government, we are eaten up With
taxation. That is because our
system o. taxation is wholly direct
and falls almost entirely on real
estate. The growth of our cities
is being seriously hampered by the
burden. Our tax rate alone is equal
to what men consider a fair income
on their property 10 older and better
governed countries.
1.-The remedy is not to be found
in unequal direct taxation, but in
equal indirect taxation. The field is
as open to the states for that foim
of taxation as it is to the United
States. except that the states airs for
hidden by the constitution OF the
United States to levy duties on
imports and exports. But every
other form Of duty, excise, inipost
and tax is at the service Of the stat IS.
Indirect taxes are tie most just,
because all taxes, unless they be
direct taxes on the farm and home.
are paid in the end by the consumer.
and it is just that he who consumes
most should paw most. They are the
most easily borne because the baX
payments in the main are imper-
ceptible and not felt. If any doubt
this statement he has only to recall
the enormous sun annually raised
by tee national government and to
remember the ease with which he
has met his share of the burden.
"For state and county purposes the
revenues should be raised, and could
be raised by excuses and imposts:
and it could be done so easily and
in such full measure that there
would be a surplus to turn over to
the municipalities OF the stat in
proportion to population for muni-
cipal purposes. 1 would suggest as
some OF the means of indirect taxa
ton:
"An income tax, to be paid by
individuals and corporations.
can occupation a upon lawyers,
doctors, merchants, dentists and
all other who levy tribute or The
public, always excepting those who
do manual labor or work on salary.
"SJamp duties on checks, drafts,
legal instruments, stock, tonds and
other evidences OF value.
7 ga substantial excise on sales OF
, liquor ard tobacco, the excise on
/, til form to not he less than ST pei
} gallon.
, GA heavy r,faii .licopSo fay fnI