The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-01-16
Only 100000 Appropriated, Which
is $4,000 Less Than Was Used
In the 1907 Session.
KNAPP WANTS MINERAL OFFICE
Asks for $4,000 to Construct and
Maintain One in Hbbing-Ini-
tiative and Referendum.

.st.Paul, Mimi, Jan. 16.-Doubt-
less with the kindly intent to make
the Northeastern Minnesota members
feel at home in the legislature, Rep
resentatives Thomas Frankson OF
Spring Valley and H. o. Bjorge of
Lake Park Wednesday morning in
troduced their tonnage tax bill in
the house. 1t was referred to the
committee on taxes and tax laws. d.
The bill is practically the same as
that introduced in the house in 1907
by Mr.. Bjorge and defeated, that in
troduced in the house by Mr.. Bjorge
in 1909 and vetoed by Governor
Johnson and that introduced in the
house by Mr.. Frankson in 1911 and
defeated.
AS before, the bill proposes a grad
uated output tax of two to five cents
per ton on all ore produced in the
state, the tax to be for state purposes
only, and the localities in which the
mines are situated to get their reve-
nues--if they can-from the advalor-
cum system of taxation. The grad
uation is so arranged that most mines
would pay the minimum. % - -
Non-producing mines are also to be
taxed for state purposes on the ad
valorem or valuation system.
All mines are divided into two
classes, "a" and "B." Mines produc-
ing 1000 tons or more a year are
Glass A mines, and are to pay ton
mage tax. All other mines are Glass
B mines, and are to be taxed as at
present. Practically the only change
since the last'>bill is the reduction Of
the minimum required to put mine
in Glass from 10000 tons to 1000
tons.
The tax commission is authorized
to employ mineral expert to enable
it to obtain each year list of all
. mines belonging to Class A, together
with the owners and operators there
of. The tax is upon the "long ton of
the output of such mine or mines
based upon the percentage in metal
lie, iron, when dried at 212 deg. Fab
renheit, as follows:
Gore yielding less than forty-nine
per cent, two cents per ton a@..
sore yielding forty-nine per cent or
over, and less than fifty-four per
cent, three cents per ton. I'D II
Gore yielding fifty-four per cent or
over and less than fifty-nine per cent
four cents per ton. ~ - t .s..s r..
sore yielding, fifty-nine per cent or
over, Ave cents per ton"
Contents of phosphorus or other
deleterious mater are not considered
in fixing the basis for applying the
tax. - i. 7*r@~#
The proceeds Of the tax are to be
distributed as follows: San amount
thereof equal to what would accrue to
the state school and university fund
on the valuation of mineral lands OF
Glass A, under the state school and
university tax shall be credited to the
state school and university fund; and
the remainder thereof shall be credit
ed to the general revenue fund"
Persons engaged in mining are re-
quired to keep account of the guam
tity and average yield in percentage
of metallic iron of their production,
and to make semi-annual reports in
November and May, the tax to be
payable Dec. 1 and June 1. The tax
commission may investigate if it
doubts the good faith of these reports
Failure to make returns, involves a
penalty of ten per cent. The books
of mining companies are to be open
to the inspection of the tax commits.
sion On demand. :
It is proposed that the bill, j
passed. shall be effective, Jan. i, 1914.
The house voted to appropriate
only 100000 for the current
expenses Of the session. This is
$4,000 less than was appropriated
at the beginning OF the 1907 session
although the session cost 1855, 900.
An appropriation Of $4,000 III
I carried In 9 bill introduced by Repre-.
sentatiyes Healey and Knapp to con
struct and maintain state minera
ONCE and assayers' department 8,
l6outi11sa @ 1T 80.