Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1913-07-04
. H. B. REYNOLDS
Publisher I
The Tax Commission
MI. Fight
The Bismarck Times

AEh& D1SMdEck lines as ,,@...u.Gl -
The decision handed down by the
Ssnprs1ne court recently in the case of
Mhs Worth Dakota Tax Commission VS..
@9az1 o. Jorgenson, state auditor, mark
@R In advanced stage, if not the end of
F2ss Eight against the organization of
aHza state tax commission of North Da-
Gso1a~ From the day that R. A. Nester
o. Minot introduced bill in the lower
ksazan1:h of the legislature providing for
@n FAX commission, until the present
XlzxgI, This movement for tax reform in
NMZh Dakota has met with most
:s5HrEnmn1is opposition. This is not I'M
uIsaA The organization of tax COM
EElIssIUns have met with as stout resist
ssa1ss::s, in many of the states, where they
szsEs sohay accepted as one of the most
7GzatIaad functions of one state govern
zEnaai IN West Virginia this depart
1aea1d was a defendant in two such
:Sssfssss as was won by the North Dakota
Ell Commission Tuesday. In Iowa
azne1e has been struggle for years to
ssEEsare the passage of bill craeting
:z4 Board Of tax commissioners; session
Altar session this measure has been
EnIxo1uced into the legislature but af-
aaT d severe struggle has been as Of
rgsET siefeated. :: TIA. p
1kEre are many reasons for the
csprosltion to tax commissions. In the
aarSI place there is always the inner
EN- conservativeness of the Anglo
sSazrn to be overcome ~
MEst Of us dread change in our sys-
Eezn Of government as we would dread
t5ssE plague. The customs and laws Of
ar fathers are plenty good enough
Tor rs and it is with extreme reluct-
aax1ee That. we yield to reason or neces-
silly again there is the opposition of
AE Business The small house hold
sssTs the small farmer, in brief, the man
aaf. moderate means bears the tax bur-
eEkEsa gSut of all proportion to his ability
Ssss Fay. ut is an axiom of the science
szsa Szaxatlon that taxes should be mea-
ls7sss7s1 by the ability..of the tax payer
ass Bear the burden To Illustrate: A
Enssn whose income is just sufficient
ssa EneeI the expenses of a. frugal house
EaBaH bears portion of the taxes i'm
EsasEd by our tariff laws; of the shift
aaaa burden Of taxation from the mer-
aSnznI, The land owner and the manu-
Gsctnrer, and of the direct taxes levied
E5y IDWnship, school district, city and
aaaGFzzlty put OF all proportion to the man
who zlas an income running into the
t1nsFDsands or hundred thousands of
edFaia1s- Scientific taxation has a tend
ceHsg 10 relieve the man. of moderate
Mneans and place the heavier burden
SagoN n1m who is able to bear it. This
rs isnUan to men of large business in
ssfEsEss and without exception they
&azye always opposed the establishment
Eza ere tax commission in any state
TSshsre The attempt has been made. In
sEhas particular instance there was
Z7azzsn political opposition to the tax
GsDzznMIssDn. Packard has been more
<sdf 2sss active as an insurgent for a
yTuuber of years and has incurred the
ezzaznlSy of the stalwart organization
generally In addition he has been so
EazaszrEunate as to refuse to obey at all
faIHss and all places the mandates of
EsES1eTson's political machine. In fact,
ae bias mad the audacity to speak his
Ezay1d concerning many of the stunts
'asasIzA that gentleman has attempted
eias pull on during the last year or more.
III Burlelgh county. The stalwart ma
eEsss5saE through it's faithful represents
ff5Ivsss, Governor Hanna and State Audi
HsaE 3orgenson, has endeavored to put
san end to the tax commission to please
AaT- Patterson and his local political
EaaGhine- j; IA: +. i So ia
~. 1he original Nestos measures pass
ZEE through the legislature was fit
tBna and uncertain. The stalwart ele-
NraEsnE failing to block the passage Of
i ssszs bill by an open opposition, resort
! ed 10 sfibterfuge in their endeayor to
d zala1lEy the measure. The appropria.
fsfaHs we're jockeyed with and in the
{ EznTs That 1t might prove colored
sHaeman in the wood pile, the So,
eaasS appropriation was inserted at the
E szsHa e. 4 the measure. It finally became
" a1W and made operative July LIST,
4 1EB12 Governor Burke appointed the
4 aEEegsnt commission. Deputy State
4 nzssiEiEDr Jorgenson contended that the
! ess5zsasiissIon had but ST 500 with which
& tan agpeTate for the six months left 81
Is slzssf gs.sr 912. The attorney generals
Z 90 NEE was asked for an opinion and it
q ffisa1rr r one substantially the same
tSssaaas was handed down recently by the
I sssxSI,rsrf court. State Aud tor Bright
+ ha 'aaEl saseepfed the legal advice Of the
\ 81 syFney senera and llonored the
Ill efs Of the conmi ssion.
" q s. soon as possible after, the gen
s.sssga the goYern ore al Ii prii-
ysstss Foley, jill, and
+ IT'S III tergon
this an I'D.
eat he eoil {. u
isHi diaasiif
art al Pack lard.
new governor was WAS
the uanee and
offface to3 defeat