The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
SHOWING UP A NEWSPAPER.

Na3SS
SHOWING UP A NEWSPAPER.
Not long after the election returns
showed that the proposed taxation
reform, in an amendment to the state
constitution, had been defeated, the
Pierre Capital-J ournal took the Sioux
Falls Argus-Leader to task for its
unjustifiable opposition to this
amendment.
1t was pointed out to the Sioux
Falls paper that it was opposing the
changes needed to exempt farm mort
cages and moneys and credits from
taxation. This followed the Sioux
Falls papers denunciaition of Mr..
Preston because he asked what the
tax commission was to do with the
constitution and the laws which pro-
vide for the taxation of such property.
The Argus-Leader set up great out
cry because to enforce the constitu-
ton as it now stands would drive
millions of money out OF the state.
The Pierre paper comes back in this
fashion:
when the Argus-Leader says it
templated the taxing of moneys and
credits, which, by the way, includes
paid up life insurance policies, some
thing that has not been made plain,
it may be stating the facts, but the
editor of the Argus-Leader and every
other man that runs a newspaper
ought to know what the revenue laws
of the state are:
1 To this the Argus-Leader replies:
"The Argus-Leader knows that our
constitut ioA requires uniform tax
! alton of all property and that under
this constitutional requirement, the
classification of property for purposes
of taxation is not possible. 1t knows
also that the state legislature has re-
peatedly refused to pass a law pro-
viding for the taxation of farm mort
cages as other property. 1t would like
wise have refused to pass law taxing
bank deposits and book accounts at
face had any one in the state been
foolish enough to propose such a
law"
But the Argus-Leader again fatty
mis-states the facts. Not only do the
laws of the state provide for the tax
alton Of farm mortgages and all bank
deposits and book accounts, but the
state supreme court recently held that
it is the duty of every taxpayer to
report all such property, without any
specific inquiry by the assessor. These
items have all these years appeared
on the listing blanks used by the as
SCISSORS. Further, the law provides
some formidable penalties for failure
to disclose all such property
( One would think that a paper Of the
supposed standing of the Argus-Lead-
er would hesitate to display such bald
Ignorance on measure it so vigor-
lousy opposed. Was it indeed enough
for the Sioux Falls paper to know
that the defeat of this amendment
would save the express companies
'of the state at least quarter Of a
tmilliondollars in taxes in the next
two decades, and various other pub
lie service corporations many thous-
ands Of dollars also because under
constitution as it now stands, it is
impossible to assess franchise values?
The tax commission does not do
lHO dooSoSiHS. II Cdu udIuly OTQGf a
reassessment of the whole state to
make sure that MONEYS and credits
are all listed. Probably it will do no
more than to make the statement by
the taxpayer more specific than ever.
and leave it to the conscience of the
property-owner if he wishes to swear
falsely.
The pity about it is that the con-
stitution and laws by requiring the
taxation of farm mortgages really
place burden of double taxation on
the borrower, should the law be en-
forced. And such journals as the Ar
gus-Leader are insisting that the
states constitution must continue to
require this outrage.
Where is the public spirit of news
paper that will object to change in
the law and then turn right around
and object to the enforcement of the
law as it now stands?
S%