Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-04
Taxpayers OF State
Must Pay $35,OOO,O00
During The Next Year
tcondnued from bose 1.3

from 50. to 100 pei cent. Three mil.
lion dollars will be secured for state
purposes by. the four mill levy against
such property. which includes lands,
personal property and improvements
on land, stock and merchandise. When
n takes into consideration the ex-
lemptions, 1t easily is zen how land,
business properties in the cities and
stocks and merchandise will bear the
burden Of the increased taxes. The
exemptions include those on personal
property. exemption from taxation of
all improvements on agricultural
lands. exemption of all residence
property improvements n cities up to
$1,000, including the exemption OF
$500 on residence property worth
not more than $500,
IND the income tax the state will
realize over 100000, this being the
most conservative estimate Some
estimates have placed. the. figure as
high as 100000. Every singlel man
will have to pay a tax on an income
as low as $1,000 and every married
man on n as low as $4,000. The ex-
emptions for heads Of family include
$1,000 for the first dependent and
$3.50 for earh additional dependent.
All of the money from the income tax
goes directly to the state. Income
taxes a be paid with personal prop
erty receipts. but the exemption Of
personal property from taxation will
leave but few people able to pay such
tax. and the ne result will be to take
from the local taxing units all per-
sonal property, all improvements on
lands and some improvements in
cities, thus taking from the local
units the income derived from such
taxation.
The corporations will have to, yield
much of this additional revenue, if the
league bills pass, and there is nothing
now that will prevent them. A three
per cent tax is provided for in the in
come tax bill, but this may be re-
moved. Then there is the tax of SO
cents on each $1,000 unit Of value. Of
the stock of corporations worth more
than, $4,000, and this will bring in
about $250.o00. Both domestic and
foreign corporations are included.
The Gasoline Tax.
The gasoline tax is about a cent.and
a quarter on each gallon sold, as pro-
posed in the bill providing for a i've
per cent gross earnings tax on oil
an increase Of about 1 Ia cents in
the price Of gasoline. Fifty million
gallons, were sold in North Dakota
last year, and, under the tax proposed,
this will mean another income of
about $625,000. Revenue from kero-
sene and lubricating oils sold by the
Oil companies would bring this up to
$4,000.
Last year the state aggregated
100000 from fees and licenses, but
so many fees are being increased and
others added that this will undoubt-
eddy go to $750.000. In the additional
fees are those licensing attorneys and
the butterfat tax by which 1t is pro-
posed to maintain a state expert
mental creamery.
But this money will be spent. The
costs Of the administration are being
increased by bills now before the leg
islature. Here is e for instance,
providing for a commissioner Of i'm
migration and making ian appropri-
alton Of 100000 for that purpose.
Two years ago the governor vetoed a
measure appropriating $1,000 for en-
c%ouraging immigration because there
was not enough money in the treas
ury. This year they want $780, 900.
Then there is a for county
tax supervisors. calling for an ex-
penditure of about 100000 a year or
the part of the counties. Other ex-
amples could be cited.
But soft! The gentlemen who have
planned this gigantic tax scheme and
who have drawn the bills-what about
them? Well, they come from st.
Paul, from Spokane and heaven
knows where, and they need not pay
any taxes. A search made Of records
in Cass county shows that A.}C. Town
ley, VIM. Lemke and Job Wells Brin-
ton, who are here running the legis-
lative show, pay an average annual
tax of 70 cents each. Then there is
Walter Thomas Mills, Townley's clos.
est adviser and Trainer Of much of this
wild Socialistic legislative program,
He will have to a nc North Dakota
taxes and the bill does not hit him.
w. :. Roylance, the taxation expert"
of the N~onpartisan league. is in the
same class. He is not a resident OF
North Dakota, but he drew these tax
bills and he sits every morning with
the joint taxes committee and until he
consents there are no changes and no
amendments in the measure. These
gentlemen have made their choice, but
they don't have to pay.
Townley says this is a peoples gov
eminent. Evidently it is. so far as
footing the bill is concerned.
rs ARRESTED AFTER