Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-06-05
SUPPORT One Man
TAX COMMISSION
Economy and Efficiency Re-
quire It, as New Tax Pro-
gram Takes Effect.

One of the laws passed by the laa
legislature to be submitted to the peO-
pie ut the election June 26th, Is that
known as the lone man tax commits
sion" measure. The new law has not
been discussed very widely and many
voters are not ut all certain why It
should have been referred or Of its
merits and what 1t seeks to accom-
piish-Yet 1t is an integral and i'm
port0t part Of the farmers program
and should be given the serious con-
siderntion 1t deserves.
Senate Bill No. e. provides for the
appointment Of u tax commissioner ut
SALARY of $4,000 year, subject to
the approval Of the state senate, who
shall act under the direction Of the
state board Of equalization and per-
form the same duties now entrusted
to three tax commissioners.
Subject to the approval of the board
of equalization-whicl consists Of the
governor, state auditor, state treas
urer, attorney general and commits
sioner of agriculture and labor, all
elective officials-the tax commits
soner shall have charge of the general
administration Of the revenue laws of
the state and shall assess taxes on
express, telephone, telegraph. freight
line, car companies and other public
service corporations and direct the
collection of income, Inheritance and
all other taxes levied by the state.
The tax commissioner also shall
supervise the work of the assessors
and may in each county Of the state,
with the approval Of the board of
county commissioners, appoint a
supervisor Of tax assessment who also
shall act as assessor of income taxes
within that county.
Three Man Commission Expensive.
Experience has shown that this is
the most economical and efficient way
Of administering the taxation laws.
A three man tax commission not
only is needlessly expensive, but
usually results in q division of opinion
and IL conflict of authority between
its members. AS consequence three
men commissions often delay carrying
out Il policy because its members cam
not agree.
The tax commissioner created by
the last legislature is to act under
the orders Of elective officials and will
be directly responsible to them for the
execution of whatever policy is decided
upon. Experts agree that this is the
hest method of carrying out the state
tuv to f,,
the policy of the Nonpartisan League
10 simplify the state government
wherever possible.
Purpose Of Opposition.
The defeat of the one man tax COM
mission law is attempted by the In
dependent Voters association for the
sole purpose of embarrassing the state
administration. Instead of having one
energetic and capable tax commits
sioner to carry out the will of the ma
jority of the board of state equaliza-
ton, the Independent Voters associa-
ton want the shaping of the taxation
policy left with the board of three
men. two of whom are avowed ene-
mics of the present state administra-
ton.
The effort to repeal Senate Bill No.
67 is simply part of the tactics of OBJ
struction by which the foes of the
Nonpartisan League are attempting to
prevent it's program from being put
into successful operation.
The dog-in-ths-manger tactics of the
Independent Voters association de-
serve the condemnation Of all decent
citizens. The effort to defeat Senate
Bill No. G. should be repudiated by an
overwhelming majority.
The Main Reason for Opposition.
The last legislature passed one Of
the most constructive taxation pro-
grams ever adopted by any state in the
union. Under the corporation excise
tax and the new income law wealthy
individuals and great corporations do
ing business in this state will be COM
PEELED to pay their fair share of the
cost of conducting the government.
The new laws We're passed on the .prin-
ciple that those who have the most
should pay the most to support the
state.
That is exactly what the present
government intends to make them do.
Possibly this is another reason why
the Independent Voters association IL
fighting the one man tax commission.
1t may want the administration Of
these laws left in the hands of q COM
mission whose majority members are
hostile to the Nonpartisan league.
Those citizens who favor the Non
partisan League program should cast
their ballots to ratify this law.
1t is a meritorius measure and an
essential part Of the carefully worked
out program passed by the last legis-
1ature.
OVER HALF MILLION IN
GrArESc NEAEoAp eppAn