Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-03

proved properties would slump in
value along with the other classes Of
property.
10 remedy this situation. the leagpe
yides for the assessment of all real
estate at 100 per cent. public utilities,
bank stocks falling in the same class.
Another class, to be assessed at SO
per cent, includes structures, stocks
and merchandise, personal property,
ana all other property not specifically
listed.
AS a result of this classification bill,
the assessed valuation OF the state
in 1918, to about $1,25O,000, 900 in
1913. The classification bill carries
an emergency clause, $50 thereby be-
comes Immediately operative.
An exemption bill provides for the
exemption from taxation Of all struc-
lures n improvements on, farm
lands. a $1,000 exemption on resi-
the owners, and fiat reductions of
varying amounts on various classes
OF personal property.
Administration of the laws also is
changed. The three-man tax COM
mission is abolished and a single
commissioner established. The tax
commissioner is made secretary OF
the board Of equalization, and is ap-
pointed by the governor, who has
appointment of county supervisors of
taxes also is provided for, such ap-
pointments. however, being optional
with the counties. In counties where
supervisors are appointed, the ap-
pointment is placed in the hands OF
h tax commissioner. r
The income tax law provides for a
levy Of one-fourth of n per cent
on the first $1,000 of earned" in
which exemption base is approxim-
ately the same Is hat of the federal
government. This income TAX in
creases ~one-fourth Of one per cent or
each additional $1,000. Z
On "unearned" income, which I'M
cludes income from stocks and bonds,
investments, ETC., the tax is one half
OF one per cent, except that income
from real estate mortgages is entire-
ly exempted.
Corporations are taxed three per
cent net under the income law.
Another corporation tax is provided
under a bill which provides for a
tax of SO cents on each $1,000 unit
of value in excess of $4,000. This
tax goes to the state.
An oil tax also is established, being
oiC-AoullA Git .ou cdC1l sd1lOU u
straight run gasolene; one cent on
each gallon of substitute gasolene;
one quarter cent on a C gallon of
Illuminating kerosene, and >one-half
cent on each gallon of fuel kerosene.
An important taxation scheme
launched by the league, but which
failed of adoption, provided for the
taxation of railroads and utilities for
state-pnrposes only, and a form of
Ia ~o tf0VN Hryoc y,yoy,@ca1 ,,n1o, .,,ls.h
such utilities would have been COM
PEELED to pay about %S7,500,000 each
year. All of this tax would have
been used for state purposes, includ-
ing highway construction, cOnstruc-
ton operations at state cducationa;
institutions, and aid for the conmon
schools.
1t was to be expected, of course,
that there would be a group of bills
Nonpartisan league propaganda.
The most important of these relates
to the newspaper situation. Under
it's provisions, only one legal news-
paper is permitted in each county.
ESuch legal newspaper would publish
all kinds Of official notices, including
mortgage foreclosure notices, probate
court proceedings, official proceed
ings, etc.
This legal newspaper would be des-
ignated by the state printing COM
mission, made up of the public land
commissioner, the secretary Of state,
and the commissioner of agriculture,
for the first two-year period. after
which time the official paper would
be designated in an election.
Another of the propaganda meas
ures is that providing for a $200,o 0o
appropriation for immigration pur.
poses. 1t was freely admitted or the
floor Of the house hat the money was