The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-12-05
Robinson Calls
On Legislators To
4 Lower Taxes

NV W w ~ V~AA~S
Associate Justice Says Assessments
and Levies Should Be
Cut in Two
PRESENT PLAN NEFARioUs
League Jurist Uses Strong Language
in condemning the Mills
Royiance Idea
In what is probably the first mes
sage ever received by a North Dakota
legislature from a member of the
supreme court, Associate Justice
James e. Robinson Lacquer address
ing the sixteenth assembly upon it's
convening in extra session today de-
clares there is no possible justifica-
tion or excuse for the assessment and
the excessive tax levies of this year"
which he declares "a 1-2 times of any
prior year in: the history of the state, -
and he urges the enactment, with an
emergency clause, of laws which will
cut down all tax levies at least fifty
percent and to provide for the pay
ment Of these taxes in two Install
ments.
Bills drawn up with a. view to car.
rying out his suggestions are submit
ted by the Justice with his message
One of them provides that "Whereas
in 1918 the assessment of property for
taxation has been over four times that
OF any four years, and by reason
thereof the tax levies have been uni
formly excessive, therefore be it en-
acted that the state tax levies and all
other tax levies for the year 1919 be
and the same are hereby reduced fifty
percent, and that on payment of fifty
percent of the taxes levied against
any person or property, the whole tax
shall be cancelled and discharged."
Another bill provides for the pay
ment Of half the tax on the first day
of March succeeding the date of as
sessment and the payment of the re-
manning half November 18th following.
"A third bill provides that in the
year 1920 all property shall be as
sessed for taxation in the same man.
ner, as it was assessed in the year
1918, the assessment not to exceed
fifty per cent of the value of the prop
'erty, and the assessment Of real prop
erty in. no case to exceed twice the
assessment as made and equalized in
the year 1915. e.. =, 4
All, Of the bills proposed by Judge
sR1RaSh sssssl if iSiisks
sSf the EEAVvMAKER rs or NORTH:
I, :>.5 > - ,''5,@* DAKOTA -
~ y. November Is, 1918.
There is no possible justification or
excuse for the assessment and the
excessive tax levies Of this year The
. assessment is four and one.half times
that OF any prior year in the history
Of the state. The general state tax
levy is three mills on the dollar, less
sne-fftieth of a mill 1t is equal to
twelve mills on any former assess
ment The levy on motor vehicles,
monies and credits, on incomes and
on ;othar ;mattsrs amounts to about
twelve mills, making about the same
as twenty four mills on the dollar Of
any prior year.
The several counties, cities, towns
and school boards have made tax lev
les in keeping with the nefarious as
sessments. g.,
There is only one remedy and that
is sby q gBneTM law, with J an emef-
geBcy clAiise, ito reduce and cut down
all the Tx fevies ut steast fifty per-
cent andato provide for payment OF
the taxes In two installments, and as
a guarantee against such assessments
and levies' in 1920, to provide for an
assessment Of not more than double
that Of any former year.
Bills for that purpose are herewith
submitted. Now is the accepted time;
now is the day of salvation. In this
matter it is now or never.
Yours,
JsE. ROBINSON.
Reducing Taxes.
A BILL. TO CUT DOWN AND RE
DUCE ALL STATE AND NUM-
CIPAL TAX LEv1Es FOR THE
YEAR 1919.
WHEREAS, in 1919 the assessment
of property for ia xation has been over
four times that Of any former year,
and by reason thereof the tax levies
have. been uniformly excessive there
fore: '1.. [4,s. - =:
Be it Enacted by the Legislative
Assembly of the State of North Da-
kota:
Sec. 1. That the state tax levies,
and all othft. tax, levies for the year
1919, be and the same are hereby,
reduced fifty percent Of the taxes
levied against any person or property,
the whole tax shall be cancelled and
discharged.
! Sec. 2. Emergency: This act is
declared to be an emergency measure
and it is to take effect and be in
force from and after, passage and
approval.
DlviDlNe TAX PAYMENTS.
A BILL FOR AN ACT IN REGARD
. J TO THE PAYMENT OF TAXES
=. FOR THE YEAR 1919.
Be it Enacted by the Legislative AS
sembly Of the State of North Dakota.
f Sec. /. On the 1st day Of March
. OF the year after which taxes shall
have been assessed, ALL unpaid taxes
shall become delinquent and shall
draw interest at one per. cent per
! month, which shall be added TO : the
amount assessed and collected W the
county treasurer; provided, that II
i any person shall pay one half Of the
amount Of taxes due from him or. on
before the LIST day of March Of the.
4 year after which such taxes. shall have
been assessed, the balance shall mot:
hecoma dalln6 sRtt ::fhnttl st6e 18th day,
4 0f November next Following, upon