The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-11-25
ROBINSON CALLS
ON LEGISLATORS
TO LOWER TAXES
Associate Justice Says Assess.
ments and Levies Should
Be Cut in Two
PRESENT PLAN NEFARIOUS
League Jurist Uses Strong Lam
guage in Condemning the
Mills-Roylance Idea
PRESENT PLAN NEFARIOUS

Mills-Roylance Idea
In what is probably the first mes
sage ever received by North Dakota
legislature from member Of the
supreme court, Associate Justice
James E. Robinson a Lacquer address
ing the sixteenth assembly upon its
convening in extra session today de-
clares "there is no possible justitica-
tiOn or excuse for the Assessment aiM
the excessive tax levies of this year."
which he declares "41a 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 view to car
rying out his suggestions are submit
ted by the justice with his message.
One of them provides that Whereas
in 1919 the ssessment 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
sessement and the payment of the.
remaining half November Is follow
ing.
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 percent 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 1918.
All of the bills proposed by Judge
Robinson carry emergency clauses.
The jurist's message in full follows:
TO THE LAWMAKERS OF NORTH
DAKOTA.
(By Justice j. E. ROBINSON.)
November rs, 1919.
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
one-fiftieth of mill. It is equal to
twelve mills on any former assess
ment. The levy on motor vehicles,
monies and credits, on incomes and
on other matters 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.
There is only one remedy and that
is by a general law, with an emer-
gency clause, to reduce and cut down
all the tax levies at least fifty per-
cent and to 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, ID.
j. f. ROBINSON.
Reducing Taxes.
A BILL TO CUT DOWN AND RE-
DUCE ALL STATE AND NUM-
CIPAL TAX LEVIES FOR THE
YEAR 1919.
WHEREAS, in 1919, the assessment
of property for taxation has been over
four times that Of any former year,
and by reason thereof the tax levies
have been uniformly excessive, there
fore:
Be it Enacted by the Legislative
Assembly of the State Of North Da-
kota:
Sec. 1. That the state tax levies,
and all other tax levies for the year
1919, be and the same are hereby.
reduced fifty per cent, and that on
payment Of fifty per cent 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 its passage and
approval.
Dividing Tax Payments.
A BILL FOR AN ACT IN REGARD
TO THE PAYMENT OF TAXES
FOR THE YEAR 1919. 80. ......
Be it Enacted by the Legislative As
sembly Of the State Of North Dakota.
Sec. l. On the 1st day Of March
Of the year after which taxes shall
Continued on Page Seven)