The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1922-12-21
WILL NOT CHANGE
PRESENT MOTOR TAX
LAW WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE
SOON ENOUGH FOR NEXT
PAYMENT
WILL REVISE SCHEDULE
TIME FOR LICENSE APPLI-
CATION WILL BE EXTENDED
BEYOND JAN. 81

Automobile owners will have to pay
the motor vehicle tax for 1923 on the
present schedule. Changes in the tax
law which will be made by the new
Legislature will not go into effect soon
enough to have any effect on the next
tax payments, state officials agreed
Tuesday, says Charles B. Cheney, in,
the Minneapolis Journal.
Secretary Of State Mike Holm an
nounced he will ask the legislature to
extend the time for license tax appli-
cations, which as the law stands must
be in by Jan. 81. Applications for 1923
will be received from Jan. on, he
said, and will be on the present basis.
'It would not be practical to apply
the new schedule to 1923 taxes" Mr..
Holm said, "and shall not recommend
that. The legislature is facing a big
problem in framing amendments to the
motor vehicle tax law, and members I
have talked with say they do not want
to rush the legislation through. They
want to consider it carefully"
Several important changes in the tax
schedule will be proposed. One innova-
ton favored by Mr.. Holm, a supple
mentary tax on gasoline, has run
against legal objections. State High
way Commissioner Charles M. Bab-
cock has asked the state legal de-
partment to rule on the constitional-
ity of such tax.
The point raised is that the constitu-
ton does not allow taxes to be levied
for works of internal improvement, ex-
cept as specified. The Babcock amend
ment allows special tax on automc-
biles, the proceeds to go into the trunk
highway fund. 1t says nothing about
a gasoline tax. Such tax could be
levied for general purposes, but it is
doubtful whether it could be devoted
to highways, as proposed. Attorney
General Clifford l.. Hilton is studying
the question. -s..
Commissioner Babcock will make
several recommendations to the legis-
lature for changes in the tax schedule,
he said today. He will not make them
public until the legislature asks for
information, however.
Proposed changes will not reduce the
gross amount to be levied on automo-
biles, unless gasoline tax is found
valid. That would raise part of the
highway fund, and reduce the rate Of
tax on motor vehicles. Barring the
gasoline tax, the changes will be along
the line Of correcting inequalities. The
law now has number of them, it IS
admitted.
Some of the changes proposed are,
Larger allowances for depre-
citation. Old "busses" of low
cash value are paying tax on the
basis of their original cost, less
so per cent, and are taxed more
than new cars of far greater pres
ent value.
Changes in the minimum tax
now $12 for passenger cars and
SIS for trucks.
| Heavier taxation for commercial
vehicles, as passenger buses and
trucks, which are hard on gravel
and dirt roads.
Possible levying of taxes on Sec
Ond hand cars on the basis of their
| resale cost.
Allowances for cars in storage,
| not using the roads.
Many proposals for tax changes
,,ouo hoon ,,pdor coucciop o,,oonop
dealers and car owners, and will be
laid before legislative committees
when they begin hearings on the sub
| ject in January.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Holm and Mr.. Bah
cock agreed today, 1928 taxes must be
paid on the rates now in force. The
time is short to handle all APPLICATIONS,
and work for 1923 already is under
way