Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-01-31
OUR LAW MAKERS
AT DES MONIES
Putting the Electio,kc Sty Sup
erintendents of ScnHsz
to the Voters Beins ca,
Considered. Nen.
GASOLINE TAX
BEING CONSIDERED
Amendment to the Constitution Pro-
posed so That Women May
Become Members of the
Legislature.


Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 29-At ad-
journment last Saturday, the Fort
ieth Iowa general assembly had been
in session three weeks, and it was
still waiting for the report OF the
Legislative committee on tax reform
which, it was thought a month ago,
would be in the hands of the leg1S-
lators within a few days after the
session opened.
On Saturday members OF the tax
reform committee had been in Des
Moines week, trying to finish the
report. Last minute difficulties held
IL up. Chairman Van Alstine or
HUMBOLDT county came TO Des Mome-
TO finish the job fresh from trip
TO Washington 10 get first hand
information about the Richmond de-
cision by the federal supreme cour:,
which affects the assessments OF
bank stock. That ruling, i'm which
it was decreed that bank stock must
not be taxed more heavily Ehan
money invested in other private en-
terprise, is quite a. much OF a blow
to the present iowa valuation scheme
as was the federal court decision
agains. railroad assessments last flX-
ed by the state executive council.
Iowa bank stock now is assesseu
as property, on basis Of 20 cents
on the dollar of market value. Other
money commercially invested pays
five mills on tho dollar, under the
moneys and credits law. Ii Iowa
must conform to the recent federal
decision, it will be required % pun
bank stock. assessments down 70 tive
mills on xha. dollar, or to raise the
general noiSeys sara credi7s assess
ments TO an appf0xfmate equality
with bank stock. Either course could
be quite uncomfortable. On the one
,aand there. would ee - aassterial dssI
crease IN taxation revenue; or the
other the assessment on money would
be so high that capital might be
withdrawn from Iowa enterprises.
It is this dilemma tina. has delayed
the tax committees report. Several
Iowa banks have filed suit for re-
funds, some within the last few days.
The tax committee has been uncer-
tain what to recommend; the legiS-
lators have been awaiting its deci-
sion hopefully.
Anticipating the committee repor!,
members of the assembly have not
introduced many bills affecting the
tax laws. They are expecting ways
and means committees TO take the
report and work out committee bills.
Tax reform legislation, which is con-
sidered by many TO be the big legis-
lative job this year, therefore has
not been begun.
Bills proposing 20 eliminate sew
eral classes of tax exemptions, ana
TO delay two months the date of tax
delinquency have been introduced,
and besides these none of import rtance
as affecting tax administration. In
two tax exemptions bills prepared by
different legislators it is proposed to
cut out special privileges now en-
.joyed by bonds issued by all sorts
of local taxing districts, the property
of soldiers, and the capital stock OF
telephone and high line companies.
All such measures are in committee
hands, and will be held there until
they can be considered in their rela-
ton 10 the whole tax problem.
Although it has not been received,
haustively forecast The lawmakers
have known, in a general way, for
some time, what its outstanding re-
concentrations were likely to be, anc
upon some of these matters legisla-
tive opinion seems to be crystalliz-
ing quite rapidly.
II the assembly remains in any
thing like its present state of mint,
you motor car owners may as well
prepare to start paying tax of
around two cents a gallon on the
gasoline you buy, beginning about
next July L. Gasoline tax seems
opuLar with all kinds of legislators
chose who have fought the high
way commission as well tas those who
defended it. But quite as certain as
is the fact that a gasoline tax will
be levied, is the additional fact that
the money thus collected will not be
used wholly, or even principally, TO
make paved, trans-state roads as ths
NdiuNtti Ed~bilIie 'NtLA Dlli pIOpOSes.
The lions share of the six or seven
millions a year that a gas tax viii
produce is likely TO be spent on sec
ondary highways.
In the minds of mny Of the law
makers, thought of a gasoline tax
Is paired with a feeling that a. the
some time some reduction shoul,
be made in motor car assessments.
w. c. Ramsay, secretary of state,
has worked out a plan 10 do this,
whereby the auto tax would he about
as high as II Is now on new car,
but would be quite sharply reduced
year after year, as the car grew
older. Something closely resembling
Continued on page nine)