Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-01-24
|NEWTAXBURDENS
ARE PROPOSED.
Bill to Create Tax of Two Cents b
Gallon on Gasoline Not Meet
With Favor.
WOULD HIT FARMER
THE HARDEST
Another Bill Which If 1t Becomes
Law Would Levy 10 Mill
School Tax Upon All
Property.

As he state solons gather at the
capital for the convening. of the
fortieth general assembly, rumors of
bills planned TO create new revenues
BY taxation creep out and receive
confirmation quotes the Belle Plane
Gazette.
Senator Caldwell of Oskalcosa will
present bill with a view of Great
ing a tax of 2 cents gallon on gas
oline, distilate and other fluid fuels
for internal combustion engines, hop
ing 70 capitalize his bill by the OPP
position TO the present method Of
raising funds for the hard surfacing
Of the roads of the state.
The Mahaska county senator is
quoted as saying that his proposed
bill viii create a revenue of about
seven million dollars a year, which
under the bill as framed, will be
applied to uhe hard surfacing of
three thousand miles of roads across
the state. In support of his bill the
senator alleges that it will place the
expense of road upkeep where it be-
longs, upon those who travel by
motor driven vehicles.
Opponents of the bill point to the
fact that no state bordering upon
Iowa now has a gasoline tax and
that the thousands of tourists en-
! tering the state will fill up before
doing so and will also endeavor 70
carry a sufficient supply of untaxed
gas to carry them beyond the con-
fines of the state. Further, it is
stated, the dwellers Of the Ithirty-six
counties upon the borders of the
state will go across the line to Sc
cure the untaxed gas, thus depriving
these who have a large investment
in the business of much patronage
and the state of several thousands
IN revenue. Furthermore, it is con-
tended, the burden of the proposed
tax will fall upon the farmer, who
IS the largest owner and user of
the automobile, and who are also
large consumers of the proposed
taxable commodity in tractors and
gas engines. 1t is bill which
seems TO promise more in theory
than its adoption would seem TO war
rant and should be submitted to the
people for referendum vote as
was the soldiers bonus. 1t will bear
close study.
Another bill which, if it becomes a
law, will result in an increased tax
alton, is the one whereby it is pro-
posed to have the state levy a 10
mill school TAX upon all property.
This bill IS claimed to have the
support of the educational interests
Of the state, which are said to have
organized by congressional districts
in support Of the measure.
It's advocates cite the fact that
there are numerous rural school dis
tricts throughout the state where
there are none of school age and
that IN such localities no school tax
is levied or collected. 1t is said that
the proposed bill is aimed at these
districts in the interest of the con-
solidated schools. II is proposed that
in the event of the bill being made
"a law the local school district reduce
the taxation ten mills, which it is
claimed will thus work no hardship.
In opposition 20 the bill it is as
serted that while il is aimed at the
school district not paying taxes, it
will De reality be tax upon all
property, city and rural. The joker
in the. bill seems to lie in the sug-
ge5ion of its advocates that it is
expected that school authorities will
reduce the levies 10 mills. Signifi-
canoe is given % this feature by its
utter omission from the text of the
bill.
Elected upon a pledge of tax re-
form, the forieth general assembly
seemingly bears all the ear-marks
Of the old-time-ring regime.