The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-08-07

,onsin. The Nations Business has this interesting
ut the first state to adopt Compre
hensive state income tax. That back
in 1911. Then there is the usual tax
public utilities, where Is per cent is
tanned by the state. 90 per cent distributed
to the counties. and Go per cent to the
municipalities where the properties are
located, except in case of railroads. where
the entire proceeds so into the state treas
ury. The telephone company pays from
212 per cent to per cent Of gross receipts.
Of which the state retains Is per cent. Life
insurance companies incorporated in Wis
consin pay per cent of their gross in
come within the state. On coal there is an
occupational tax Of 1l2 cents ton for
bituminous and cents for all anthracite
that passes over docks
1.-The grain elevator pays one half a mill
per bushel on wheat and flax. and one-quar-
ter Of mill all other grain handled
Income taxes, ranging from l per cent
to 6 per cent individuals and corpora
tions, are apportioned 40 per cent to the
state, so per cent to the municipality, and
10 per cent to the county. Naturally, the
cities think it unfair to take 40 per cent
of the tax they pay and spread it over the
state
and there have been surtaxes for sol
diers' bonus and soldiers educational bonus,
and teachers retirement fund of 1
per cent additional income tax. Many Of
the states issued bonds for the soldiers
bonus. Wisconsin paid from taxes. mostly
on incomes.
AN Inheritance tax. which was also
enacted in 1903, has, from time to time.
been changed, but always in the direction
of increasing the rates. In 1921 the taxes
almost doubled. In 1903 the total re-
cepts were negligible 1432O-as against
$3,OOO,OOO for 1924. The inheritance tax
ranges from 2 per cent the first $4,000
of taxable inheritance to 40 per cent max
imum on amounts in excess Of s50O,O 900, vary
ing with remoteness of relationship And
Of these taxes, 7la per cent goes to the
county treasurer, 9212 per cent to the state
as whole. Many individuals quit the state
account of what they considered
reasonable inheritance taxes. One, who died
shortly after moving, left estate Of $15,-
100000 Had the tax been lower the state
might have profted from this estate"
Florida adopted liberal tax policy and ever
one knows the result. There has been tremen
business revival in that state and with increase
business and new wealth. the state does not ha,
to worry about tax income. There is sufficient
carry some of the most extensive public wol
ever attempted in any state in the union
Business enterprises will not select resident
where the tax is confscatory. Some industries
Wisconsin found it more profitable to abandon the
factories in that state and build elsewhere.
Michigan recently defeated income tax by
popular vote of five to The rapdity with whit
its automobile and other industries have grow
creating billions of taxable wealth attests to Il
value of conservative taxing policy
North Dakota can we'll learn lesson from Flor
ola, Michigan and other states in the matter of ta
alton. The trouble in this state as we'll in Wi
Consin is that the conception Of property has be-
socialistc the part of those who nave foist
new tangled tax burdens upon the people.
The time has come to rewrite our tax laws wi
view to attracting industries and capital, to
cilitate the development of latent resources.
EXCESSIVE taxation means merely less emplo
ment, less wealth to tax and less developmer
Florida, Michigan and Oregon are states whit
prove the wisdom of conservative taxation.