The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-24
PEOPLES FORUM
TX LEGISLATION
To the Bismarck Tribune:

10 the Bismarck Tribune:
see there is a tendency by some
in the present legislature to try and
return to the old or rather repealed
legislation, relating to taxing farm
lands 100 percent. And all this evil
IDENTIFY arises from few who be-
lieve that the railroads, telephone
lines, etc, have been relieved from
their share of our state burden; true
what lands they held had, should
| be taxed as other lands of similar
nature in the state. Do We wish to
pass the buck? But remember this,
passing of the buck does not stop
when it is passed to the railroads
etc, as they are entitled to, profit
upon their investment as any other
business, and in so maintaining this
profit only pass it on in the way Of
| freight rates etc. and the farmer is
the very fellow who it virtually re-
turns to. So it just completes cir
Gle and returns to the very fellow
that it was supposed to relieve, as
all of these false theories invariably
do. ""t
Just why any exemptions other
than those held by government,
state, charitable, or religious; why
are some to seek relief from their
support to the general support of
our government, it only places a
penalty upon the individual who has
the ability to accomplish something
and to relieve the more unfortunate
or indolent from their share of our
general burden in the support of
our government. 1t would not make
much difference upon what percent
property was taxed, if all property
was SO included as we have just so
much to pay; and it must be receiv.
ed from property listed under tax
able property; and in such, we can
not discriminate even ngh some
such lands may be held the rail
roads.
As an example of injustice, and
too many such exist to cause the
small amount of anxiety. For in
stance, say a family that made farm
life their employment for several
years, built up fine equipment of
farm buildings, intending to spend
their entire life upon said farm;
and suppose the husband met a pre-
mature death, leaving a wife with
family of children, to look to this
same farm for their substance, but
say the wife as too many are, un-
able to manage the farm. ask is
it Just law that would penalize
her because the farm she helped to
build up has a costly set of buildings?
True, these same buildings might
vacant lands adjacent for the pur-.
pose in the building of them was
to better equip this farm for farm
use; with no thought of the other
fellows lands near it. ask again
is it just law that will force her
to pay on extra tax upon these farm.
, buildings, because she has been re-
Ituired by fate to move off? Enough
=: is enough of anything, but this
looks like too much.
Why not take fall out of the
tax-free bonds by recommendation.
For instance tax-free bonds are large
| enough in volume to make it diff
cult to secure money for industrial
investments, and they abnormally in
crease rates for money for farms,
for factories and business. Being
tax-free, they leave the burden Of
national state and community sup
port on operating industries, enfor-
cling double penalty. Therefore any
tax-exempt property must pass the
buck Of government support to. that
portion of property taxable. The
! theory and practice of both are
wrong.
| L. F. Sullivan