Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-04-02
BY HJALMAR PETERSEN
Pine County Representative.

The state income tax bills-one OF
which would be effective this year
and the taxes to be paid in 1882, and
the other bill calling for consttu-
tional amendment to be voted on by
the electors in 1932-are receiving
much attention these days. Apparent
Nv the whole thing In nutshell is
that people of wealth do not want
such bill passed and they are doing
all in their power to obstruct the leg
islation, 20 discourage the sponsors or
it, and to talk it out of court" So
much is being said by opponents about
it being only an additional tax, and
that point is being stressed both in
and out of season. True, there is dam
ger of any tax being only an add
tional tax, but generally speaking the
taxpayers out over the state have
come to the conclusion that public
expenses must be cut if taxes are to
be lowered, and whatever revenues
the public treasures may receive
through income taxes such revenues
are very apt to be used for reduction
of taxes, especially considering the
mood people are in now. Sponsors of
the income tax bill are sincere in
that purpose, and while the bill may
not be the best that could be drawn
up, if it is left in its present form 1t
will at any rate be some help. 1t can
be amended by succeeding legisla-
lures and be improved as time goes
on. If the sponsors ask too much at
this time the bill will have less
chance of passage and the big thing
now is to have fair income tax that
will be as good as we can make it
with fair assurances of passage.
Opponents Are Heard.
Proponents of the state income tax
having had meeting week previ-
ously, the opponents were heard in the
Senate chamber Wednesday evening of
last week before the Senate and House
committees on taxation. Senator
George H. Sullivan of saltwater,
chairman of the Senate committee,
presided, and during his absence for
a short time while attending the eX-
citing e-apportionment meeting in
another room, Representative o. c.
Neuman of Wheaton, chairman of the
House committee, presided.
j. F. Reed of the Minnesota Tax
payers association, was the first and
principal speaker, dwelling upon the
subject of a state income tax for
nearly an hour. Mr.. Reed began his
talk by stating that the association
which he represents was organized in
1925 and includes farmers, bankers,
real estate and professional men.
Going ON he said that its purpose was
to cut taxes and to work in an ad-
visory capacity to counties and other
local governmental bodies. He stated
that there are now As county units
of the organization and that COM
mendable work has been done.
Highest General Property Taxes.
Mr.. Reed said that Minnesota is
now laboring under the heaviest taxes
in it's history, the average rate out
over the state being 64.20 mills. He
said we all believe that taxes should
be paid according to ability to pay;
tax spenders are looking for new rev.
enues right along and our system of
taxation is a patchwork proposition.
The speaker went on to say that the
constitutionality of the proposed law
is severely questioned and if enacted
it will land in the last court of re-
sort Going on the speaker said that
Minnesota will need about two and
a half million dollars for the next BIZ
ennium; that gross earnings taxes will
be cut about two and a half million
dollars, leaving the state about five
million short If there is sentiment
for a state income tax, there is also
sentiment to make it replacement
tax.
Mr.. Reed also complained about the
disparity in prices between what the
farmer receives for his products and
what he pays for the goods that he
must buy, adding that never before
in the American history has the
spread been greater between the
prices of farm products and the ne
cessities of the farm. He also stated
that the increase in real estate tax
has been less in Minnesota than in
Wisconsin where they have an in
come tax but had to admit after be-
ing questioned that the general aver
age per capita tax is less in Wiscon-
sin than in Minnesota and that Wis
consin is working more on plan OF
pay as you go". 1t was Senator r.
C. Bell of Detroit Lakes, who cor
nered Mr.. Reed and showed that Wis
consin is faring very we'll with an in
come tax. Mr.. Bell is one of the
sponsors of the bill in the Senate and
is an ardent supporter of it.
Mr.. Reed suggested that it is big