Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-10-01
BY HJALMAR PETERSEN
State Representative, Pine County

Due to the depression, unemploy-
existing throughout the land, the New
York legislature has just had spe-
cial session, the Mississippi legislature
has been called together, other legis-
latures are contemplating special ses-
sions and there is much talk in Min
nesota of a special session being held
this fall The regular 1881 session
last winter passed a bill for const1-
tutional amendment for state in
come tax to be voted on at the 1882
general election. If carried by
majority of all the voters at that
election it will insure the constitu-
tionality of bill passed by future
legislature.
Some authorities declare that a
state income tax law will stand the
test of the courts without the consti-
tutional amendment. Therefore
statutory bill was drafted at the last
session of the Minnesota legislature
and after many committee hearings
and public earings--constant delay
by the opponents-the sponsors of the
bill were able to force a vote on this
measure on the last day of passing
bills. 1t required 50 votes to bring
it up on special orders of the House.
The bill received 20 votes and AZ OPP
posed it-a good test vote to show
where the members stood on this
measure Failing in the House there
was no Senate vote on the income tax
bill.
Pass A State Income Tax.
If by necessity of circumstances a
special session of the legislature is
called to provide for the public well
fare it would seem that the best way
of alleviating the distress would be
through the means of passing sta
tutory income tax law. True, it will
be another tax, but should not be
levied against the people of smaller
means-the farmers, workers, and
smaller business men. 1t must be a
tax which will shift the burden of
taxation to some degree from those
now paying too much according to
nate in earning power-receiving
considerably more protection from the
government-and in much better
position to pay.
The income tax would also reach
a class of citizens who otherwise pay
little or nothing toward the support
of government. 1t lends itself to
graduation of rates with the using of
higher rates on the higher incomes.
The tendency of the burden of general
property taxation to bear with undue
weight upon folks with small incomes
is overcome to some extent.
The federal income tax is the chief
source of income for the national gov
eminent. 1t was inaugurated origi-
nally i'm the face of much opposition
on the part of groups with large earn
ing power-groups always alert to
their own interests and too frequent
ly dominant factors in our American
political life. The Andrew Mellon
tax saving program was of course to
the liking of these special privilege
groups, and it accounts for a big
share of the present budget troubles
of the national government The fed
eral income tax reductions in the
higher brackets since the World war
is easily seen as a huge mistake in
the face of so much wealth centrali-
zatioH, and it is to the credit of men
like Senators Robert M. LaFollette.
George w. Norris, our own Senator
Henrik Shipstead, and the progress
sives in general that they opposed
these reductions. We need tax reduc-
lions for the masses but increases in
taxation on groups that are receiving
great financial benefits from our pres
ent social and economic system. We
can have no prosperity without buy
ing power on the part of farmers
and workers who constitute the great
bulk of our population.
Many States Have 1t.
The income tax is now also func-
tiOning as source of revenue in just
half of the states in the Union, and
as the public gets better informed on
this taxation method they will de-
mand state income taxes in the re-
manning states. 1t is high time that
the people of Minnesota get the ben
eft of this scientific and just form of
taxation which is based more on the
individuals and corporations ability
to pay and their protection from gov
eminent.
The National Farmers Union came
out strong for a state income tax at
their meeting in st. Paul last fall.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Fedora
ton likewise urges a state income
tax and they are doing some excel
lent work in behalf of this legislation.
A. ]. Olson, the president, and ]. s..
Jones, secretary, are both we'll quail
fled to speak on the subject and have
given many instructive talks in diff
ferent parts of the state Mr.. Olson
recently stated that the Farm Bureau
is taking an active part in the adop-
ton of the state income tax in all