Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-02-11
TAX
BODY ORGANIZED
AT STATE HOUSE
Four Hours Discussion Marks Initial
Meeting of Committee to Work
Out New Tax Program.
BY HJALMAR PETERSEN

The committee of II men and
women from different parts of the
state recently appointed by Governor
Floyd B. Olson to make complete
investigation of the states system of
taxation and to draft a program of
tax relief to be presented to the leg
islature next January assembled for
its organization meeting at the state
capitol on Friday, Feb. 9Th.
The governor gave a short talk at
the outset and said that there is
much work for this committee to do.
the tax program of the state needs to
be altered, facts and data must be
compiled and studied, and a compre-
hensive program worked out so as to
spread the tax burden more evenly.
He also stated that this is not
sounding board for the administration
nor are the members here to present
to the next legislature any hobby or
tax program that he may have adj
vOcated, but to work out a program
from their own study of the situation.
Bell Chosen Chairman.
With those few remarks the COVER
nor retired and the committee then
organized with Senator Robert c. Bell
of Detroit Lakes, as chairman; SEN
atOr George H. Sullivan, Saltwater,
and Mrs. Philip DeMOre, Duluth, vice
chairmen; Charles F. Keyes, Mime
apolis, secretary; and Miss Simonds,
assistant secretary. No treasurer was
elected as it is citizens committee
for which no funds are provided.
Senator Bell who is strong advo-
cate of the income tax and student
of that form of taxation, said upon
accepting the Craftsmanship, that this
is not an income tax committee, but
that the tax problem includes other
forms of taxation which must be
studied and remedies worked out.
Ways and means can be worked out
to reduce public expenditures, per-
haps by the elimination of some
boards and inspectors, and the burden
of taxation can be better equalized.
There are however, he said, many
fixed charges which must be met,
such as nearly one-third of billion
dollars in bonded Indebtedness in the
entire state, created over a long per-
iOd of years. Indiana has saved many
millions of dollars through super
vision of bond issues by local munich
palities, North Carolina has made
sweeping changes in it's school sys-
TEN, and many states have the county
assessor instead of the township, vii
lage, and city assessor plan in vogue
in this state. A more scientific prop
erty assessment can also be inaugu-
rated in this state, said Mr.. Bell.
Problem As Old As Civilization.
Senator Sullivan, veteran mem
Der of the state legislature, chairman
of the senate tax committee, and a
student of bank taxation, said that
the tax problem is as old as civiliza-
ton, and the trouble encountered is
from the same general causes
spending more than we can afford in
public affairs, just as we do in our
private affairs. He touched upon
several phases of taxation that might
be taken up, such as the gross earn
iEgs tax of railroads and telephone
companies, that tax now going to the
state treasury. The railroads pay no
property taxes in the cities such as
Minneapolis, st. Paul, Duluth, etc,
Continued on Page 12)