The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-01-14
GAS TAX REFUNDS
PASS $l,470,O0O
Biggest Percentage Paid Bank
BY State to Farmers on
Affidavit
ILLEGAL CLAIMS Barred
154,363 Claims Paid in 1881
Large Increase Over 1880
Law Is Weak

st. Paul, Jan. 1l-more Ihon Va
477,OO0 of state gasoline taxes was
refunded to consumers in 1881,
more than 100000 0of the amount
being paid to farmers on their
sworn statements the gasoline was
used in tractors or other farm ma
chinery, records of the state Oil
inspection department disclosed to-
day.
There were 154,363 claims paid
for a total of $1,472,654.96, an IN
crease of 4,766 claims and $S99,ofs
over 1880. There was total OF
1887 claims in 1880, and last year
farmers alone made 133,S00 claims.
The figures were obtained from
George H. Griffith, state oil in
spector. after Norman B. Curtice,
chairman of the Minnesota Case
line Tax Evasion Committee, In a
letter to Mr.. Griffith, had raised
the question of farmers making "un-
warranted claims" for refunds.
This situation is getting more
serious every day." Mr.. Curtice
said. ways and means will have
to be devised to control this prac-
tice."
The tax was refunded on nearly
100000 gallons of gasoline, OF
which more than 100000 gallons
were used by farmers.
1.-THE Minnesota law is very weak
on the matter Of refunds" Mr..
Griffith said. I'm 1880 refunds
amounted to 10 per cent OF the en-
tire tax, and last year the percent
age increased to nearly Is per cent.
Farmers were paid II per cent OF
the refunds and road contractors
received Is per cent"
The remaining IA per cent OF the
refunds, he said, was divided
among aviation, dry cleaning, in
dustrial railroads, United States
government and miscellaneous clas-
sifications.
81 have written to New York to
obtain its system of segregating the
uses of gasoline, which I have been
informed is the most effective sys-
tenn in the United States, so far
as checking gasoline tax abuses is
concerned. I hope to be prepared
to recommend some changes in the
law by the time the next legisla-
ture meets"
Mr.. Griffith declared he believed
the state would be money ahead"
If farmers were taxed 1 cent a gal
lon for all the gasoline they used,
for any purpose. Such a law prob
ably would be considered discrim-
inatory and consequently unconsti-
tutlonal, he said, but he believed it
would give the state larger share
than 1t now is getting of the taxes
on gasoline used in farmers an
tomobiles.
Refunds to road contractors also
should be abolished. he said ora
they could be eliminated without
working hardship on the contrac.
TORS. They merely would add the
amount of the tax to their bids on
highway projects, he said, and the
net result would be saving of a
lou OF work for the oil inspection
department.
AS an example of the kind NJ
claims the department is confronted
with every day, Mr.. Griffith said.
a man several days ago fled a
claim for tax refund on 47O gallons
OF blue" and ethyl" gasoline, on
the grounds it had been used in
a cookstove.
Use OF ethyl" gasoline in a cook
stove would be highly improbable,
ne explained, because it is far more
expensive than the grade necessary
for a stove, and burning it would
create such an odor the occupants
would be driven out of the house.
Small claims totaling between
$500 and $500 are rejected daily, Mr..
Griffith said.