The Redwood gazette., 1932-02-11
The Farmers Friend?

the Minnesota Taxpayers association in fighting
the farmers battle shaken Thursday when Mr.
Borgen who the state league in the absence
of j. F. Reed, hedged the question, Where does
your salary from? z? and failed to champion tne
income tax amendment
The salary question has been asked before and
has been answered suavey several occasions, nut
the determination of Parker d. Sanders to get con-
crete answer and the unwilingness of Mr. bergen 10
give that answer quite obvious to those present
So much that county officers OF the ASSOCIATION ex-
pressed determination after the meeting to discover
the facts if possible The is important because
it will allow taxpayers to judge whether the league
owes first allegiance the farmer the city business
man.
There is no doubt of the integrity and sincerity
of the officers of the Redwood county group. They
are land holders, farmers, for the most part who
clearly have the farmers battle for lower taxes at
heart may be true that the state group is just as
sincere but it's sincerity has been questioned and no
adequate reply has been made.
The farm bureau has clashed with the tax assoca-
tion quite frequently in recent months and has asked
questions which embarrass the officers 1t has
been said that the bureau officers jealous OF an
other group proposing to aid the farmer, task al
ready undertaken by the bureau, but there is much
to be said on behalf of the bureaus stand
Mr. Sanders, representing the Sanders Farms
one of Redwood county's heaviest taxpayers began
the questioning Thursday by inquiring of Mr.. Grim
minis, county chairman, as follows:
Mr. Sanders: Mr.. Crimmins, your financial report
of the Redwood County Taxpayers association shows
some $500 receipts the three of its existence!
How much of this has been paid to the Minnesota Tax
payers association?
Mr.. Crimmins: We have never paid anything 70
the state organization.
Mr.. Sanders: Mr.. Bergen, Mr.. Crimmns states
that our county group has paid nothing to maintain
your organization and headquarters, salary and
Mr. Reeds salary travelling expense toward the
who supports the state organization financially!
Mr. Bergen: 1t is backed by the county organiza-
tons They pay dues which go into the state organ
ization (By this time Mr.. Bergen has his coat on
and is hurrying to catch bus back to Mlnneapoils
Mr. Sanders: Just a minute please. understand
the Redwood county group has been organized about
long any of the groups yet has not paid cent
into the state organization Now it must cost money
for your salary and Mr. Reeds, have office and
travelling expense and Mr. Reed talks over the radio
Mr.. Borgen County groups don't pay until they
have been organized year. The radio time is free
and the office doesn't cost much. The books open
to the public. (By now he has reached the door, He
goes out.)
Previous to this time Mr. Sanders asked several
questions concerning the associations stand the
proposed state income tax, popular subject at the
meeting with all except Mr. Bergen who hedged there,
Also in the minds of many.
He stated that the league is willing that "fair"
income tax be levied Just what his packers CONSIDER
"fair" income tax not disclosed.
He did say, however, that the league felt that
the income should be replacement tax; in other
words should tighten the burden of taxes assessed in
other manners He inferred that the legislature might
feel the income tax receipts were simply more money
to squander, thereby expressing disrust of public
officials for which the farm bureau has taken the
socation to task previous occasions
Michael Kramer, state representative, previous to
Tho lQO1co of1ITQS
stand the income tax. He stated that there was
considerable doubt about the constitutionality of
provision which suggested for enactment to make
the tax replacement tax. Rud Stensvad gave fur
ther argument that it is impossible to- say how much
an income tax would yield in any year and con-
sequently would be inadvsable make the income
tax in lieu of any other tax lest the state find itself
short of funds with which to meet its obligations 1t
the sentiment of the meeting that income tax
should Tighten the excessive tax real estate but
could not do away with it entirely.
In sizing up the stand of the tax league, (mean-
ing the state league ony) it appears that it seeks
general tax reduction which of the desire of
every landholder but it has desire to egisla
ton which will shift any part of the burden from the
farm onto other groups
This conclusion is drawn from its apparent stand
the income tax, if it be called stand. Saying
the league would favor 'fair" income tax, in
lieu of other taxes if the later fact is guaranteed is
the same saying, ''The amendment before the vot-
next fall should be defeated but later, if another
bill is proposed which meets requirements will
vote for it." By the time the 1888 legislature has
changed the amendment to suit the association it will
have had time to change its stand or find new OBJ
lection Even if it does not change its stand many
tax-oppressed farmers won't be worrying about land
taxes in 1933-they won't have any land by then.
The public has sufficient control over the legisla-
ture through its voting power, to to it that the
income tax receipts not squandered. There