Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-02-09
COMMITTEE ON
TAXES IS BUSY
Taxation Will be Grea t
Question Facing the
Legislature.
Range Towns Would Have
St. Louis County
Divided.
BY HJALMAR PETERSEN
Representative From Pine County.
(January 80 to February ~

Representative From Pine County.
(January 80 to February ~
There is now a total of Al bills
before the committee of Taxes and
Tax laws. Regular meetings of the
House Tax committee are held every
Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock, and
special meetings at other times. Two
special meetings have been held on
the proposed state income tax, which
in all its qualifications, is rather in
tricate concerning corporation taxes
and interstate business in order that
the tax shall not be evaded. The tax
as proposed on individuals and the
exemptions is much easier to under
stand and is the part that concerns
the great majority of those who will
have to pay a state income tax under
provisions of the bill. The two spe-
cial hearings on the income tax have
been very fruitful in bringing out
many suggestions, arguments, and
better understanding of the bill by
members of the committee. The ex-
emptions to individuals, as proposed,
are $1,000 to single persons, $500 to
married persons and $3.50 credit for
each dependent under eighteen years
Of age. On money earned above the
credit, the tax ranges from 1qo to $50,
the amount being SO on all earnings
over $4,000 above the exemption or
credits.
Another bill introduced by the writ
er this week, concerns real estate tax
delinquency. The law of 1927 would
make real estate upon which taxes
have been delinquent for five years,
the property of the state after May
II. 1888. The state has more than
enough land now and it is naturally the
desire that home ownership be kept up
Where taxes have been delinquent five
years. under provisions of the pro-
posed law, the owner can retain title
il a payment of 1/10th of the taxes
be made now, with the balance to be
paid in twenty annual installments.
provided, also, that current taxes are
paid. If this becomes law, it can
save the property for the owner,
whereas otherwise it would go to the
state.
Sales Tax-Nuisance Tax.
A bill for state sales tax has been
introduced by Senator ]. v. Weber,
conservative of Slayton. The meas
ure, which would become effective
May 1, would levy a tax of 211a9o on
retail sales with certain exemptions.
A retail sales tax operates the oppo-
site of an income tax, and is a tax
that is not desired by the masses
when thoroughly understood. If there
is a three cent tax on a package of
prunes, it is all the same whether the
prunes are bought by John Jones,
the farmer or laborer, Henry Ford,
or Andrew Mellon. 1t is not based on
pensive of collection and slows up
business, is direct tax on the con-
Stunning public and is also a nuisance
tax. What is needed in the state of
Minnesota right now is more bus
mess and more activity-more buying
power. The sales tax will make for
less buying power.
A bill proposing an amendment to
the constitution which would make
it little easier to pass constitutional
amendments in the state was voted
upon in the House, carrying by 70 to
AZ. Presently, 500 of all the voters
at an election must vote in the af-
firmative in order to adopt an amend
ment. The bill as carried by the
House proposes that a constitutional
amendment must have 900 affirma-
tive vote on the question and the 500
vote must constitute at least 1910 of
the entire vote cast at said election.
Reactionary members of the House
generally opposed the bill for an
amendment to the constitution. pre-
sumably fearing that the citizens.
generally, might carry the Stockwell
water power amendment and such
other amendments as might be pro-
posed for engaging the state of Min
nesota in further serving its citizens
in the public utility business.
Argues County is too Large.
House File No. 304, the bill which
has for its purpose the dividing OF
st. Louis county into two counties was
up for public hearing Wednesday eve
ming. Proponents and opponents of
the bill were heard for about three
and half hours before members of
the Towns and Counties committee
and other members of the Legisla-
ture, as well as interested citizens.
The city of Duluth and adjacent ter
ritory oppose the bill strenuously on
the grounds that they are now receiv-
ing a good share of their tax money
from the mining industry. Hibbing,