Askov American., 1933-04-06

or inheritance, succession ana estate
taXes-all to go to the state educa-
tional fund.
Mr.. Thompson, and others who have
worked together with him in prOpa-
gandizing out over the state by enlist
ing the help of teachers here, there
and everywhere in promoting this
| legislation, arranged also for the in
PRODUCTION of bills calling for con-
stitutional amendments to divert 209o
of atomObile license fees and 20% Of
gas tax revenues to education. the
latter bills going before the Motor
Vehicle committee.
A big hearing was held in the
House Chamber a few weeks ago
which was attended by school men
and women from over the state and
according to the speakers it would be
an easy matter to raise $16,500,000
through the proposed fund diversion
included in their program.
AS pointed out by committee men,
bers Wednesday evening, If the tax
money now going to the various funds
from which it was proposed to divert
209o or other percentages for school
purposes, is properly used and not
squandered, it would be impossible
to divert S16,5OO,O00 to the school
fund without leaving other funds sad
ly short. The bill before the Tax
committee was, by an almost unani-
nous vote, returned to it's author,
Rep. Bennett, who had introduced it
by request. Committee members evil
IDENTIFY felt that while funds are
needed for school purposes $16,5O0, 900
cannot just be grabbed out of the air.
The new taxes proposed and the di-
version of taxes would be nothing
more or less than burden on the
consuming public and buying power
should not be further impaired.
Natural Gas Tax Argued.
Another bill before the Tax COM
mittee upon which three hearings
were held and which caused vigorous
discussion was the bill by Rep. Sweit-
ger of st. Paul, and others proposing
10c tax per 1000 cubic feet Of nat
ural gas coming into southern Min
nesOta in pipe lines. The gas is piped
up from Oklahoma and other southern
states and is now serving Rochester,
Austin and other Minnesota commun-
tiles. The physical property of the
natural gas concerns is taxed as real
estate and personal property.
Railroads and coal dealers argued
that the gas pipe lines are coming
into competition with them and
should therefore be further taxed.
Opponents of the bill argued that coal
is taxed but very little. 1t is usually
burned before the assessor comes
around on May 1. One of the prin-
cipal speakers to appear against the
taxing of natural gas in pipe lines
was Mayor VIM. Mahoney of st. Paul.
While the gas has as yet been piped
only to southern Minnesota commun-
tiles he argued that this new in
dustry should not be choked in the
budding and that he hoped natural
gas would soon be piped to the Twin
Cities and other Minnesota commun-
tiles for the cost of fuel power and
transportation is too high in the Twin
Cities. The mayor who is a vigorous
fighter is strong for a public utility
program and said that 1--WE are going
to get much needed cheap power and
fuel in st. Paul." Along with other
bills, the proposed taxation of natural
gas was returned to it's author.
1t was a heavy week for the Tax
committee. In fact, bills before this
committee throughout the session
bring before it friends and opponents
of the railroads, power companies,
mining companies, telephone COM
panies, the radio, and other big in
terests.