Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-01-18
TAXES AND TAXES

New revenue for new spending;
no relief for the old tax sources"
seems to be the stock argument of
conservatives and reactionaries who
like to criticise and find fault with
the state administration.
Let US analyze for moment.
In the 1888 regular session of the
Minnesota Legislature law was
passed reducing the assessment on
hOmesteads valued not to exceed
$4,000.
Farms were formerly assessed for
taxation purposes at 33-1/3% of their
full and true value. Under the new
law, commencing in 1894, farm home
steads will be assessed at only 600
of their full and true value.
Village and city homes, plated
property, have been assessed at 400
of full and true value. Now the
urban homesteads will be assessed at
$50 of their full and true value.
The lower assessment on home
steads of value not to exceed $4,000
will mean considerable saving to
home owners. the extra burden to
be placed on income producing prop
erty or the plain income of dollars
and cents by individuals and corpora
tiOns.
The new law encourages home own
ership-the building and maintaining
of the home-the cornerstone of the
nation.
In the same regular session of 1888
a state income tax law was enacted,
the collections from which goes to
the public schools all over the state.
Inasmuch as school taxes amount
to 400 or more of all state and local
taxes paid. the savings made to home
owners in real estate taxes through
lower assessed valuation, will, if not
entirely then to great extent, be
absorbed by income taxpayers.
There has been an effort made to
help real estate taxpayers, especially
home owners, and not only an effort,
but some practical results which will
show in the years to come. The
ground thus far gained in behalf of
the small taxpayer was not accom-
plished without work
That is one of the results from
having progressive administration
in the saddle.
Then it is also we'll to bear in
mind that the lower house of the
Legislature in the recent special ses-
sion passed three inheritance and
estate tax bills that would, had they
become law, provided for the collec-
ton of approximate 100000 addi-
tiOnal revenue to the state from
sources other than real estate, the
rates being raised only on inherit
anceS amounting to over 100000.
The money would come from a source
where it would have hurt no one.
The conservative and reactiOnary Sem
legislation and it therefore failed of
becoming law.
Provision was made in law for
the collection of beer and liquor
taxes to the tune of about $4,000 600
in the state. The administration
Farmer-Labor memberS-would have
been glad to have passed this on for
ers-to have lessened their tax that
much-and thus made a record for
themselves, if it could cOnscientiously
have been done.
But we are not living in normal
times today. There is such a thing
as unemployment and there has been
need and want in the state.
The S5,OOO,OOO anticipated collec-
ton from the new tax will be used
to create work and also for direct re-
lief. Much as the brewers squawked
against the tax on beer and i'm spite
of all the winning and dining. the tax
became law. A million or two mil
lions of dollars spread out amongst
the needy of the state will do more
good than in the pockets of few
brewers.
The record of the Fermentation
administration shows conclusively
that it has the real estate taxpayer
in mind and especially the home
owner, but it is not going to be mig
gardly when human suffering is at
stake. The administration is not
going to spill any tears in behalf OF
the real estate taxpayer or any other
taxpayer who is able to pay. and then
forget those who from no fault OF
their own are without means OF sup
port.
Taxes are important but they are