The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1934-04-05

combines
groups directly opposed in aims and on most matters
Of legislation. OF all parties try to attract
both groups so the criticism really is not serious
Nevertheless when the Farmer Labor Educa
tional Bureau undertook to rate the party loyalty Of
members of the senate and house according to their
voting at legislative sessions it brought up the ole
argument.
Senator Herman Schmechel, veteran Farmer-La.
borite from Renville county, rated only IS per cent
He raised the following protest in recent issue OF
the Farmer Labor Leader.
I'm looking the list of senate and house bills
there is not single farm bill" the senator says but
they all union labor measures. Why in preparing
this score card were farm measures omitted? Dont
the rural people need any consideration and must
be made only for organized labor? And labor repre-
sentatives can vote on farm measures any old way
just that they right on labor issues regardless
of how it affects other people
"The rural people interested in some of the
following bills: Fifty per cent reduction in automobile
fees, taxing oeomargarne reducing the price pri-
machinery, reducing the price on twine direct
buying of livestock, exempting farmers from
cia truck laws rural telephone lines against rate
raises, old age pension permitting vote on the
sure before adoption automobile guest BILL the plumb
ers' bill forcing small villages rebuild their
systems at the order of few officials. Then in the
special session the state dspensary and the vote
increasing the gasoline tax to cents.
II cannot why clique should flood the state
with this unauthorized advice" he says making it
appear that the farmer had something to say about
it because the label says Farmer-Labor Educational
bureau"
Down in Freedom county albert Lea county seat)
meetings being held in every village and hamlet
to explain system Of taxation which opponents
claim will replace the Anticipated real estate and per-
sona property tax lexes with equitable method
Of raising necessary public funds.
While there many details of the plan on which
hazy, it worthy Of consideration and it
might be well to bring speaker here to explain the
proposal to general meeting of voters 1t has features
at least, which worth considering in the revamp
ing of tax laws which nearly everyone admits is
sary.
The proposal is to levy gross income tax on
everyone rich man, poor man, merchant, farmer,
married and SINGLE of half cent every dollar of
income. A earning $4,000 per year would pay a
tax of $10 regardless of what he did with his money in
the way of investment The hired girl who earns 5000
year will pay 81 tax, the who takes in 100000
in his business will pay $500 tax.
Aside from the federal income tax and federal
nuisance taxes and possibly the state gas tax, this
gross income dollar turnover tax would be the only
levy Instead of paying several hundred dollars his
land, farmer would pay only S. for 81 900 re-
ceived from sale of produce; if he has crop failure
and sells nothing, he pays nothing.
It's friends contend that the expense Of collection
will be far below present tax collecting expenses There
would be and estimating of values. Ev-
cry person who money will be required to report
at regular intervals, under penalty of fine and the
penalty for Justification of reports would be heavy
Wage earners could be checked quickly where they
work. others would be checked where they market their
produce at their bank and in other places now used to
check income tax evasons. 1t is claimed that it gets
%ho npico foaft1r nf tha and
avoids the exemptions and red tape which accompany
the income tax. The tax is based ability to pay
rather than estimated values.
Speakers on the subject contend that 81 per cent
of the people pay direct tax, consequently it is
often too easy to vote heavy expenditures Of public
money. Under this plan, everyone would have per-
sonal interest and yet the burden would not be more
than they can afford
further argument is that at present taxes oc-
cupy the position Of first mortgage every piece Of
real and personal property. Every Improvement made
increases that mortgage until today building is almost
at standsti Interest rates higher result of
this tax lien. Persons encouraged not to build
homes. Unemployment results and taxes are a far
greater of depression than most persons realize
Experts have worked out figures to show that this
system will produce much more money than is
now being raised. They perfecting plan for
the distribution of the funds which it is expected will
be per capita basis.
The Freeborn county group is organized and
spreading it's plan rapidly possible with great
success Voters there demanding that candidates
for the legislature take stand the plan They are
stressing unqualified endorsements, realizing that the
thousands of suggestions and exemptions legislators
will offer when the plan to the legislature
not likely to improve it.
Underway at this early date it is not unlikely that
the proposal will be political issue in many counties
While not ready to endorse the plan, at least
until Of the obvious questions answered. it is
certain that drastic change is needed and voters will
be wise in acquanting themselves with this well as
other proposals which may be made.