Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-10-24

Is just across the delaware river IRON
this town."
The sales tax in Minnesota had the
opposition Of the Minnesota State
Pharmaceutical Association, the Min.
Retail Druggists. the Hardware Deal
ers association, the grocers and other
trade groups, as well as the Mime
sofa Farm Bureau, the State Fedora.
ton of Labor, and various consumer
groups.
Mr.. John w. Dargavel, secretary OF
the National Association of Retail
Druggists, upon hearing of the efforts
to put over sales tax in Minnesota
wrote to Max Hoppenrath, secretary
of the Minnesota Merchants Associa-
ton. as follows:
Il have noticed in the papers that
there is a great deal Of agitation for
a sales tax in the state Of Minnesota
As you know, the Minnesota Mer-
chants Association was formed to
combat sales tax of any nature, and
| believe that you should Immediately
contact the members of the organiza-
ton and have them register their
emphatic protest against bills of this
type.
Il believe it would also be a very
good thing to start a membership
drive at the present time. The Min
nesota Merchants Association helped
to defeat the sales taxes, such as
the one on cigarettes and general
sales tax, in previous sessions Of the
legislature, and if they are to carry
on they must be supported by the
members. | trust that you will use
every effort along these lines"
Mr. Hoppenrath worked very ardu-
ously and militantly opposing this un-
just tax. did an excellent organiza-
ton job and is entitled to much
credit for his effective work in arous-
ing public opinion against the sales
tax in the 1885 session.
More Leaders Against 1t.
Another leader in pharmacy, Mr..
Frank Moudry, chairman of our leg
islative committee, who, because Of
his militant efforts for a Fair Trade
Bill, a chain store tax, and other
worth while legislation for our bene-
fit, is entitled to the thanks of every
retail druggist and Independent mer-
chant, makes the following comment
in the Northwestern Druggist:
In discussing the tax problems Of
the state and nation, one thing must
be taken into consideration and that
is the problem of unemployment. No
tax reform, Minnesota's committee
declares, will make up for the lack
of employment and the consequent
lack of income to workers and farm
ers constituting 80 to 95 per cent Of
the ~citizenry Real estate taxes have
become so burdensome the committee
feels that such taxes as net graduated
income, state, gift and Inheritance
taxes must supplement the real es-
tate taxes more than at present. The
tax problem, it is declared, would not
mount to such proportions as 1t has
at present were 1t not for the unem-
ployment and the subsequent tax de-
linquency.
be, the person assessed cannot pay
it when he has no work or income
AT the moment it Is apparent that
most reserves have been depleted.
Therefore, the committee asserts, the
problem of unemployment should be
solved before any additional tax is
placed upon the masses. The hand
ling of gross sales tax, 1t Is argued,
places an unnecessary burden upon
retailers who are already over-bur-
dened with socalled luxury taxes. 1t
is stated further that In states where
gross sales income tax is now a law
retailers have in many instances been
compelled to pay greater tax than
they collected. Further, they were
burdened by greater amount Of
bookkeeping, than should be placed
upon them.
Keep I'm Touch With Legislators.
Although it would seem that the
sales tax will have been voted upon
prior to the time this issue reaches
you. nevertheless it is urged that
you keep closely In touch with your
legislative committee relative to the
subject. Also, it is desired that you
discuss fully the general sales tax
problem with your state senators and
representatives"
Mr.. l. E. Seiberlich, manager of the
Northwestern Drug Company, made
the following statement in the North
western Drug News in regard to the
sales tax:
The Legislative Committee Of the
minnesota State Pharmaceutical AS
ISOLATION has written you regarding
the possibility of the Minnesota Leg
islature passing either sales tax or
a gross income tax. This in our opin-
ion is an unfair and an unjust sys-
tenn Of taxation and the history of
same in states where 1t has been
passed has been very unsatisfactory
to the retailers.
You as retail druggist, and other
independent merchants. can be a real
factor in defeating this type of taxa
tom. As a cooperative wholesale
drug company we would also be at
fected by the imposition Of either of