Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-07-11

through the net income tax, the ap-
preparation by the Legislature, the
regular one mill state school levy,
and income from the trust fund will
be between Is million and II million
dollars for the year ending June 80,
1910. Much school indebtedness has
been paid off since 1888 through in
come tax receipts as the law pro-
vides for. Without the income tax it
would have been heavy burden on
real property or still be unpaid.
To make comparisons among Iowa,
Wisconsin and Minnesota on what
is being spent for education, we must
have all the figures, the expenditures
locally as well as statewide. In the
first place, there is a more equal dis
tribution of wealth in all of the school
districts in Iowa than exists in Min
neSota.
and therefore in Minnesota more state
aid is allotted to school districts with
smaller taxable valuation. To the
credit of the early pioneers, the state
school trust fund, which now totals
100 million dollars, was set up for
the benefit of public education. Earn
ings from that fund are distributed
each year.
Minnesota pays 21s million dollars
annually in high school tuition to
local school districts for outside
pupils. The state of Iowa pays no
such high school tuition.
There may be some communities
in our state where there was over
building of schoolhouses, and it is
possible there is, or has been in iso-
lated cases, some loose spending of
school money. Some districts could
use more state help. But, in the
main, the money to the schools has
been well spent.
Money is not everything, but, gen.
orally speaking, with less money, our
educational standards would be low
er, and in democracy, universal
education is essential. We do not
all need to be college and university
graduates, but we should be able to
comprehend what we read. The Sem
ator, being an able attorney, has had
good schooling and members of his
family have enjoyed the advantages
of higher institutions of learning.
The sponsors of the net income tax
did not argue or maintain that the
sum total of taxes in the state and
all its subdivisions would be less or
remain the same because of the in
come tax. No such guarantees could
be given. But, we did maintain and
continue to maintain that the in
come tax is one based on ability to
pay, that it hurts no one, that the
ALLEGATION of the receipts therefrom
to the schools is good one, and it
has been of much help to local school
districts.
We have never stated that if prior
to the income tax law an Individual
who was paying, say $4,000 in real
estate tax, and after enactment of
the income tax law he paid $4,000 on
income, that the $4,000 would be
deducted from the $4,000 so that
he would be paying but $4,000 in real
i CSldlC ldACS, vi q lOldl VI S1O,UOO dlIO-
gether as formerly. If that is what
Senator Rockne means by replace
ment tax, then I agree that our in
come tax law in Minnesota is not a
replacement tax. That kind of re-
placement or offset would practi-
cally nullify the law and make it
ridiculous.
AS for myself, I pay between $500
and $500 income taxes annually, in
addition to much more in general
property taxes. am, however, happy
to be able to pay the income taxes
for it deprives me and my family
of nothing we need.
The income tax was sadly needed
in Minnesota, and it would have been
law long before had there been more
forward looking members in the Leg
islature embued with the spirit of
general welfare. It if were not for
the 10 to II million dollars collected
annually now through the income
tax, we would have lower educa-
tional standards, or higher general
property taxes, or perhaps, as the
conservatives have advocated, a sales
tax.
Certainly am for cautious spend
ing of the taxpayers money. How
ever, we have state and nation with
great wealth and natural resources,
and it is here, not to squander or
hoard, but to enjoy. There can be
and should be better distribution of
wealth. That does not imply an out
and out equal distribution of wealth.
Let us enjoy and profit by good
schools and adequate education. If
there is ample wealth, there is no
reason why we should not have in
addition good community auditoriums,
township halls, village halls, play
grounds, health services, needed re-
lief, old age pensions, rural electri-
fication, and conservation of natural
resources.
HJALMAR PETERSEN.