Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-02

quently required.
Such is a very brief view of taxing system.
has ever worked most satisfactorily, it is based upoI
perfect equality, and all the agents for carrying on
are those elected by the people in small districts every
year, and when every voter knows personally every
man for whom he votes The system ID always IN per
feet operation to collect the town and county taxes
and when State tax becomes necessary, II IS only re
quiste that the Legislature shall fix its dd ralortH
rate, and direct its imposition, and is assessed ant
paid without any new machinery, or any increase o.
expense, beyond the simple commission TO the col
lectors. In great haste,
| am, truly, yours,
SlLAS WRIGHT, JR.
THE PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM
To the Editor Of the Enquirer:
WAsHISGToS, Jan. %, 1S43.
Dear Sir: Our friend, Col. Hubbard, some time since
showed me letter from you, asking information on the
subject of Taxes in Pennsylvania and other States
particularly s'mil tax" You will perceive by
the enclosed paper that what you call mill tax, was
merely mill on every dollar imposed the county
and srtes for State purposes-the county rates
and leyies being that on which county and town
ship taxes were previously imposed. They we're
|. Real Estae-"All houses, lands, lots of ground
and ground rents, mills and manufactures of all de-
scrpons all furnaces, forges bloomeries, dstilleres
sugar houses, malt houses, breweres, tan yards and
ferries"
H. The following personal estate s'a horses, mares
H. "Al Offices and posts of profit professions, trades
and occupations and all single lreeuen above the age
of 81 years who shall not follow any occupation call
ing"
In addition to the mill imposed on each dollar Of the
above described property and incomes, for State pur.
poses, the enclosed paper will show you what other
State tax has been imposed
| am told by our Auditor General, that the probable
income from it oil thsy year, will be somewhere between
one million and twelve hundred thousand dollars.
All taxes oppressive. My view of the matter is,
that they should he levied, far possible, in such
manner TO come out Of capital, and not labor-tha,
is, that they may fall mostly on capital in stores or
rent, rather than the labor and copitoi tie pro-
dactire operations Of society How this can bes, be
done, only be determined by each State for itself
tax that would be but little felt in Pennsylvania,
might be oppressive in Virginia, aud rice rersa.
Yours, truly,
CHARLES BROWN.
The paper which MIR. B. has enclosed is printed
Circular from the Assessor Of the 2nd ward of the
county of Phadeph ia-submitting TO him certain lie.
gal provisions referring to the varons subjects Of Tax
alton; and requesting Of him information in writing,
OH the points indicated by the enquiries made by the
Assessor We have not room for the whole document
but content ourselves with making the following ex-
tracts
.4et passed lin June, 1910: Section 2.-"The County
Commissioners shall be and they hereby authorized
and required annually, at the usual period Of making
to add to the County rates and cvies for the Of the
Commonwealth, follows: that is 10 say, upon all real
and personal property now made taxable by the laws oil
this Common wealth for the purpose of raising the
County rates and leves, one mill upon every dollar OF
the actual value thereof and upon all personal estate
and property hereinafter described owned possessed
by any person whatever TINT is all mortgages
moneys at interest, debts due from solvent debtors
whether by promssory note except notes or bills for
goods sold and delivered and bank notes., penal sin
IL I'D ,,d~n ap1 lIotanL uhay nod
or held by individuals in this Commonwealth, in any
bank, institution company, incorporated by any other
State territory, oil loans investments inter.
Of other States the securities Of other
States, owned or held by individuals in This Common.
wealth. and on all public loans or stocks whatsoever,
except those issued by this Common wealth, owned or
held aforesaid, half mill every dollar Of the
value thereof on which one per cent per annum diYi
dend profit may accrue to or be received by the
owner holder thereof, and an additional half mill OH
every dollar of the value thereof for every additional
per cent per of any interest, dividend or
profit accruing TO received by such or holder
Upon all household furniture, including gold and silver
plate owned and kept for by any person persons
corporation corporations, exceeding in value the
Of three hundred dollars, five mills upon every dollar
Of the value thereof such excess. Upon pleasure
carriages owned and kept for use, per cent upon
every dollar of the value thereof Upon watches owned
and kept for use as follows: that is TO say, on gold
lever other gold watches Of equal value each one
dollar; upon every other description OF gold watches
and upon silver lever Watches other silver watches oil
like value, seventy FIVE cents each upon every other
description of watches of the value of twenty dollars
upwards fifty cents each'
7et passed IN the 30lh day of .7pra, S4l, Section
l-"There shall be annually assessed and collected on
persons, trades, occupations and Professions, tax oil
per cent every dollar Of The ra!ue thereof above
two hundred dollars and "ihere shall be annually
sessed and collected upon all salaries and emoluments
of office created or held by or under the Constitution
or laws OF this Commonwealth, or by or under any in
corporation, institution company incorporated by the
said Commonwealth, where such salaries or emolumen!s
exceed two hundred dollars, Tax of two per cent.
every dollar OF the value thereof above two hundred
dollars which said taxes shall he assessed collected ind
accounted for 10 the and for the purposes stated
and provided in the Act Of llih June lc40 Pro1ded
That hen tie salary is paid to any officer of this Com
monwealth directly by the State Treasurer, he shall
tain out OF said salary the amount of the tax imposed
by this act
let passed July 27th 1912, Section little County
Commissioners of each county of this Commonwealth
shall be and they are hereby authorized and required
at The time OF assessing county rates in the present
and at the usual period of making the same annually
thereafter, in addition to the increase at present
CURED by law to ado to the county raes and leyies fol
the use of the Common wealth, upon oil real and per
sonal property now made taxable for State purposes
one mill upon every dollar Of the value thereof: Pro
rided, That in the assessment Of the tax imposed BY
this section all stocks, mortgages, and othe. securities
shall be assessed al the actual value thereof"
ENQUIRIES.
81. What 10 the amount of your moneys loaned or
mortgage, and at what rate Of interest.
~ What IS the amount of your moneys at interest
and the rate of that interest," and the debts due 10 you
by solvent Debtors whether by promissory note lex
cept notes bills for goods and bank no,es,) penal
single bill, bond or jndgmenp
%. What number Of shares do you hold in any bank
institution company incorporated by any other Stat
or Territory than Pennsylvanin;
ID VIVA; is the amount Of your loans or inves .men,
on interest to citizens Of ether States and at what rat
of INTEREST,"
g. What amount Of the public loans or stocks o
other States do you hold, and wha. Inc dividend
and interest thereon.
&c WHAT'S Jour estimate of the value of your house
hold furniture, including your gold and silver plate
over and above three hundred dollars1
81 How many horses OF pleasure carriages do yo'
own and keep for use, and what is their aggregate
value?
70. How many watches you own' Are they go
or silver ever' And, if neither, they worth NOR
than twenty dollars,
80. What is your trade, occupation, profession :
~ l.. IL