Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-02-01

and other correct sources, sad ioinnltt
shall make general estimate of all propc T.
in the respective towns, a. the city of Proyi
dence, in this State, and sha make report q
their proceedings to the General Assem- bis a
the next May ses ION thereof, or as soon there
after as may be.
Sec. 3. All property, Of every d scrpiion
inc uding debts due an property cut OF Tia,
State, except real estate, belonging TO cilz rs
thereof, and including all property ithn ihi,
State belonging to inhabitants OF olher States
in which States property similarly situated
belong ng to ihhab tants Of This Site, Is sub
ject to taxes, sha'l be deemed to be rateablt
property except such AZ l., by law especially yex
emp,ed, and except household furniture to tn,
amount of three bundled do lars, farming ut.
ensils, t1os of mechanics, and one quarter
part Of property at sea.
Sec. 4. Ths Committee shall have power
10 appo mt not exceeding he suitable ireehol l.
or of property tax paying eiector in each town,
and ia The city of Prov dence, who shall be
authorized and required to make an actual and
accurate valuation, accord ng 10 the relative
prOductyeness and true value of lhc various
kinds OF properly TO be taxed, Of all property
raj cable in such towns, and in said city OF
Providence, and shall make report oftheir pro-
ceedings TO sa d Committee, an the inhabi-
tants of the respective towns, and said city,
may under oath or affirmation, render and
give in TO the persons so appointed by said
Committee, or TO the Comm ttee, particular
and exact list nr schedules of all their rlteebl.
property. the annual income, or productiyeness
and actual value of the same.
Mr.. Sheldon moved that the bill be amen i.
ed by limiting The tools of mechanics exempt
al, l,,h
MIR. Sheldon moved TO strike out the words
" relative productveness, and insert the
ords /" actual aue." IIe said thut there
were lots ofland in this town worth $50, 900
which were used for keeping COW. Their
|productiveness WAS nothing at all.
Mr. Cranston hoped the amendment would
not prevail. The difficulty anticipated by the
|gentleman would be obvinted by the towns
making new estimate of valuat on.
Mr. Tourtellott said that there would be the
greatest difficulty in estimating the produc-
tveness Of property. The productiveness
was so huctuating that the measure would be
|Imprac,icab'c, and he therefore should vote for
the amendment.
Mr. Whipple, though oppos ID to the whole
bill, wished, if it was to pass, to perfect ii as
much as possible. He waited clause incor-
GRATED in the bill requiring men to make out
under oath schedules ofhcir private property.
Il lie believed the trainers Of the bill did not
mean, after all, TO tax a.! properly. And he
would inquire, in is view, why ii was that
|only one quarter part Of property at sea was
TO be taxed lie did not undcrs ani the
|r ason Of this.
Mr.. Cranston said that he hoped the time
was far distant when men IN this tate would
|bc requ red To exhibit under oath Their cnndl-
tiou in relation to their property. 1t would
destroy the credi' of many men, 10 have their
|pecuniary condition exposed nj all times,
when wi public confidence in their pecuniary
ability they could successfully 90 on, AMI gain
|anew a sound foundation. With respect to the
clause relating to property a, sea, he presum-
led II was inserted on account of the Slcssltudes
TO which such property is subject, and the risk
10 which II was exposed, as well as the amount
|paid for Insurance
Mr. Bosworth sad that the more he thought
|of this IIoylsjon of the biz, TIE more he was
|convinc'd it should be retained. lie rhougm
taxing property according 10 its productive
ness the only correct method.
MIR. Sheldon said that assessors always
took the elements Of proIuctlvcncss into con-
|sderatiOn.
Mr.. Ames moved an amendment, by strk-
ing out the word productvcness' and insert
the words /" bes, judgement and estimate of
|,he persons 80 appointed"
Mr. Hazard said he considered this provision
q the bill the most important IN 1t. lie had
Watched the course of the Legislature on tax
|ation. There had been two pa ties, and one
|u favor of taxing the banks, and the other
land. He thought the middle course the bet
ter, and he wished, by all means, TO have the
element Of pro .uctlvencss retained in the bill.
Mr.. Smith had he rd nothing TO convince
him but what in the town of > nithileld, the
practice existed TO too great an extent Of tax
|ng property by its productivenrss. lie Illus
|rated the evils oithis course by instances of
|the pract al operation in that town. lie
thought that the idea of taxing according to
|productiveness was tax upon the sinews Of
the people, upon labor ra'her than capital.
Mr.. Pardon Spencer thought the language
|of the bll should be changed. lie referred To
Instances in his town Of the practical nequali-
ty of taxing property according to its produc-
tiveness. lie thought, however, that The
spirit of compromise with which the commit.
tee reported the bill should be manifested here
lon all sides.
The amendment was agreed TO.
Mr.. Whipple moved that the words one
|quarter part of property at sea- be stricken
|ou'.
Mr.. Smith was in favor Of striking out the
clause. Other property was owned with SIX
las wei as property at sea.
Mr.. Cranson desired the clause to be re-
|tained. lie alluded to the risk ar sirg from
dishonesty of captains, of poor and even ruin
bus voyages. No such risks were incident to
the farming interest.
Mr.. Whirple did not blame gentlemen for
representing the interests of their towns
This species of property was owned by a
few towns, and gentlemen representing those
towns wanted their property exempted and
tax the farms -farms-!arms. He called up
lon the country representatives to guard the in
|terest of the country. lfgentlemen choose to
invest their capital in this spec 5 of property,
|he saw no reason why they should not pay
tax upon it equally with others
MIR. Cranston had supposed that he had il
lustrated the reason why this clause should be
retained and why ten thousand dollars at sea
was sui, ,ected TO more risk than the same a
mount on land, and why it would he improper
|to impose a tax on the full vaue of vessels at
Ia hp A thoir loay;,n