The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03

whether IL Wde IlRul OF tue Une0 Otdles
should pas Tor The construction OF roads, the
agenen OF the internal police OF counties, but what
would have been the value OF the taxing power 10 the
States ii had not been surrendered The rate and OBJ
ect OF taxation is question OF expedency which would
have been submitted TO the legislatures OF The States
The honorable senator from Kentucky whose advent
announced by the honorable senator from Virginia
with promise that he would sink the honorable senator
from Massachusetts, by single bfoadside upon this ques
lion OF the peeunary value of the power OF taxation,
10 me 10 have Jailed altogether in his ndeak ing
lie carries heavy metal cesainly but he does not beat
well windward, and the honorable senator iron Mas.
sacbuses had the weather gage him. That his shot
fell short DO not attribute 10 any lack OF seamanship,
or want oil skill In gunnery but The The quality OF the
ammunition he used 1t could not carry the shot the
quifsd distance.
II has been said that the honorable senator from Mas
sachuses has overstated the value OF the power
rendered II may he that he overestmated The OF
me there are so many elements entering into the calcu-
laon that II would require time 10 make accu-
rate statement Than any oil US have 10 beslow upon H.
And IN order TO an approximation some average must be
assumed basis OF the calculation, which, perhaps
no two senators would agree. The seqaor from Massa
chuseils has oyersated the of taxation, however
Il struck the senator from Kentucky with surprise only
because in his State the lands are owned by individuals,
all subject taxation. Bat the condition OF the
new States is widely different There was very little
land subject to taxation IN any OF them at The time oil their
admission into the Union and IN most OF them. at this
day. the greater part oil the lands within their limits
empt.
have before me statement showing the condition OF
one OF the States which will afford the means OF
approximation TO the value OF the taxing power
dered. The compact between the United States and the
State OF Missouri took effect the OF January 1921
The OF Missouri is AZ 1873 200 OF that guam
tty, including the bounty lands that have been located.
the New Madrid location the confirmed and uaconirmed
grants OF land, and the sales by the United States, The
whole taxable real estate within the State OF Missouri
the time OF her admission into the Union 2lsl,-
9l7 acres, one twentieth Of The whole And at this
day but one-tourh OF the public lands in that State
have been Sold and there remain 20 100000 acres yet
unsod. and not taxable. Yet gentlemen are amazed al
the idea oil per cent taxation for State and county
Mo SUMNER My basis was not one per cent, but
one cent an
/ Mr. GEYER | am aware OF it, and intended to say
so; but gentlemen are startled at proposition OF the
kind because they have resided in parts OF the country
where the whole of the real estate subject 10
ton The State OF Missouri had in 1921, 24Sl DAT
subject to taxation, which, at the rate OF onefourh OF
per cent would produce annually $780, al per
cent. the entire revenue from that source would be
1871 024 and when il remembered that the county and
other local expenses 10 be provided for gentlemen
ought not 10 be surprised TO find the rate OF taxation
higher than is in the old States; il must be the
new States would be obliged TO throw The chief burden
OF government on the personal property and labor OF the
citizens
have been informed by senators representing the new
States that the taxation for State county and local pur-
poses varies from one TO three per cent.
The State Immediately interested in the bill Qowa) con
ains 5s4 $50 acres OF which $50 24 sold
prior 10 The LIST OF January, lS47 have not the means
oil asceralnng precisely the amount OF land sold since
the ls OF January, lsia but estimate the quantity
naming unsod The ls OF January, 1852. al 27600 00G
acres, and the aggregate taxable at 26I46
And the rate OF taxation in that State exceed that
taken by the from Massachusetts, as the basis oil
his calculation The rate in Missouri, for all purposes
has been, and in some portions now is, above one pei
/ cent.
render OF the taxing power, assuming the OF
ton al third OF one per cent for all purposes have
before me table, taken from paper published al Sara
oga, IN New York, by which appears that the aggre
gate corrected valuation of real and personal ia
the county oil Saratoga is Sa 03,9i3 and the aggregate
taxes for the year Sls sos gg-naking nearly 81 nc
cents 300 | that the honorable
Tor from Kentucky will not deem unreasonable TO
mate the value OF The exemption in Missouri at third
of per cent
Il have before a statement OF the amount of taxes
that would have accrued in Missouri up TO the 3lst oil
January, ls5l The lands then remaining unsold (29
600 600 aces bad been exempt from taxation 80 years
have ascerianed the sales in every period OF years
and averaging the me arrive at the period suppose the
lands had been exempt. The lands sold (l0 lsg, 32l
aces were exempt Tor five years after sae-the bounty
lands exemp, Tor three yeats Taking the value for the
purpose OF taxation be I'll IS. the aggregate of the
taxes accrung up 10 the Isl OF January 1851, at one
third oil one per cent would be Sl,520,903 do moi
take into the account the exemption Of the unsold lands
for all time 10 come; only onefourh OF the public land.
have been sold IN that State during thirty three years.
II we may form conjecture TO the time when the
balance will be Sold large portion oil il may remain
unsold for sixty or one hundred years TO come. do
take into the account the number OF land warrants tina
have been and will be issued. and likely 10 be located
in that State, which exempt by compact from taxation
Tor three years, while they remain IN the hands OF the
grantees.
II is now proposed TO charge us with all that wa.
granted by the compact OF which | shall speak more
particularly herealer and the whole amount of it, in.
GLIDING the grant made by the act OF iSi 81 %
acre. would be S2l2Si32 30, which would leave a bal
ance against the United States OF S2392,430. II the
honorable senator make the swamp lands equal Il
thai, VIC viii then square accounts.
There is another article IN the compact oil which dc.
sire TO speak IN this place. IL declares that the river
Mississippi and the navgable rivers and waters leading
into The same shall be common highways, and forever
free 10 all the citizens OF the United Siales without any
tax, duty, mpost, or toll therefor. The effect pre-
sume IS To deprive the States OF the control and regua
on of the rivers within their limits both in respect 10
their Improvement and Ii has lately been decided
by the Supreme Court OF the United States that bridge
the Ohio could lawfully be constructed under
the authority OF Virginia which shall at all interfere
with The navigation although the boundary OF that State
Il extended TO The northern shore.
i suppose that when the United States entered into a
compact which should make the rivers free national
highways loeYer they assumed corresponding obliga-
lions, and became bound TO do all that the States could
the power them. | believe it to be their duty 10
employ all necessary 10 render the rivers not only
available but sale, public highways and that duty
has not been performed Appropriations have been made
10 some extent Tor that purpose bat OF late il would
seem that The obligation to improve the rivers has been
altogether repudiated by the action OF Congress
come now 10 the specification OF the favors which we
have received. The first is the five per of the net
proceeds OF the public lands In six OF the States nclu
ding Missouri, (Lousana excegton,) three per
cent was sci apart Tor the construction OF roads and
canals within The States under the direction OF the gs-
laure, and two per cent reserved to be applied,
under The direction OF Congress- 10 the construction OF
road leading TO their States respectively
In AZ,