The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-05

iHe cohceives al error mas Deen commItto0
in the passage Of the present tax law,
they are applicable. But, as we have said,
we know Of none such. Our advice, whom
the representatives of party have com.
mitted an error, is, to talk to them, TO in.
struct them. to teach them the will Of the
people, and if they will not "forsake the
error Of their ways" then elect others Of
your own party in their stead, who ,oiU
do the will Of the people.
But we commenced this article for the
purpose Of giving some Of the features Of
the old and new tax law. and then leaving
it to each man to Judge for himself.
The exemption, under the old law. was
as follows, which any one can see at
glance by referring to the old Assessors
blanks, the value in some cases being o..
sumed by US:
In the first place, the wearing apparel
and all articles Of food provided for tho
support Of family are exempt by both the
old and new law, consequently we make
no estimate of value in either case.
But the old law exempted "all kitchen fur.
niture, beds and bedding Of private
families" averaging in value, at . low
estimate, say 800
"Other household furniture and
books belonging TO any family" 100
"Farming implements, owned by
persons engaged in farming, and
actually used for farming purpo.
ses," say Is
81 gun, man, saddle and bride,
and woman's saddle and bri.
dle," say 80
81 loom $40, and all stands Of bees
not exceeding in their aggregate
value s2O," 80
"Cash on hand not exceeding IS
"All crops harvested within one
year previous to making the
statement and which remain on
hand" say so
Book accounts TO an amount
not exceeding" goo
"Liquidated credits to an amount
not exceeding" 100
Total, $7lO
In o1I;tton O. t1,o b1v ~ 4
empted in mechanics tools. Now here we
have seven hundred and ten dollars as tho
amount which forehanded farmer could
hold exempt under the old law, and we
have no doubt but that thousands in this
State did hold that amount free from tax.
alton. And further all horses and cattle
under two years old, mules under eighteen
months old, and pigs and lambs under six
months old were exempt Add their value
10 the $7l0 as above and we have no
doubt the exemption would reach in very
many cases $800!! Under this same law
farmer in moderate circumstances with
say, no book accounts, no liquidated cred.
lis. no crops remaining on hand, no bees,
no loom, no gun, no cash on hand, and
but 800 in household furniture had an
exemption of but $685., allowing him as
many young horses, cattle, pigs and lambs
as his thrifty neighbor. Yet if he had two
horses 500, and COWS worth $40 he
was taxed an $3.50, while al the same
time his whole property amounted to but
$405, or nearly $40O less than his neigh.
Dor, held exempt. Was that justice?
Was that causing the burdens Of govern
ment to fall alike upon the rich and poorl
Under the old law the rich man held his
$500 exempt, while the young man with
his silver watch worth $40 and his horse
worth $50, and no other property, was
taxed on $50.
On the other hand the new law, in ad.
dition to wearing apparel and food pro.
vided for family, exempts $500, and no
more, to every taxpayer. Here then is
the contrast-$8oO exemption to wealthy
men under the old law, and $500 exemp.
,ion to all under the new. Decide be.
tween them Tor yourselves.
The only question which has scaned TO
strike us with any force is whether there
should be any exemption at all. We
have no doubt the Legislature intended by
the exemption Of 5000 TO fix sum that
would cover domestic fowls, axes, hoes,
plows, forks. rakes, gears. kitchen furni-
ture, and numerous other little items going
to makeu the conveniencies about every
mans house, which it would be ridiculous
n atfemnf IN stax and which, ~ tha s.s.>