Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-07-03
MEETING OF TOWN ASSESSORS AL LANCAs-
TER

Since the publication of the call for a
meeting Of the Town Assessors on Tuesday
the 9th of July, several assessors have re-
quested us to use their names for the pur-
pose Of a more general call, but We deem
it unnecessary as all the assessors will
probably attend the meeting at Lancaster
on 9th July. 1t Is deemed Of the utmost
importance to taxpayers as well as assess
ors that there should be uniformity, and
that the law should be understood alike
by all and correctly applied We hear
that there are conflicting opinions as to the
meaning Of several important points in the
law; upon such points Of difference there
Is no way but for the assessors to meet in
cool counsel, reason together and agree up
on what is lawful and right The Chief
difficulty in the matter is, that so many
persons foolishly imagine that the law is
calculated for theii injury-to raise their
taxes, DC, AMI hence, array themselves IA
gainst the law and do all in their power
to blind assessors and in every way rem
der the law unpopular The law may be
defective in some particulars, but the
principle upon which il is founded is right
that all property, in whatever shape
held, whether real or personal in notes,
accounts, moneys OF mortgage securities,
whether for speculation or otherwise,
whether for comfort or luxury and wheth-
er held to CRAFTY pride or ambition, should
be rated at full value aud taxed in fail
proportion. There Is no reason under
heaven for taxing one mans land and i'm
provements and letting his richer neighbor
go free from tax because the latter has his
capital in money, notes and personal pro-
erty money, mortgages and personal
effects are property, valuable property,
property used for gain or speculation they
ought to be taxed TO help support the
government, same as land and village lots
We make no war upon capital and parlic
ular interests but we do battle against laws
and usages which allow free tickets to the
owners ofsome property AMI charge doub
lie to the owners Of other property. Ian
easter school district, two miles square, is
usually assessed at less than $4,000,
most all on lands and lots and being less
than half the true value of such lands and
lots-while the personal property within
the district, including the money at inter
est, is surely over twice that sum. The
same is true of nearly every school district
IN the State. By what rule Of justice are
such determinations made? why not brine
into the rate bill for laxation tie money
and personal property along with the land
and lots? or, why not excuse The lands
and lots from taxation as we'll as such loose
property? Tax all property or 30 proper
ty is our notion.
We know our ideas in this respect an,
unpopular, because the very class of men
reached by this new assessment law have
a heavy infuenee--so heavy that until re
Gently, almost every law of the State was
made for their special benefit. Their in
terests have been Incorporated, iron hooped
money fortified and bank char tered Until
almost the whole State is p!astered ana
checkered with banks, railroad grants and
a dozen other monopoiies, rich in untaxed
wealth, yet the owners absorbing most Of
the revenue levied and collected from
lands. To act or speak in conflict with
such powers is dangerous we know, but
then what is chicken hearted ediiorl
SrLAs WRlGHr's WEALrH.-SILAs
WRIeHT's estate was appraised at $4,000,
aud he owed no man anything. He was
one Of the few leading men of his party
she belonged to no railroad handitti-waS
no RAILROAD director nor President of rail
road. He never received any corruption
Bonds. Right after bis death the
party went gipsying and kept on
gipsying and fortune Wedding till
almost every leader in the party is Rail
road or Bank President, director or cashier
and almost a millionaire. The same j,
true, almost to the letter. in Wisconsin
with sundry variations: the Wisconsin de-
moefacy appropriated the school and
swamp lands, there being not other land.
enough in the State to support them.
DIED.--JAnEs NAxGLg, an Old citizen
died at his home in MiIlville, on Thursday
the l7th inst, from the effects of 4 bnr,
by falling off a cart, wheel Of " hieb
passed over his body. He was an eccen.
tne man aud many thought him deranged
but as ne seeunnI. :. -