The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-01-17
81. l1f $40 0S


Total, s3,l16.510 0S
Startling as this slowing appears, il.
presents no adequate conception of the
condition Of affairs in some of the cities
and newer counties of the. In one of the
| Northern counties, whose entire popula
| ion. bv tie census Of ! $50. is only SIS.
| the levy for town, county and State taxes
/ in the year 1859, amounted to SAB 100
| 90; Of which 1t is stated On authority Of
one Of the county officers, $4,000 was
consumed in fees and other expenses at
tending the sale Of delinquent lands. The
lew Of 1851 in the same county is stated
at $40 395 Is Of which Il 900 WAS esli
mated BY the County Board 10 be requir.
ed for expenses OF tax sales: and the furth>
err .nrn Of - 900 for advertising unredeem-
| ed lands The entire vote Of this county
At the last election WAS ninety. The in
stance Of this county is but An extreme ex
ample of practices in very many especial
ly of the newer counties. 1t is attempted
to excuse the policy of confisca,ion by in
staIlmenls Of taxation on the plea that
non residents lave no rights which resi-
dents are bound to respect. The Unjust
ice Of :his policy is avenged in the forfei
! ture to the State Of immense quantities Of
lands heretofore sold on account Of the
trust funds of the State-whose owners
have been compelled to forfeit them by
excessive local taxation. Instances can
be cited from tie books Of the S"LoAl
Land Office where the taxes duo upon
tracts Of forfellsl lands equal thirty per
cent. of their appraised value. Also, where
the taxes of sing lie year equal about seven
per cent. of the valuation of the land rec
! oning bv the average Of the assessed val
uation of land in the county where stu
ate. This injustice is, moreover. fear
fully retaIiated upon the permanent
! Interests of the counties themselves -
The basis of taxation is being constantly
reduced emigration is discouraged, and
population expelled from their limits. In
deed, no public interest is promoied-oriy
the few who live in local offices, and their
favori;es who speculate in tax titles. and
deprecated orders, are benefited. Even
their profits have upon them the curse of
vagrancy, which profits i'll gotten of the
public always bear. They are gone in the
very efforts TO secure them
may be censured for calling attention
thus publicly, to these abuses. uuder the
mi>coaception that my 50 doing will iniure
the reputation of our State, and thus DIS
courage immigration. Tie facts ,hemsel
YES constitute the real hindra, ces 10 settle.
ment and prosperity. These will never be
changed While declining to notice their
existence This State has large tracts OF
nnoccnpied land to dispose Of. She has
incalculahe resources waiting labor and
capital for their development. These abu
ses are constant y advertising against iinmi
postponed for single year
Approximations have been expressed of
the effect upon pubic sentiment, regard
ing the administration and the war, of an
attempt to collect the real estate and IN
come raxes-together amounting to posi-
bly, 500, 000-ior which The General Gov
eminent, in lis need, calls upon this State
All such apprehensons are unjust The
| loyal people Of Wisconsin do not value
property or even lie Itself, weighed ag'st
the existence of the government which has
SO long blessed and protected then, in
both. 1t may serve good purpose, how
ever, to show that the calls Of The Govern
ment will not add twenty five per cent %
our accustomed burdens of taxation. 1t is
sure " wise and prudent to examine all the
ordinary courses of expense for opportuni
Ties 10 save the means Of meeting this levy
| of a PATRIOTIC TAX.
| The trsi reform recon nended is the 20
sitive prohibition Of the future circulation,
sale, or transfer of county, town, city or
school district Oraers
With the statements Of county taxes be
fore referred to, were also Obtained from
The clerks OF supervisors, a statement of
The average value ofcounty orders in their
respective counties fer the last four wears.
The range of value was from sixty two and
half cents on The dollar, to par. The
average for forty ak counties was eighty
one and two thirds cents on the dollar
Admitting this To hold true Of town, city
and school orders. (Which is probably too
favorable an estimate for ihese). the con
clusion is unavoidable that the tax PAYERS
Of tue State suffer from discount upon war.
rants or orders, for the payment of money
a, their local treasures, equal to eighteen
and one third per cent. of all their taxes,
excluding State tax and such part of the
road taxes as are paid in labor. And this
discount does not MEASURE the loss. The
credit system is managing public expense,
with its incident confusion Of accounts. AL
most invariably serve, rs cover to indef
inlte specula'ions and peculations in public
funds. On this point, the experience of
the State is instructive Prior to 1858.
the expenses of the State ran a year. in all
vance Of is revenues aud certificate. of
appropriations by the Legis azure and Sec.
Rotary warrants upon the Treasury ruled
cu~i oniarilv, at about eighty per cent. Of
their par ralue The Legislature If 1858
by resolution, directed that all snch cer,s.
icaes and warrants be passed directly to
the possession OF the S,ats Treasurer. and
tha, they should he paid in the order of,he
dates the voucher for payment m each in
stance being the receip, of the Identical
person in whose favor the warrsnt or an.