Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-18
Proposed New TAX Law.


Senator Young for a copy OF the pro-
posed new Tax Bill, we would respectfully
bee leave to remark that we have read
most Of it. And without knowing wheth
err it meets the favor Of many or few, Of
friend foe, of this party or that, we approve
of the measure quite generally--in some
respects quite enthusiastically. We con-
fess to having entertained some prejudice
against any change, since the Supreme
Court has reconsiderad its late decision
against the validity Of tax-titles under the
present law. Laws that answer a tolerable
purpose ought generally to stand; but we
have long held that the present law, by its
limiting the basis of taxation almost entire
y to land property, bonds mortgages and
moneys escaping saxation--is wrong and
oppressive to land holders, if not just
offcnse to those who hold but little else
than land, while it ufjustly allows those
who are far more ableto pay taxes to al
most entirely escape the burthens Of taxa
ton, we mean those whose capital is highly
remuaeratiye but concealed from the asses
or in The shape Of moneys at interest Sc
cared by bond and mortgage, or floating
under mask, the owner shifting from place
to place, wandering about 70 escape taxa
ton. It also allows persons to throw a
mantle over various personal property to
evade taxation; the penalties for neglect on
the part Of assessors and failures Of persons
to give just and full accounts of property
for assessment are but slight and never en-
forced. Assessors under the present law
may assess lands far below the real value,
or far above, and no adequate leveller is
provided. The false cry Of crafty persons
is heard in charging double assessments
when the holders Of mortgages are required
to report. Mortgages held without the
State cannot be reached and those within
the State are variously and persistentently
overlooked Remedies for all such cases,
full clear, explicit and undodgeable are pro-
vided in the proposed new law. If adopt
ed, the tax on lands and village lots must
be vastly reduced, we think to half what
the tax must be under the present law
One defect in the new law we must allude
to before it passes our mind: the present
law provides for sworn statement Of
property By the owner; the new law leaYes
1t optional with the assessors whether to
requires such sworn statement. We insist
OH following the present law in the new,
and requiring full sworn statement by
all owners, or their agents-the assessor
reserving the right and the Law making it
his duty under severe penalty tC amend all
such statements BY inserting what may be
discovered to have been left out, at any
time thereafter. We favor a severe, sweep
ing law for assessing all property and all Of
what crafty persons call the shado'Os Of
property-especially when such shadows
yield more to the owner than the substan-
ces. And, like the usury law, we want
the assessment law so shaped as to head
off all bubbles, eyasions or sophistries Of
courts and lawyers; and we want it so
framed that legs can't out-run it nor per-
Jury eyade its demands.
Under this new law, the exemptions are
to be free, one or two hundred dollars
worth of house fixtures and provisions,
and the property Of religious, educational,
burial and other strictly charitable institu-
tons then only such as shall be actually
used religiously or charitaby and not for
income purposes. Colleges will not, under
this law, Be allowed to own tax free many
thousand acres Of land, the same held for
speculation. The present law with its ex-
ernptions is outrageous in this respect,
1t may be that .nany of the details Of
the law are pregnant with partiality for
city interests. The railroad provisions
may be wrong and it may be out Of order
in many respects. We only indorse the
principal o. full taxation at full value Of
all property, with the exact provisions
against evasions which seem to be contain
ed in this proposed new law. In many
respects the present law may be better,
though quite generally the new follows
the present SO far as disposing Of dclm-
quent lands.
Assembly and cnate-GOV. Saomon-lohn J. Smith.