The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-02
The Equalization OF Taxation.

different branches OF the Government, is q
maxim so selfevident as scarcely to need
matter to the attention Of the public will be
repetition. Yet the necessity for bringing the
clearly perceived by any one who will take
time and trouble to glance at the manifold
abuses which have crept into our legislation
on this subject, and especially into the man
ner in which the provisions of this legislation
are carried out.
We do not pretend to question the honesty
or intelligence of our local assessors, at least
not as these terms pass current in transac-
tiOns in which the body polite is one OF the
parties. On such affairs honesty and intelli-
gence, we regret to say, have received from
time immemorial an Interpretation Whlch has
never been and never will be tolerated In
the ordinary business transactions OF private
individuals. But we think we shall not fall
far short of the truth when we say that in
placing q valuation upon property OF all
kinds for purposes of taxation, system pre-
walls in this and in all the other great cities
Of this country which, to say the least, is
extremely loose. There is, of course, no
pressing necessity for placing upon every
item, real or personal, its actual mar
ketable value, although to do so in all
cases would be the wisest course that
could be pursued, The same purpose will be
answered, however, and precisely the same
sum exacted from each taxpayer, if the as
sessment is based upon uniform standard of
One-half or two-thirds of the actual value
What is needed, and all that is needed, is uni
formity-equality. Nothing short of this is
Justice; and yet this is the one thing that is
most visibly lacking. 1t would serve no pur-
pose to go into details. Every taxpayer is
interested in this matter, and every taxpayer
is entirely familiar with the various influences
OF political, social, and business character
which lie at the root of the evil OF which we
complain.
That speedy reform in this one respect
is to be looked for, or hoped for, we gravely
doubt. AT the present day there is too much
selhshness in politics and business to permit
us to have such delightful foretaste OF the
millennium. But there is another branch of
the subject which calls as loudly for reform,
and to which we desire particularly to refer
in this connection. This is the subject Of the
total exemption Of certain classes OF pro-
perty from all the burdens of taxation. The
Board of Revision have been at work upon
this branch of their labors for a long time
past. and they are far from being through
with it as yet The total assessed valuation of
the real estate which they have thus far been
obliged by existing legislation to relieve from
taxation is, in round numbers, $12000,000i
When their labors are completed, we do not
doubt that the figures will be nearer
fifteen millions than twelve. Assuming
the larger figures as correct the amount
of money which the city loses by this opera
ton, the present rate OF taxation being four
dollars in the hundred, is $600,OO0-a very
considerable sum in times when the treasury
runs low. To be sure large proportion of
the property thus exempted is owned by the
city, and the payment of taxes upon it would
result merely in the transfer Of figures from
one column of the Treasurer's book to
another. But even this complication of ac-
counts would be worth The while for the sake
of an equal and uniform system OF taxation
When we come to a comparison Of the
assessed value of the property exempt from
taxation, with that which is obliged to bear
VI SuPHOitih5 bhO
the necessity for wholesale reform will be
even more apparent. Owing to the delay
caused by the action of the Board of Revision,
it will be impossible, for some weeks yet. to
give the valuation OF all the property within
the city limits. The last valuation was fXe1
at $162,046,5S3. Giving liberal margin
for the increase of the past year, the
new valuation will certainly not exceed
$175,O00,O00 -Four per cent. of this, or the
amount of taxes to be raised under the pre-
sent system, will be $7,000,OOO. But if to the.
$175OOOOOO at present subject to taxation
we add the $15,0O0,000 now exempted by
law, the rate OF taxation required to produce
the $T,0O0O0O necessity for municipal pur-
poses will be reduced from four dollars in
the hundred 20 three dollars and seventy five
cents,st the most. These are the figures, and
they need no comment to bring their force to
bear upon the mind and pocket of the tax
payer.
No plausible argument in support of the
present system OF exemption can be brought
forward that will not be more than counter
balanced by the necessity for the simple JUS
tice of equality. At present the list of ex-
empted property embraces churches, school
houses, engine houses, public halls, cemete.
ries, benevolent institutions, public property
of all kinds, and the real estate of railroads
Why such wealthy corporations as the last