The union Democrat., 1869-07-10
l'<JI STEC e.

:
stock owners for several years, failed no, to
have their bands Of cattle and stock in Stan
isIaus, or some other of the agricultural cnun-
ties. where the rate Of taxation was less than
in Tuoiumne when the time for Assessment
arrived. They have then had their movable
personal property assessed in those counties,
after which they are driven back here to
be subsisted nearly the whole year. for
which we receive no revenue. This evil has
increased to such an extent that this county
is defrauded out of thousands Of dollars annu-
ally, which unfairly and improperly finds its
way to the treasures of the contiguous agri-
cultural counties. For a large majority OF
the year, there are untold thousands Of sheep,
and other stock ranging through the hills OF
this county. belonging to non-residents from
whom no taxes are received, as the owners
before driving into this county arm them
selves with Collectors receipt, showing that
the taxes have been received by some of our
bucolic neighbors. Our ranges of feed are
consumed, our substance eaten out to this ex-
tent by strangers who are unwilling to pay
US any remuneration whateyer, without even
thanking us for the the benefits taken, but on
the other hand cursng us for being poor and
that this county does not differ in this matter
of evaded revenue from some of the other
mountain counties who are heavily laden
with debt. The last Legislature was inform
ed of this state Of things and passed law,
authorizing the Assessors of Tuolumne and
Calaveras Counties. GO to Assess as personal
property all bands of cattle, farm animals,
sheep or hogs, driven in herds, whereof the
owner or owners, driver or manager thereof
are not resident in either of said counties,
found roaming at large in the counties 2fore-
said and there shall be collected from the
persons aforesaid or either of them, the same
amount of tax as would be imposed on tine
owner or owners of said personal property If
they were resident in said counties and pos
sessed of personal property of like value"
So far as we can learn, this law has been
of no benefit to Tuolumne; under i: this Spring
one of our Assessors, assessed band of about
ten thousand head of cattle, against which
the owner demonstrated, stating that they
had been assessed in Tulare County. The
telegraph was resorted to, and in three OF
four days it resulted in dispatch from Visa
liza that the taxes on these cattle had been
paid, whether before or after the assessment
made here, we did not learn. Property can.
not be made to pay taxes twice in this State,
and as every stock owner who drives to the
mountains takes the precauton to have his
property assessed where the taxes are lowest
before coming, and almost universally bring
ing his tax receipt with him, it lays out the
special law for this and Calaveras County
fiat as founder, rendering it totally value
less.
1t is unj just that strangers are tolerated, in
destroying our substance to the great annoy
ance and injury of our farmers and small
stock raisers who sre compelled to remain in
the county ali the time, and contribute their
proportion Of revenue. From their necessi-
ties they pay high rate of taxation, while
their rich neighbors and strangers enjoy the
same privileges they do, and pay nothiug for
it. If this evil is to continue, it will result in
a withdrawal of property, to be assessed in
other counties, to so great on extent, that it is
seriouy to be feared that our revenue may
fall below the current expenses Of the county
leaving the debt out in the cold. One or two
things will be expected from the coming Leg
islature, either the State must in some way
aid the mining counties in meeting their LA
biities, or effective laws must be passed that
will guarantee them the power to collect all
riShtful revenue to which they are entitled
Having become impoverished in q measure
by building roads. which are a benefit to the
whole State, it would be extreme cruelty to
deprive these impecunious counties of one
cent of revenue which naturally and Cf RICH,
belong to them. If the agricultural districts
collect money for taxes that belong to their
mountain friends, and desire to continue DO
ing SO. we shall expect them to refund by
way of helping US to liquidate our onerous
debts.