The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-12-03
NLTDTNG AROUND IN.


fore last, by which farmers who sell
produce away from the place of pro-
duction are required to take out Bro
ker's License, having produced some
thing of sensation, the Oregon
Branch of the Bureau makes haste to
put has construction upon the law
Here it is, in q letter addressed to MIR.
Gradwohl, well-known merchant of
this city
UNITED STATES INTERNAL Revenue,
coLLEeToR's oFFIcE, DIs'T or 0REooN,
PORTLAND, Nov. 81, 1860.
Hr. Jaiias Grad'eohi;
SIR: In reply to your letter Of the 2tth inst,
I have TO say that whore farmer sells only the
produce of his own farm from his wagon, he Is
not required to take license. IL he soils the
produce Of other farms than his own, he Is then q
produce broker aud must pay the special tax.
You should have addressed your question TO +.
w. Folsom, Esq, Assistant Assessor of your di-
vision, who has that matter for your district In
his special charge. Respectfully,
your obedieut servant,
GEO. II. BELDEN,
Deputy Collector fer Oregon.
p. S.-If he has regular staad or store he
muSt pay tax.
If Mr.. Belden means what we pre-
sumo he means, and can only make such
an Interpretation stick, We congratu-
late him. But that gentleman does
not touch the Washington Decision
in the remotest degree. Observe that
the telegraph of Nov. II says ; "The
Internal Revenue Bureau decides that
farmers ,cl,o 90 TO market aud sell pro-
duce, are to be considered brokers and
must pay a special tax. Those who
sell at the place of production are ex-
empt from paying a special tax"
Mr.. Belden, recognizing the infamy
of this decision and the obloquy that
must attach to the party responsible
for it, proclaims on November q -
"When a farmer sells only the pro-
duce of his own farm from his wagon,
he is not required to take license
If he sells the produce of other farms
than his own, he is produce broker. -
The edict that Mr.. Belden issues, il
will be seen at glance, is altogether
different edict than the one which
the Washington Bureau issues. BY
the former, the man who sells the
produce of has o,cn farm (and here is
question of construction for renters,
from his ieagon (rather stringent,
needn't take license? If he sells the
produce of other farms than his OWL
he must do so.
BY the latter, the farmer who goes
to market and sells produce" must
pay, and the only reservation is fol
those who sell at the place of produc.
ton.
Mr.. Belden's law is good because il
don't apply to anybody-because it is
so silly as not to mean anything
Farmers do not sell the produce O
other peoples farms-that is, they dc
not as class, buy and sell produce
they do not keep stands and stores
and an edict requiring them TO pay 1
license for doing what they do not dc
is waste of Legislative talent. Blu
the edict issued by his superior n
Washington is a more serious matter
It has broad field of operation anG
oppression. Nearly all farmers go tC
market and sell produce, and these
if the telegraph tells the truth, mus
pay a license.
There is another clause to this letter
which, though not aprDpOs here, i
rich in suggestions. "You shoulo
have addressed your inquiries to Mr.
Folsom, Assistant Assessor of YOU
division, who has that matter for you
district in his special charge" Thi
indicates that each assessor and eacl
assistant is the autocrat for the Dis
trict IN which he lives; that these pet
ty officials have things pretty mucl
their own way In their localities. Mr.
Folsom has the matter of produc'
laws in his special charge, and we hav
it intimated that his jurisdiction is ex
elusive of that at Washington. Th'
existence of a multitude of officials
without limit to their power, and with
out accountability to the people, is on
of the anomalies of self government