The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-06-22
T axation.

luDllC allcNllOn mas Decn OF ltlC are CT
ed 10 the methods of raising that portion
of income which individuals contribute
quiry and investigation are showing errors
and bad policy in the manner of levvin o
taxation, and suggesting better methods
of attaining the ends desired. The sub
iect has been Il sore one, from the time of
the stonin@ to death of the Jewish officials
'swho were over the tribute" down to the
present day of the tobacco and whiskey
tax. The problem to be solved has been
to reach the happy medium which shall
the least actual hardship to the tax payer
and we might add, which shall permit
the least amount to stick to the fingers of
the officials Adam Smith laid down GER
tain absolute rules in respect to taxation,
which are Us follows
81. The subjects of every state ought to con-
tribute toward the support OF the government,
as nearly aS possible, in proportion to their re-
spectivc abilities; that is. in proportion to the
revenue winch lilcN Respectively ENJOY unucf
the protection of the state.
.. The tax which each individual is hound to
pay ought to be certain, and not arbitrary; the
time of payment. the manner of payment, and
the quantity to be paid. ought all to be clear
and plain to the contributor and to every other
person.
3. Every tax ought to be levied at the time,
and in the manner. in which it is most likely to
be convenient for the contributor to pay it.
4. Every tax ought to be so cOntrved as both
to take out and keep out of the pockets of the
people is little rs possible over and above what
it brings into the public treasury of the state
Attention is being drawn to the report
of the Commissioners of the State Of New
York appointed under authority of the
Legislature, for the purpose of revising
the tax laws Of the State. The Commits
sioners are David A. Wells, who won a
national reputation as United States
Special Commissioner of Revenue, Edwin
Dodge and George w. Cuyler. These
gentlemen have massed together great
amount of most valuable information upon
the subject of taxation, and inasmuch as
the fiscal systems of all the States are very
much alike, their work is of general i'm
portancc Nor have the Commissioners
confined their investigations to New York :;
they have made u free use of facts from
all the States, for the purpose of getting
at the general laws which should be re-
garded in levying taxation.
The New York laws are stringent, re-
quiring the assessment of all property at
q full valuation, such rs it would be APP
praised at in payment Of just debt due
from solvent debtor, and requiring the
assessors in all cases to make oath that
they have SO assessed. Yet, in spite of
the law, and in spite of the oaths, the as
sessment in New York is most ridiculous
as to amount, and most unequal rs to
persons. And this is the case, not in New
York alone, but in nearly all the States of
q full and complete list of his property is
required by law from every citizen, and
where, in some parts of the States, these
lists are published Us q check upon eva
sion.
After q long and elaborate investigation,
the Commissioners reach the conclusion
that there is no use in attempting to tax
personal property directly; that no method
can be adopted by which q fair and full
assessment can be had, and that the at
tempt only results in vexation, injustice
and decentralization. The system they
propose in this:
First-To tax all corporations which
are in the nature of monopoly, such as
gas companies, water companies, railroad
companies, etc., the tax to be imposed on
an aggregate make up of q market valua-
ton of the shares, and of their funding
and floating debt, less cash on hand.
The Commissioners are of the opinion that
this tax should be assessed by the State
Controller or other State officer, be paid
directly to the State, and in consideration
of this tax the corporations should be free
from all other taxation.
Second-Tax real estate and buildings
on uniform valuation (thc Commission
ers recommend fifty per cent, on account
of their third recommendation said as
sessment to be under the supervision Of q
State Board as far removed from political
and local influences as possible.
Ihird-In lieu of the taxation of per-
sonal property, to tax every occupier OF a