Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-02-28
Mr.. Wells Report-Errors in Taxa.
tion-Reforms Suggested.

From compilations Of the repor,
eff Hon. David A. Wells in the N Y
Times and Chicago Tribune. we copy
as follows: The fundamental err
rors that are apparent in nationai
taxation are visible in the svstemA
of taxation adhered to in nearly all
the States, The gross amount OF
State and local taxation is startling
Last year, the Federal Governmenf
obtained ii total rev enue OF Sill 900
900. and taking Ohio as a sampie-
tue aggregate of taxes wruug from
the people was increased by loca
taxation to S76l 900 900. being a
the rate of SO 26 per head Of the en-
tire population. Had the New York
standard been maintained throughout
the Union, the total Of t,xatioT. -.
tional and local, would have beer
$3.50, 100000 or 81 So per head.
fhc rate in either case far exceeds
the taxation borne by any other peo-
pie under the sun, during a period of
peace The rate per capita in New
York city is S29 81 in Boston $50 10
in Chicago S2l 60, as against barely
S5.S5 per capita in London, and SO 81
per capita in England and Wales
generally. Before 1861 the United
States were content with seventy
five millions as the product of taxa
ton, and in that year the State of
New York managed matters comfor-
tably with S25, 100000. The nation
al taxes have since exceeded $3.50
OO0, 900, and in the present year will
not fall below three hundred and
twenty millions, while this State last
year exacted from its citizens $780,
3OO, 600. The growth of national
burdens is Ineligible. The war and
ITS consequences explain the prodg-
lous increase But there is compar-
atvely little in the circumstances of
New York that can reconcile us to
the difference in local taxes. Nei.
Their the population nor the trade OF
the State has increased at a rate cor
responding with the increase of It's
Absurd anomalies exist in the val.
uauOn on which the taxes are assess
cd. Generally the real and personal
property OF county is assessed at a
over value than the census shows
The buildings alone to be worth. All
me towns compete with each other
n reducing the assessments, and the
Assessors oath is violated with al.
most incredible uniformity. The at
tempt to tax personal property di-
rectly leads TO almost endless eva.
slons, inequality, and perjury. The
hrst question it raises is. whether
debts are to be deducted from the
property of the debtor, or added to
that of his creditor. If A owns a
stock of goods worth 100000, but
owes b $500, 900 on account of their
purchase money, if A is taxed for
the property, and B for the debt, the
goods must pay tax on 5000. 600
If twenty farmers own farms worth
SIO, 600 each, and mortgage them for
81, 600 each, and deposit these mort
cages to the amount of $3.50 600 as
guarantee capital CT bank or insur.
1nce company, the 5000 900 Of actual
value swells to $500 600 taxable
property before penny has been
earned. 1t might be fair to tax each
new use OF such capital, but the pres.
ent system treats it as if il were a
creation OF new capital. On the 9th.
tr hand, If IN attempt is made To tax
personal property, and debts are ex.
empted, the ease with which debts
could be manufactured to evade the
scrutiny OF the Assessor would prac.
tlcally exempt all personal property
at least of dishonest men, from taxa
ton. Again, the very large classes
81 personal property that must be
Exempted from taxa ion constitute
always formidable objection to tax.
ing the remainder.
After an elaborate discussion OF
these evils, Mr. Wells and his assist.
ant commissioners recommend as
their proposed reforms:
First. The taxation of all corpo.
rotions created by the State which
are in the nature Of a monopoly.
Second. The taxation of land, ex.
elusive of buildings, at a uniform val.
uatlon of so per cent. of its mark eta.
BILE value and,
Third. The taxation of buildings
against the owner, as real estate, for
malt their value, and against the oc-
cupant or tenant for the other half
on the assumption that the annual
rental of the real estate a man occu.
pies for his residence and business i.
be fairest sign or index which the
occupant holds out to the world o.
ne amount Of his income, and the
value OF his personal property.
All property not embraced in one
OF these three provisions to be ex
empt from taxation.
whether the remedies which Mr.
Wells suggests are the best that can
ne devised Che does not lay claim &c
infallibility in this regard, J the infor
nation which be has brought togetb,
or is invaluable"
A