Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-01-25
IIoxr, January 20; 1871:

IloYE, January 20, 1871.
George b. GoOdlanier, Esq:
SIn--rhe present trieunial assessment 90 nc
count Of the high taxes required to be laid to meet
the county expenses and the building Of the new
iail. It is important TO the honest taxpayer, to
have n fair and honest taxation made OF everything
taxable
On this noint the instructions to the ioWuslip
Assessor Wci plain aud very particular. The re-
tarn Of money 1t interest made by the Assessors
Of our toWnsln, in accordance with the in
struetions Of the CDrnty Commissioners, appear
to dissatisfy and troubla some Of the money lend
srs 10 the township very Ia .uch that their money
At interest should be returas1 by the Asaassora
without being given in by thcmsel gcs )-and still
the amount returned by the Assessors is not half
Of the money al interest in the township that the
money lenders are receiving eight aud ten per sent
interest for.
The honest tax payers business Is to sec that
the money lenders escape not from taxation on
their money at interest, and to enable him to do
50, much depends On the County Commissioners
in what they say and do about H. Some Of the
money lenders report the County Commissioners
10 say, where the paper taken for Indebtedness in
clulcs the interest, aud IN conscq when paya-
bic Is without interest, Is not ruturnablc and can
not be taxed If the County Commissioners talk
in this way, they do not comprehend the thing At
an opinion. For II this was the fact, no money at
interest would be taxed, because money LENDERS
ia most cases, draw up their notes including the
interest, The major portion Of money lenders are
spectators, and to accomplish their speculations
it requires them to be sharp 50 that the laws do
not interfere and spoil their transactions. To get
big interest and escape taxntion, many are their
resorts to cover over what they are ashamed should
be seen or known. We know al this is done, os-
I.Issf q - Haa
become very common. Illegal interest taken is a
violation Of the law, and its penalty Is forfeiture
Of the principal, and the money lendcr SPECTATORS
in general are not going to expose their specula-
tious In making tho proper return Of their money
al interest that the law requires Of lcln 10 make
and therefore il s the duty Of the Assessors to DO
it, and when the facts Of the case can he easily
shown can see no escape from taxing the mon
oy LENDERS money at interest
The public press in most eases have been faith
ful IN IL duty In exposing rascality and corruption
in all quarters, but in this particular II has been
silent, We think Il very strange that it should be
amiss in it, duty az the public guardian Of tho
honest xpaytf 10 this respect. and therefore we
hope this hint viii spur 1t to It's duty. When the
money lender shows no compliance with the Law
ia the use Of money, be onght to be exposed and
corrected for bic faults The honest taxpayer de-
manjs IT, and the County Commissioners in the
lAilhiul uiathalEc Nl NuhNc uutf eau hVt pelmil
the moncy-lcnders money at interest 20 bo held
back from taxation more than another. for the law
don't favor one class more than another.
At this time a fair and just taxation is demand
Cd Of the County Commissioners, and We viii see
whether they fear the power and hesitate under
the influence Of the money lender not to do t.
We think It is sufficient for tho monici men that
they are not required to pay tax on their money
invested in Bonds that arc exempt from tax by an
unconstitutional law. The honest taxpayer
in our township ask for what is fair and right and
shall not submit to what is wrong IN taxation.
You will excuse this plain letter, for silence
longer In the matter In which IL treats would in
volyc the moral principles Of the honest taa payers
Respectfully. -
=. s. Since writing the above, The Republican
Of this mail shows you arc doing your duty, there
fore excuse the remark iu this letter the press
ns regards the Hspablicon.