The sun., 1872-01-16
The Reform Of Our Tur system.


/; is greatly TO he hopcd that something
will 10 done at this session Of the Legisla.
ture to reform the tax system Of tbs State in
Gcc'i 'idance with The recommendations Of the
Governors message. 1t IL notorious shat at
present many persons who should contribute
to tho public revenue escape doing so alto.
gether. while a cofrcspondingly dispropor
tonat, amount Is c1actcd from many who
ought to be wholly or partially exempt
Ihc great td.k oi taxation practically rests
upon r,Dl estate while the attempt to lay il
uIon personal property dcters numbers Of
weai,hy men from residing within the S,at,,
ana oftcutiracs impcls them 20 KEEP tLo.r
calii.l away from it also.
The Commissioners appointed ~ The Gov
cruor, under the Provisions OF q jain, r,solu
ton Ct tie Leg stature 10 investigate this
'r' jet. united last spring uron BE follow
ing Jtsi- f reform, which thc Governor
quotes with approval.
"F,n, Tot1tc.l ,'.s'c 'r ..fc u--n. S. rad.r
~ u- laws ifo'..on' Tor rn'or-i-r val A. %.
4or'tuiug 90 common and vel dos e3 ont mode.
lr.e staud1iI. hCIrs 90 $40 san. 'iue ptCecflUef.
Siorrd toftr Urrevet corporations o. thc state
con- .., el.u cx.s.1g la,s.
4h' a. tN. ti'ure, tuI tsr c-.aIIr 'C eN er..
c-,e q. Ncw f.rs, saoNi tl'' dc aiitm.t % ,al.
urt,- tre two tc.Drc crum'g't-i c.a.s.s. % RE
A;.t .'' ntc; i i..- "a t2tc.'1n anfl' certain to
ylei lee ~ ttYr 90. i-c iu't'c 'tnin ne ras'
.rd a.o q sti ' d.efim,nat,s a-anst - INDUSTRY
o. y y No.h 90 CO. paii.oa ultA other st-t.s. rLe
Comm'--.o't-. 20 ..o.e, as substitute ant cqu va
'ett o. Al -rch rc'tsiiNe t1I1uon t0 taN tie occl
uicr. hr 20 owner q. tenant, auy NnI Cvory buld
ing used as dwelling, ol Cor 4nY otaer ruruo-e ON
lu.dou o. trot vines tnc rettal or rcni-l vslu-
= thr premises nrcu- -c3 put rot iTcu'inz ur 'er
s-cl --.. rca' ans llnt except sacn .. tne tu.ii-
'nr st-rf. uu. -. D.. lss,.t-l fr ec.r,s t'c-.to.
"A D ftCl..It r.t embraced 1911 jos prH u. ;hcs1
uon
TIE first oul the second of thos, prop si
tiors 20 iall in with PREVAILING ideas that
they will probably meet with 10 objection
The tlirl VIII, however excite opposition
Il aims 10 bring into the category Of tax.
pov. rs 4 large class ofpcrsors who enjoying
com ol;alle incomes from Professions or oc.
cuIators IA which no capital OF their OWL
= invested, have hitherto paid nothing in
the shape Of taxes These will resist the
attempt to make the rental value Of tho
lons flcy live in and the stores thoy oc-
cury the standard OF tleir ass,ssabic prop.
.r,y.
Nevertheless, cons dcrrg the matter i'm
rarri.Iy 3. it i- difficult 10 see why the mere
TACT that man who enjoys large inc mo
should escape paying his share Of the ex
pcuscs Of government, the benefits Of
wh ch lie daily enjoys, merely because hc
owns neither real nor personal property
Why SHOULD physician, lawyer a clerk,
or o latoring man even, forwlom our streets
ere gifted and swept, our police aud courts
maintained, and the whole machinery Of the
sociol system kept in repair and operation
contribute nothing toward the cost Of these
!1xuros1 AS it is now, they enjoy them
era, I.tously, and allow their less fortunate
fellow cit.z Ms 10 Le soddlcd with the whole
burden, 1t il said, indeed that these people
pay their share oil taxes In their rent, and IN
the price Of tho commodities they consume
in tler daily LIFE To certain cx.
tent this may lie true but after
all, the amount thus obtR ned repre-
-cnts lut an nappreciaLle pant Of what
should lie paid, Rents are fixed without
regard to the rise and tall Of taxes. house
or a store commands its price with reference
to It's advantages Rs a place oil residence or Of
business and not to It's assessed value The
great fact is indisputable, that citizens whose
incomes arc derived from investments are
taxed heavily, while those whose incomes
are obtained from heir business are exempt
This is the inequality complained Of, aud
which, it seems to u.s. should be relrcssed,
On the other hand it ID clearly impolitic,