The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-03-07
For the Advertise.
Taxation aud Its Abuses.

For the Advertissr.
Taxation aud Its Abuses.
With the annual return Of the tax
paying season, and that Of assessing
property for subsequent taxation, the
public n.ind 10 more or less exercised
with questions pertaining to the mat
ter. They are the ready topics for
much discussion aud dissa' isiaction, -
an epidemic seems TO exist among tax
payers generally.
We have al heard of that prolonged
and bloody war which occupies such
conspicuous place In the early history
Of our nation. aud remember that It
was In part caused by oppressive 'sxa-
ton. Whether the taxation Of to day
b just or unjust, We might In er that
our tax payers still inherit share Of
the spirit which caused our forefathers
to successfully resent oppression
ninety-six years ago. To most tax
payers there Ii s0mething.i the very
nature Of taxation which seems un
just. The fact Of having to pay annu.
ally certain amounts out Of their hard
earnings, In most cases for which they
appear to receive no real benefit, or.
equivalent IL value, In return, Is,
seemingly to them. bordering on op
preston. II they pay out money for
. horse they have something to show
for 1t, an equivalent value received.
But when they pay taxes, where aud
what is the value received? Thus
they reason. although their reasoning
in this respect may not be IN strict &C
cordance with the teachings Of our
free Republic. Their taxes are always
high, aud they know there Is some
lndy to blame. The Assessors, the
Board Of SUPERVISORS, and all other
officers connected with thls part or
the machinery Of government, receive
their share Of abuse aud condemna-
ton for being the cause. And yet as
much As they complain and seem to
DO interested. very few take the pains
to Investigate to learn why thei. take.
are high. said their taxes were
always high, did you ever hear . tax
payer complain about his taxes being
too low:
But have tax payers no Just reasons
for their dissatisfaction. nor just cause
for their complaints and c0ndemna
tinns? Are their wrongs all imagin-
airy? believe they have just reason.
aud propose In this communication
TO state few of the wrongs aud abuses
which conceive to exist In the ad-
miuistratiOn 0t the laws which should
govern aud regulate our tax system.
I say In the administration, because
do not wish to he understood as find-
ing any fault with the laws, fr be-
Iieve them to be e,ninentIy just and
equitable, and after careful exa,nina :
ton fail 70 nee one point wherein
they might be improved for the better
The law says that ALI property
shall lie assessed ut its true casl, value,
In the name If the owner thereof. on
the LIST day Of January preceding the
time Of making he assessment
The Board Of Supervisors meet on the
first Monday in January Of each year,
aud, with the transaction of O.her
business. they make out y list or cias-
sification Of property and value Is a
general guido for Assessors in the
prosecution Of their work. Usually
the first thing on the list Is: +" first
class work horses. per heat. $50 Ia $50:
medium work horses. per head, $50 to
$50, and 40 on Town the list. Now,
are these values the true cash values of
the articles named? What 10 the true
cash value Of any property? Suppose
you buy what you believe to be q fi,st
class work horse. and pay $50 in cash
for him. Is $50. or Is $50 ihe true
cash value Of that horse? You GER
tainly consider $50 the true cash val
uc or you w0uso ss"s $500 s--aA 49, s--~
1t is true Of all other property. Hence
the true cash value of any properly Is
the ruling or market value.
Armed with this lirt or classified
zion, books and other essentials, Mr.
Assessor goes firth on his mission.
He calls on Mr. b., and according to
the classification, assesses Mr.. Be-
real estate, hor ses. cattle, &c at from
one half to one sixth their re Il value.
Presently he comes to moneys and
credits. Mr.. B have you any money
and credits Well, yes, have
few hundred dollars clear. suppose.
like the rect Of my property, you will
a-ses. 1t at one half or one third its
full value:" "Oh, no, we assess
money at its full value" What
asses. all other property at only y part
If its value. and money at its full
value Why. that don't seem right.
why do you do it? oh. that's the
law, and we must abide by the law
YOU know" aud that il the only way
Mr.. Assessor can work himself o 1t OF
that corner. This Ia probably the
worst abuse connected with our tax
system. Aside from the injustice done
individuals, it Is AN injury to the State.
It has tendency to drive gu. capita,
aud does keep capitalists from coming
to Iowa Aud it Is the principal cause
for the exhorbitant rates Of interest
that are charged on money. Correct
this abuse and capital AMI capitalists
will flow in. competition will follow
and rates Of interest grow less.
There are farmers In every cOmmu
nifty, men who nra In the decline Of
lifo ond nthors Win N wing uatnod "A