, 1874-02-09
A RADICAL CHANGE.

Tho reporter also Gallo. I upon gentleman
who has for years given N nch attelstion TO the
subject of taxation. and whit 1t twaB understood,
had devised plan which ond furnish moro
money than waa now Obtain 7cd from. personal
properly taxcB without any Of tho expense,
trouble and inequality which: disttaguish tho
present systom.
Rcporler-Will you giyo Til TB 1nusE your
views OH tho subject Of tho taxa tion OF personal
property which, as wo understal I'd II il NUT
ter you have thoroughly inycBigt tied
Al lIavo for many years gave consider
able attention to the State syatcIm , II taxation.
Tile constitution Of 184S VAS frau'o when tho
State Was practically ropudiator, nd the Bys-
tenn of taxation thon adopted ua ), though T
consider IL rndically wrong, tho hes that could
be obtaincd to meot the extraor1ip1 ~ cmcrgcn-
oy and retain tho public credit. WI lilo regard
tie present syutom most object ionn ,Ie, wc have
to deal with it iii wo find it. IT, IL irreponablo,
but atl muv be modified, Rnd ono o1 It's lh1ue-
tice obviRtcd.
THE TWO coSsT1TUT los'i.
Q.-What il tho diffeyonce | e5a'oon tho two
Constitutions, III regard to state 'tuxes2
what was to bo derived from dirt ct taxation. 10
provide for tlo Stato debt a sm eral tax Of two
mills was required by tho Consti tuition, TINT tax
to continue until tho debt waspa q. IN 1870, tho
ropoaloil by tho now Constitution J. No new debt
can bo incurred except in oxtras ,vtl'nary easos.
In the Constitution Of 1870 the fo. lowing il the
provision for raising royonue:
The General Assembly stall provide such revenue
as ,nay bo needtu by lovyIng taxi valuation, 30
that every person an corporation sh W pay tux In
proportion to tile valuation Of his, her. H properly,
such ynuo to ba asccrtael by aonc II .rHon or per
sons 10 le clecod appointed in Ruc manner aa tho
General Assembly sa 1ect aud not asrTiss; +, M bnt
the General Assembly Bhall have power 10 Tax ped
d!srs a,,c.onecra brokers, hawkcra ncs chants conf
mission merchants, nlowme', jualeTs, na-Aeepesa nn
tIe es M
vendors Of patents md porsonH Or coroi @tionH OWL
Ing M 2riyicges gtudt II x o .n ma;
law uniform to tho class upon Which II 1efAses
MODES or TAXATION.
| You will notice the Words 81 Oh may ,be mood
ful;" these wero not in tho constitution OF 1873,
and tloy qualify tho authority to rAtHo S1ato row
| eu.,o hy taxation according to valuation That
| is. 1t loayot the 6tato powor to raise enal rovo
,1o by that procose, as 1nty bo nae<iotl IN addi-
I tion to the royenuo raised othorwisa- y: al tho
wiHc, tl.oro would DO no ocoasa,n to ra!Ho my
| upon valuation OF property. This article cnhry
| pfoylca two modes of taxation, oach co'lsa!tcnt
win tho other, aud yet wholly al1aront Ehehs
i. 4 tax by valuation on pror~rty to supply
Hr,cll needed revenue al may not otlIerwits, bo
| rniAod.
.. A tax upon poddlors, kc:.
My own Judgment IL TINT nil tint part OF Tho
Royunuo law which taxoH corporations M,s tra1'-
olhca beyond the actual yaluo Of Lilo ahtsslbln
by tic Constitution. II YOU viii roaa IN ltny:
t1lk You will agree with mo tlut dlt t'!n a.,tnn
OF occupations mentioned III tho scco,al nAtE,0r-
ity to tux should bo taxod ~ claAHoh nIti mt
by salno; tint railroatls, forros telsHf''lt mn!
ratio Of license, or moro eluitably by u Tux os'
gross receipts But 1t iB possibly llHelntH tn ut