The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-01-10
nc Cftfsens, lreetanx.

IN AsAOsAN0y AASAAS AWSO9 was AASAN ~ |
Lyceum Hall, probably much the lar
gest citizens meeting that ever assem-
bled in the city of Richmond. The
Hall was filed, and many failed to
find room and left.
It was brought together for the pur-
pose of giving expression to the senti-
ments and feelings of the people, in
regard to the recently enacted munich
pal tax law, which has been a theme
Of many remarks among all classes of
citizens; producing considerable ex-
citement of feeling in the minds of
many, ever since the blank schedules
were furnished the tax payers in which
to list the various items of their tax
able personal property. Expressions
of sentiment and feelings in relation
thereto, were very emphatically given
at that meeting not only by num-
Der Of able speakers, who denounced
the law in strong terms, but also by
series of protests against the law, re-
ported by committee appointed at a
preliminary informal meeting Of some
of the citizens who had had the mat
ter under consideration, and addressed
to the Mayor, and Council Of the City
of Richmond, requesting repeal or
modification of said law. In these
protests it was characterized as being
odious, unjust, inquisitorial and i'm
practicable.
These protests were adopted by a
large majority of those present, after
the law had undergone pretty severe
handling by several speakers, and
after the principal author of the law
had attempted to defend it as best he
could under the circumstances.
The people came for the express
purpose Of denouncing the law, and
they did it; many of them, perhaps,
with misapprehension as to its real
object.
What, perhaps, is considered the
most Objectionable feature of the law,
is that which requires each individual
to list in separate items each and every
article of property he may possess
including the whole laraphernalia Of
the household-and requiring that
1.-THE holder of property must show il
to the Assessor, where it can be done
and the Assessor must value it; but
if the property cannot be shown to
the Assessor, the holder must value
it, and by agreement, the Assessor
may take the holders valuation of the
whole list" This is deemed inquisi
torial, and denounced as an insult t.
the people.
| Another feature to which much OBJ
lection is made, and is pronounced
unjust, is that which says-"The own
| er of property on the first day of Jan
uary, 1874, must list it for the year
and its value must be estimated fol
that day." 1t is claimed that thu
proper course would be, to take tn,
average" of the months Throughout
the year.
DIR. Hibberd, member of council
and the reputed author of the law
was called for at the meeting to maxi
some explanations, which he did a
considerable length, Though not s,
far as he wished, had he been permit
ted to go farther, as well as with yer!
considerable ability; considering thu
very heavy pressure that was brough
to bear upon him, few perhaps, undel
the circumstances, could have dom
better. Throughout the whole h,
maintained perfect calmness; ever
Kisses, pertinent, and perhaps sop,
impairment interruptions failed t
throw him out of the even tenor of hi
way. At times it seemed that h
would carry the major portion Of tn
audiance with him.
He succeeded in convincing man,
that the object at least, which it wa
sought to accomplish by the law, wa
correct, even if the particular plal
adopted was not exactly the right one
In the course Of his remarks tn
Dr. observed, Tin substance, if not il
these exact words) that mo one coul'
be more disposed to reflect the will o
the people, if he knew what that vii
was, then he, or if he could not do il
he would get out of the way, that som
one else might
We have no doubt that the DR.. i
framing the law, aimed to shape it i
such way, as to secure right and jus
tice, and the best interests of tn
whole community, but in attemptin
to devise the means to secure thes
ends, he may have been mistaken j
his judgement.
The object, according to his state
ments was to get upon the tax liz
large amounts of property which b
some mistake or other, difficult to az
count for, heretofore have been lie.
off.
In order to show the effect unde
the old law; he read the schedules {
citizens, given under that law, on,
that Of poor man, of one in medium
circumstances, and of one who was
wealthy man, who counted his pc:
sessions by the hundred, or, 1--WE al