The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-06-24
Dulim's Tax Ordinances-RiDx Legis-
latBOm-New Tariff.

DuIim's Tax Ordinances-RiD Legis-
latBOn-New Tariff.
The following ordinance was passed
at the last meeting of Council, by
Messrs. Rosa, Peterson, Conklin,
Land, Zeller, Dulin, Dickmann and
Watt, voting in favor of it, and Mes
tor and Nyc against it:
Be it ordained by the Common Coun-
ell of the city of Richmond:
Section THAT any person or per-
sons, who shall establish and maintain
within the city any limits, shop or
shops, or other institution, for the
purpose of manufacturing any article
of general utility (not already being
manufactured within the city,, the
same shall be held exempt from tax
for five years from such time as said
person or persons shall put such es-
tablishment in operation.
Section 2-This exemption shall be
held to apply to all the capital en-
ployed directly in said manufacturing
business, covering lands, buildings,
machinery, merchandise. capital stock,
and all other appurtenances thereto
belonging
Section 3.-The first section of this
ordinance shall be interpreted liber-
ally toward new manufacturing inter
ests, but not oppresslyely against
those already within the city.
Section 4.-This ordinance shall be
in force and effect from and after its
passage.
In the above ordinance there is not
one section but which is in direct
violation of the Constitution of the
State, the laws of the State and the
charter of the city. How members of
the Council can vote in favor of such
an ordinance lis one of the things we
can never find out" When a person
becomes member of the Council, he
takes an oath or affirmation to support
the Constitution OF the United States,
the State of Indiana, and faithfully
discharge his duty as Councilman of
- Ward, according to law and the
best of his ability. 1t won't do to
plead ignorance in this case, as MIR.
Dulin introduced the ordinance one
month before its final passage, which
gave ali the members of the Council
ample time to consult the Constitu-
ton, the laws, and the city charter
upon the subject. A sense of duty
oughtsto be sufficient to inform any
Councilman upon this subject without
having to read it up. The Constitu-
Article 10. Sec. 1.-The General
Assembly shall provide by law for a
uniform and equal rate of assessment
and taxation; and shall prescribe such
regulations as shall secure just valu-
alton for taxation of all property, both
real and personal, excepting such only
for municipal. educational, literary,
scientific, religious, or charitable pur-
poses, may be specially exempted by
law.
The law specially exempts" in the
State of Indiana all property belong
ing to the United States, and the
State of Indiana. Also. Church pro-
persy, school property. public build
ings belonging to the counties, public
property belonging to cities. and
charitable and benevolent institutions;
but, nowhere does the Constitution of
the State, the laws of the State, or
the city charter exempt any class OF
persons from taxation. nor does the
Constitution of the State, or the laws
of the State. or the city charter au-
thorize the Common Council of the
city to exempt any class of property
from taxation belonging to any class
of persons or person, other than that
mentioned in the Constitution
The aims and objects in passing the
ordinance may have been well enough,
but, robbing Peter to make Paul rich
has about played out, we trust.
There is not manufacturer in the
United States but what is protected
by Congress from . to 800 per cent.
Now, it is proposed to exempt them
from city taxation. This will be no
go. gentlemen.
JUSTICE.