The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-02-04

ounications on the subject of exemptlng
from taxation. capital employed in vari-
ops kinds of manufacturing-one written
bv Hon. J. NJ. Wesson, the pioneer man
pfaeturer of the State, and large-hearted
pbilanthropist and sound thinker; and
the other by citizen of ability, integ-
rity and weight of character, who has
preferred to write anonymously.
We have also published the law OF
1872 for the information and convent
ence of the public who may take an in
terest in the subject The provisions OF
this act we're in 1873 extended to the
Mississippi Mills and the stonewall Fac
tory. (Which were struggling for exist
ence, } in order to encourage the invest
ment of capital in, and aid, them, in
taking new start upon permanent
and solid basis, SO as to produce the pub
lie benefits that necessarily attend enter
prises of the kind, if successful.
We are not prepared to speak for the
StonewaIl Factory, but can say with en-
tire confidence that the Mississippi Mills
have in good faith conformed to the pur-
poses of the act The company are
vastly enlarging their machinery, build
ings and capacities for the manufacture of
cotton and wooden goods-giying employ
ment to large numbers of the poorer
classes, who stand most in need of it
and have furnished an example of what
may be done in that line of enterprise,
and a standing invitation to outside cap
italists to come into our State and invest
their means similarly. At the expiration
of the time fixed by law for the remission
of its taxes it will be in a condition to
repay an hundred fold the State, for the
liberal policy by which its infancy shall
have been developed into vigorous man
hood.
We desire it to be understood that in
advocating the policy OF exemption for a
limited period, we do not countenance
abuses of the law, or departure from its
strict letter and spirit. If parties are
obtaining its benefits, who are not enti-
tied to them, additional safeguards should
be erected by the Legislature to prevent
them. The law says that the taxes so
RENTED 60 shall be set apart for and APP
"plied to the payment of debts and liza
bilities which any of said companies
may have incurred in the construction
" of factories, for the purchase of machi
emery CT fot money borrowed by any
manufacturing company to construct
buildings, or to purchase machinery
for carrying on the said business. Means
not thus employed are clearly not emit
tied to the practical exemption provided
in the act, and parties guilty of evading
it, are liable to conviction and punish
ment for fraud. If it be true, as stated
by our correspondent, that under cover
of the law, town lots, store houses,
plantations and other property" are
held from taxation, the frauds ARE bare.
faced, and the parties guilty of them,
unquestionably, deserve severe punish
ment. We are advocating the law in it,
letter and spirit, and with its limitations
but this does not imply liberation of it.
abuses
So far as the Constitution is concerned
all exemptions and grants for public en-.
terprises, and eleemosynary institutions,
etc., are stretches of power under the
general welfare" clause, and it is ex
ceedingly difficult to find the exact line
where public benefit and charity end and
class legislation begins. We ourselves
have never been an advocate for a too lib
eral construction of the clause; and hence
have always opposed the policy of pro
hibitory tariffs on foreign manufactures
to create a monopoly at the expense Of
the people, devised by the advocates o.
the miscalled American System,
clothed in the clap-trap phraseology o.
protection to American industry"
The exemption policy to railroads il
this State (naugurated long before tn,
carpet-bag infiction) has secured the
construction of several lines with their
attendant benefits. With the exception
of the Mobile and Ohio railroad, which
claims perpetual exemption, and the roac
traversing the southern extremity of the
State, from Mobile to New Orleans, tn,
railroad companies are now contributing
largely In the way of taxes to the supper
OF our State and county governments, al
OF right they ought to do. Judging tn.
vaiue OF their property by its income, We