The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-08-24

bored long and arduously to induce the
Legislature to make some change in the
abominable tax-law of 1874. We tried
to procure an amendment to the effect
that whenever a party owning real-es-
tate could prove that he had failed to
pay his taxes because OF actual financial
inability to do so, and the property had
been forfeited to the state, that he should
have the right to redeem, within the
time fixed by law, by paying the tax,
costs, and teUelUe per ct interest, instead
Of twenty tour per ct. But the Legisla-
ture seemed to hold that an owner of
real estate is necessarily an enemy Of the
commonwealth, to be discouraged
and oppressed; that the highest privil-
eye of citizen is to pay taxes; that
poverty is crime that merits the
severest penalties; and that if a man
could not pay his taxes he ought to re-
joice if he is not sent to Jail or draft
ed into the chain gang.
Well; time works wonders. The St.
Paul Dispatch, which had not word OF
encouragement for US last winter, is be-
ginning to get those eyes, which it car
ries under its coat-tails, wide open and il
now says
Its all bosh to say that the taxes must be
collected. Every body admits it mo onesdis-
putes it. Neither is it profitable to 50 back and
and unjust. It is all true, but it is too late to
prevent what has been done. The question is
are the people to be plundered and robbed Of
their property which they have acquired by
hard labor, because they cannot pay costs and
penalties and two per cent. month ON an il
legal oppressive taxi Some do pay, and it il
unjust to extend mercy to those who do not
that Is the argument. Some men have money,
others have none; therefore the latter should
lose all they have. This is the argument in
another form.
It is not what one ought to do. No man car
pay two per cent month. The law requires
an impossibility. Apart from this, if these taS
laws are constitutional, then 1t is constitutional
for State to confiscate the property of every
man and woman within its borders. The Leg.
islature has no power to prescribe two penal.
ties for the same act. In the first place, til.
tax law subjects the land to sale, but allows t
the owner the right Of redemption. At tn.
same time, the penalty Of two per cent a month
| is annexed in order to defeat the possibility o.
redemption. 4 set Of human vultures, wht
| never invested an honest dollar in the State
never owned foot OF land, nor built house
nor broke an acre OF ground, swarm here t
buy up the peoples property at tax sales ant
to exact the last pound Of flesh in two per cen
a month. This is what the law is doing-con.
tiscating the property OF citizens for the bene1
Of non-residents.
The theory Of tax sales is that the State be-
comes entitled to hold the property as security
for the tax. A lot valued at q, 900, say, is "a
ken for q tax of 500 and sold and forfeited to a
nonresident Spectator. Is that not taking
private property without compensation? TIL.
property il not only subjected 10 forfeitur,
within period Of two or three years, but thu
penalty OF two per cent is annexed SO rs to in.
sure the forfeiture.
Such legislation is an outrage on justice
We hope to see the time when there will b.
brains and industry and honesty enough in tn
Legislature to overhaul the present ubiquitous
| and unjust system Of taxation, and to enact
law that will be effective to carry on the gov
eminent without robbing and bankruptin9 tn
| people.
Very well said.
What we want is n new party, to take
control Of the Legislature add simplii,
the processes of government and starv
ing out the tax-eaters.