The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-05-11
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For the EAGLE.
The New Tax Law.
ATTICA, MAY 2,

ATTIcA, May 2, 1876.
ED. EAGLE In last weeks issue OF
of the EAGLE there appears an article
written by the Gentleman from Dog
| Creek Farmer Doolittle-in which
he criticises, ridicules and belittles
generally, the action of the late Legis-
lature for passing general tax law
that we believe to be much better, in
many particulars, than the old law.
Now, the well known ability of Farm
err D. TO handle the great questions OF
the day such as "breaking kicking
cow" and testing the speed of '.jack
rabbit" etc, etc, is SO well known
that few persons would care to take
issue with him on any subject. But
his comments on this law prove con-
clusively that his mind was wandering
on some of these great questions, y
and he overlooked the important fea-
lures of the law entirely. And here
let me say that | do not wish to be un-
derstood as defending the late Legis-
lature generally, but in this case we
believe this law to be founded upon
"truth, justice and right
The following resolution was the
foundation of the law, and passed by
unanimous vote of the House:
Whereas, The present system of tax
alton is unjust, unequal and wrong !;
and
Whereas, The lower the valuation Of
property the higher the rate per cent.
must be; therefore be it
Resotced. That hereafter all species
of property, moneys aud effects shall
be valued at their cash value; and no
property of any kind shall be exempt
from taxation, unless expressly pro-
vided for the by the constitution.
We have all been in the habit of val.
uing our property al one-third or one
half its true value. Now, | submit is
this right? is it economy? is it just
1t Is not right because it is false; it is
not economy because we do not save
farthing by it it is not just 10 our
selves because we are asked daily by
eastern men, ''what amount of taxes
do you pay?" Now, can you answer
this question truthfully without pro-
ducing blush on your cheek. Six,
seven, eight, mne and ten per cent.
tax in this new country. What is the
result? You drive many of the
wealthy away; they leave the east to
get rid of heavy taxes, but when you
tell them what you pay here, they find
the rate per cent. higher than in the
east. They do not stop to enquire
whether your property is valued at
third or half or at its cash value.
Thus we are made to suffer from this
false basis of taxation.
Now suppose, Farmer D., that you
have $500 worth of property; under
the old system it would be valued at
500. Now the rate per cent. must be
three times what it should be in order
to raise the required amount of reve-
nue., for our county must raise SO much
money by taxation. Now, let us see
difference between the old system and
the new:
$500 worth of property valued at 4 its cash
value (Sl00) taxes per cent. ........ S. 800
$500 worth OF property valued Mt "a ifs.cash
value, tsl50) taxes 6per cent. ......... SO. 90
$500 worth of property at its actual value (S3G3
90
Which do you prefer, plain state
ment of facts that cost you 5000, or a
fixed up job without facts that cost
you 5000? Is there any injustice to
the farmer or mechanic In this system
Of taxation? Again, it increases the |
valuation and taxes nearly
Is this injustice to the farm
sr and mechanic
As to the amount of forfeit for nom
payment OF taxes and all delays by in
unctions or other schemes of corpora
ions, the farmers in the Legislature
insisted on fifty per cent. penalty, in
stead of twenty-five. And let me ask
again, in what manner does this law
discriminate against the farmer? If
farmer ID. can borrow money from
Jorbin & Co., away down below twen-
y-fve per cent, why not borrow of
hem and save the twenty-five or fifty
yer cent. forfeit.
Now, as to the dog law, L know moth
ng about it, and have nothing to say.
But when we find that all the taxes de-
lived from this law goes into the gen.
raj school fund, l was satisfied that
10 one could be injured very material
Y by it, unless he kept general dog
ry and nothing else. For every dol
ir that you pay as dog tax, You save a
ollar on school tax. /,
| met the author of this bill, Col.
lallowell, few days ago, and asked {
i'm TO explain it to me. His answer {
yas that the original bill was so {
hanged that he did not claim the au- {
lorship, and could not explain.
Now, Mr.. Editor. in conclusion let t
lie say to Bro. Doolittle and all others t
-ho are finding fault with the tax law I
sad and study it, and when your as e
,ssor calls to assess your property let /
ach and every man in the county and i
tate value his property at its cash 9
llue, then if your taxes are higher 9
ian they were last year Oh the same n
-operty. call on me and will pay you !.
e difference.
Your obedient servant, q
JNO. KELLY.