Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-06-07
Farm Taxes.

Il
From every direction comes the com
plaint that taxes are high. The expen
sea Of the war, which ended a dozel
years since, are being slowly paid, an,
the harden Is felt with great preseur
just as we are getting down to q speei
basis. Farmes are especially accuse,
of being loud in their omplaints
Whether the accusation is just or no
we do not know, but we do know tina
their money is earned by hard toll
and comes In mainly by driblets. W.
do not wonder, therefore, that they
pay it out, carefully, and feel galleC
when they know that some of thei
tax-money goes for the support of sin
ecurs officials in Custom houses, .ant
idle, or incOm petent officers in othel
departments OF the Government.
this is not small one, that has jus'
cause for complaint and . righteou:
claim for an abatement OF their taxes.
We refer, to those whose farms are
mortgaged, and who are compelled to
pay the same tax as though they held
their lands in fee simple We, are moi
in the number Of those who begrudge
all money paid to the, publican, and
think that putting money into his
hands Is like putting water into a
sieve from which there Is no return.
For most of our tax money we receive
an equivalent in good schools, good
roads, rfotectionl oi our persons and
property, and the general welfare Of
society. o On the whole, probably no
money which we, pay out makes so
good return as that which goes inte
the hands of the collector; bat where Is
the justice of making the landlord pay
taxes on lands which he does not own?
He may be the nominal owner, but II
mortgaged, the title Is in the mortgeee,
aud the latter has the notes and bonds
on which, If an honest man, he pays
taxes, 80 that tine mortgaged farms are
twice taxed, once as real estate by the
nortgagor, and again as personal prop
erty by the mortgage. Ma man buys
a farm for 81, 900, paying 81 900 down
aud mortgaging the property as securi-
ty for the balance, be has reason to
complain when the Government asks
him 10 pay taxes on the whole. All
should pay its proportionate
share of the expenses OF Government,
but it does not follow that the nominal
owner of morteaged property should
pay for more than he really possesses, ),
as the mortgage Is liable TO
taxation Tor the notes or bonds which
ne holds secured by the mortgage. We
say liable, for We are not so green as to
suppose that every MORTGAGE Is So
honest as to return to the assessors all
his money at interest. There Is q little
human nature left on the earth still,
and though 1t may not be totally de-
praved after the fashion preached by
some OF the old Puritan divines, II Is
not educated up to the point of perfect
honesty In the matter of taxation.
There II something about the profess
non Of money lenders which leads
hem to adopt as the chief end Of man,
TO keep what you've got and get
what you can" There are some noble
exceptions to this remark. We have
known some dealers in money who
we're as honorable, high toned, and1
LIBERAL men as can be found in any
,sliing; but these same men wers ready
o scknowiedge that they had to strug-
lie against the inclination to hoard.
fhe cent upon cent business would
make Shyl0cks Of them II they did not
'esist the tendency OF their trade. i
This fnstter of double taxation on
real estate has, received a |
borough ventilation In the Mxssschu-I |
etts Lex islature during its recent ses-
ion, and although It's patent injustice |
vas acknowledged by all there we're !
ONE difilculties about Q reformation
q the law. snd no definite action was
aiken. Farmers, and I'll mortgagedE |
eal estate holders should keep this sub |
sct sefose ithe people till Justice is |
|oue them! lt wss objected to the
'roposed reform to the law Of Msssa-