The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-12-20
SOMETHING THAT RAISES BILE
ON THE TAXPAYERS LIVER.

Now, then, since tie city Treasurer
has thrown open his little books to the
admiration Of the tax-paying public, it
appears that all who look into them are
not happy. They begin to realize the
spirit of innumerable self evident truths
that come home to the heart like the
odor OF genuine Limburger.
Among other things there is a faint
realization of the fact that it is crime
to own a homestead. It is the height
Of crime to have this homestead look
like the half way decent habitation of
a civilized human being, and in accor-
dance these crimes are arraignei, adj
judged, and summarily punished bv the
= assessor. 1t is a crime to sprout up
out of the republican simplicity of a
shanty and seek comfort under single
roof it is q criminal offense to put
coat of paint on your house; a crime to
have blinds to your window and q knob
on your door, A fence enclosing your
premises, especially if kept neat in
paint and repairs, is a misdemeanor in
the judgment of the segacious assessor
and calls for summary punishment in
his bill of costs and fines. Every shade
tree i'll front Of your premises impeding
the pasturage of cattle and swine is an
denomination to the eye of your respect
able assessor every shrub in your gar
den, every plant bordering its walks, in
fact, all and everything that conveys the
impression of taste or refinement is
thorn to the flesh of the man, who with
book and pencil in hand, goes about in
the merry spring time to note down
such crimes as the ones here passingly
touched upon. It is rated high crime
and misdemeanor to contribut in any
manner towards giving your homestead,
your street, your ward, your city, the
semblance of beauty or responsibility.
There is premium on living in a hovel,
and in the sweet companionship of swine.
With your cow-shed and pig-sty in
substitution for bay windows projecting
from your sitting room or parlor. the
assessors heart melts into pity and he
passes you without even asking on how
many farm mortgages you are enabled
to exc out SO idyllic an existence. With
all these complicated wheels whirling
about in ones Uranium is it a wonder
when you stop to ask yourself as did
Bill Nye:
Do wake ? Do dream?
Is visions about -
Are things what they seem,
Or is civilization played out ?
There's no comfort in getting stuck in
the mire of ponderation, SO let's look at
the sober side of things. The man that
seeks home for his family, pursuit. of
business and an investment for his CAPT
tai, seeks out locality where health,
comfort, beauty, and prosperity COM
bine to make life agreeable. When he
fails finding these conditions, prospect
i've or in fact, it is reasonably certain he
will tnrn away Until he does find place
that will answer his wants in some, if
net all of these primary essentials
Now are we encouraging the growth of
our city and its industries by the award
of o premium on the semblance of pow
erty and dirt? Would it not be wise to
levy our taxes only on the soil upon
which or homesteads are located and
pay no attention to improvements, dwell
lings, gardens, plants, shrubbery, and
trees that go to give the city a beautiful
and prosperous appearance This pun
ishment of q commemorate virtue in
those who think enough of their homes
to make them beautiful, is in the opin-
ion Of many, morally wrong and ought
to be abandoned. Tax every lot through
out every block alike and let the owners
build on and improve them according to
means and taste. Many of our citizens
dare not do anything in the way of pro
yiding comfortable habita tians Tor their
families for fear of crushing themselves
beneath the assessors list of costs AMI
fines. The man who can rent home
for almost the same amount of money
an own home would cost him in taxes,
insurance and repairs, is certainly fool
ish-taking the dollar and cents view of
the case-to invest any amount in capital,
that bears no interest. These sugges-
tons are merely strewn at random, and
with a view of bringing them to the at
tention of til e readers of the TRIBUNE.
Where many think, there is a probable
ity some thing good may come to light,
which in the end may point out a way
by which final solution of this ques-
ton may be reached. 10 contribute to
the comfort Of ones family; the I'M
provement of the locality in viii ch he
resides. the appearance Of the city
ought to be recognized as a noble trait
in the character of every citizen and not
punished as q crime. Under our pres
ent barbarous system we are only giving
aid and encouragement to men who live
in rookerys and pass their means outside
Of our city limits for higher interests.
How it is, that the leyying OF taxes
under our present law, appears to many
refined species of highway robbery
Will be the text OF q few more femarks
] may have to offer in next weeks issue.
SCRIB.
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