The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-03
OUR SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT.

To Judge ycompar;son, there remains
no doubt but that our present mode of
assessing real and personal property Tor
the purpose of taxation is nothing short
OF highway robbery. It's wort feature
becomes apparent IL the fact that it's de-
mobilization spreads like an endemic,
co,rupting and tainting IS it spreads
Every owner of property, is, in sheer
self-defense, compelled to become liar
and perjurer-a pirate, who wrongs,
cheats, defrauds, and steals from his
neighbor whenever an opportunity is
afforded. In our boosted land of equal
rights, and equality, we have no equal
rights before the law. In the payment
of taxes every citizen strives to saddle
his obligations upon his neighbors, and
it appears the wealthy succeed best in
shifting their lurdens upon the poorer
classes. Is it not marvel our states
men-God save the mark-of to-day de-
vote all their time, energy and thought
to the splitting of hairs on currency and
the reconciliation Of silver, while a
system of bare-faced robbery feeds and
fattens on the vitals of every household
in the land? Searching for insects on
the foliage while the trunk is rotting and
decomposing at the core? This fraud
npon our taxpayers-andi it may be said
every man of them is &c scoundrel because
his neighbor is one-is so patent and
public that it is hardly worth while to
cite any particular instance. There isn't
an assessment on our present tax list,
not one, upon whose Partially the entire
collection OF taxes could not be staid if
brought up before the supreme court of
our state. There is property in our city
own by A. worth at its least figure
81 900. 4. pays taxes on $3.50 b.
ownes property he would under no cir
cumstances turn over for less than 81, COO
and he pays taxes on $4,000.
This assessment makes a. present
of $3.50 and B. a present of $4,000
Now where is your boosted equality be-
fore the law. There are innumerable
cases on record where the owners of
SO, GOO worth of property pay less than
other parties who are worth but 81, 900.
Is this justice and equality? The law
prescribing the modus Operand5 by
which taxes should be levied and col
lected, clearly contemplates, that every
S100 in property owned by the citizens
OF this state shall pay q certain percent
age toward defraying the expenditures
of our State Government, to which cities,
villages, towns and counties add an adj
ditional percentage for covering the
expenses of their respective municipal
tiles The man who lies to the assessor
in stating the number OF one hundred
dollars he Is the possessor of in property
or money subject to such assessment, is
a thief, who not only steals from the
state but is also a swindler who saddles
his share of taxes upon his neighbors
It is pretty safe to assume that if every
such swindler was ordered to leave onr
state inside Of twenty-four hours, there
would be nothing left of its glorious
population except tramps and paupers.
Now, what OF system SO demoralizing
and corrupting in its wholesale practice?
The root of this evil lies in the fact that
our assessors are the creatures Of Uotes.
They assess values by the weight and
plurality of votes and not by any other
proper standard of value. Every town
in this state makes up a regular ring for
itself for the purpose of defrauding the
state and these town rings combine in
our county boards to crowd down to-
gether on cities and villages. By the
innate virtue of these combinations it
crops up within the limits of what is
reasonably possible, that five farm
wagons count but as two on an assess
ment roll, and house assessed at $50
in this city is worth only S15 in Maple
Grove. With such enormities of down.
right crime staring us cheeky into
the face, it is not surprising that the
question OF equal taxation should begin
to occupy the attention of taxpayers
while the silver and currency bubble
engrosses the whole and entire attention
of the statesmen of to-day The evil is
apparent but what ought to be the
remedy Here is one, perhaps crude
in conception. but correct in principle
and application. Consign our present
creation Of vote assessors lump and
whole to oblivion. Let law be passed.
authorizing tile Governor of the State
to appoint an Assessor by and with the
consent of the Senate for the term of.
say ten years, such Assessor TO receive
tair salary per year, and If necessary,
be allowed an assistant Such assessor
to be on duty the whole wear round
and have free access to all public records
book accounts, inventories, ETC., and be
authorized to examine every holder OF
property under oath for the purpose of
ascertalning the amount of property
subject to taxation. Such county asses
soiS TO meet once every year for the
purpose of eGualzing the taxes for the
whole state and report to the Secretary
OF State: The assessment thus made
should be furnished in copies TO city
counci!S, village. town and county boards.
so that municipalities may be enabled
TO apportlon all other taxes according tc
tue assessment as made by the county
assessor. An assessor thus placed above
favor and political pressure can make a
Just and equitable assessment and fins