The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-08-20
THE INCONVENIENCE OF EQUAL
TAXATION.

In the National Greenback party
platform of the State OF New York, We
ind the following plank.
4. Equal taxation of all property owned by
individuals and corporations.
This is bit of political humbug
which sounds well, aud is talking"
with those who do not stop to think
clearly; but which is really one of the
worst iallacies ever put forward by
demagogues. As political principle
it has never been carried into practice
by any civilized Government, and new
or will be; and il has never been the
real sentiment OF the intelligent men Of
any political party, and never will be.
The equal taxation of all property is
both unreasonable and impracticable.
III il we're enacted into law. then the
taxes OF the farmers would be ipcreas-
ed. and the taxes OF National banks be
diminished; for the statistics OF every
State and every Nation show that banks
pay heavies taxes than farms. Whisky
and tobacco are taxed more than wheat
and potatoes. Diamonds, jewelry and
plate are taxed q heavies tariff; while
many other things are on the free list.
The Internal Revenue taxes OF the
United States fall on only a few arti-
cles. In fact there are many political
economists, and their number is con-
stantly growing, who believe that the
best form Of taxation is 10 tax only a
few articles, as few as possible, let all
others go free. In the State of MichI-
gan, the time is not far of when all the
State taxes may easily be raised, II
proper laws are enacted, from what are
called specific taxes, which fall or only
a few kinds of property aud corpora
tions, such as mines, railroads, banks,
express, insurance, telegraph, and 9TH
er companies. Municipal and local tax
alton will have to be levied upon gen.
eral property, because special property
OF the sort liable TO specific taxation IL
not universally distributed. OF all
forms of taxstion, indirect taxation, on
a few articles, is the easiest for the peo-
pie 10 bear. 1t is also one TO the fair
est, because each person pays the tax
III proportion 10 the amount OF taxed
articles he consumes-that Is, III pro-
portion 10 the use aud value OF the tax
ed articles TO him. Thus, il a man buys
whisky, he pays the heavy tax on whis-
Ky in the price, without knowing or
feeling il. II he doesn't buy whisky
he doesn't pay tax on IL, except as oil
taxes affect the general market and
general veal. Equal taxation OF all
property would take the heavy taxes of
whisky and put them on land. Equal
taxation of all property is impossible.
because there are many forms OF porp-
erty which cannot be equally got at by
the tax laws. For instance, II a farm,
or building. worth Sl0, 900, is mortgag-
ed for sl0, 900, then in most States both
the farm and the mortgage are taxed.
There is really only $4,000 worth OF
property: but this $4,000 worth OF
property pays twice as much taxes as
$4,000 adjoining farm which is not
moitgaged. Bat jewelry, notes, and
various forms OF property may be con-
cealed from the assessor, and large am
cunts of portable property always do
escape taxation in this way. Then one
man has a salary of g, 900 year, which
he spends as fast as il is earned, and
owns no property. Another man has
an income of g, 900 year, OF which he
saves half and invests in property.
They are equally well off; but one who
saves and owns property pays taxes on
the property. while the spendthrif has
nothing TO tax. Suppose you have an
income tax. Still the one who saves,
pays both and income tax aud tax on
property, while the spendthrift only
pays the income tax. Tax reform il
one OF the things which this country
needs 10 carefully study; but it is diff
cult subject; and real reform does not
lie in the direction Of equal taxation OF
all property, bat rather in the opposite
direction-in such unequal taxation OF
some kinds Of property as will most
equally distribute the burden Of taxa
tion according 20 the benefits received.
aud the easiest collected, most lightly
felt by the people. best for the busi-
ness, political, moral and social inter
ests OF the country. and all things con-
sidered the most just and benehcial.-
Evening Telegraph.