The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-07-05
INEQUALITY OF TAXATION AND IN
COMES.

especially upon farmers and others, for sew
eral years past and is becoming more oppres
sve daily until the disparity has elected frequent
complaints, calling loudly for redress. 1t is a
well-known fact that many of our farmers and
owners of property in Baltimore county are now
paying taxes valuations assessed upon their
estates several years ago when everything was in
fated, when the currency of the country de-
ranged, when gold was at an enormous premium
under non-specie payment, or in other words when
it required double the amount in greenbacks to pay
for farm than would be accepted now in gOld.-
Hence we see taxeslevied under the high-pressure,
imitation system are still, in many instances, con-
tinued, whilst the producer cannot realize one
half the price for his products. This makes a
very serious discrepancy againsth him, not only un-
fair but oppressive. 1t is indeed out of all pro-
portion with the existing real state of things.
The new assessment with us was made in 1876
since the period of inflated values-yet find
it very unequal in great many instances and
Palpably excessive. By the constitution of
1867 salaries of elective officers in the county
were materially increased, Notwithstanding the
fact that everything else has been necessitated to
suit itself to the times, whilst those advanced sal
aries remain the same. The salaries Of subordi-
nate clerks, which were raised at about the
same time, still remain unchanged or as then
fixed For the sake of illustration we will suppose
farmer has ten or fifteen thousand dollars in
vested in farm, with which, as his substantial
capital it requires all his energies, toll, expenses
aud risks, considering the low price of produce
when ready for market, to realize more than a
moderate living or make both ends meet. As an
offset to this we see the official, under political
favorjtism-with not even a penny of invested
capital and no risk-getting much larger income
really than the farmer who has so much at stake
and often pressing anxiety, on account of prOvi-
Dental and other interferances, whether not his
crops may prove failure.
There is scarcely any branch of business or any
occupation that pays so well as that of a clerk or
Jsl''c employee at present high salaries. 1t is
o surprising then to find many persons anx-
to fill these places whose comfortableincomes
paid by the heavily and oppressively taxed
iers and others now justly complaining of their
Let us hope our agricultural friends, constituting
as they do the true substance and means of public
support and progress, may find speedy relief in
CONSTANT equalization of all things. There is
no consistency reason in taxing the property of
men, whether agriculturists, merchants, profess
sional gentlemen or others outside its current
value as at present settled upon specie basis
Why, we ask, should there be corresponding tax
on an acre of land which brought twelve or fifteen
years ago one hundred hundred and fifty dol
lars which win not now command much beyond
half that price? There is no shadow of consisten-
cy in the demand and it ought at once to be REM
edied, relieving our people from the heavy burden
to which many of them have been and still
subjected. 1t is bad enough to pay interest on
mortgages or finally be compelled to adjust such
obligations given in period when the property
fasFtg=Eed Ut owsti for has shrunk vastly in it,
intrinsic value as compared with gold. 1t is SIM
ply being forced to pay gold dollars for what was
less than half their present WORTH and to get these
dollars now takes twice more of the farmers hard
earned products.
We are not surprised to find citizens of all parts
of the country assembling together in conventions
and other concerted meetings seeking relief from
such burthens. They wish to deal fairly, pay
their honest debts and submit to such taxation
only as justice requires but strenuously demur to
being oppressed, impoverished and perhance final
Iy bankrupted in submitting to what cannot be
borne without painful disaster or serious conse-
quences.
Let us hope this subject will receive careful
consideration from those who possess the power Of
extending relief. A community, State nation
cannot afford to have its people oppressed beyond
endurance without all participating in the evil of
its suffering.