The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-01-15
A CORRESPONDENTS TALK ON
TAXATION.
To THE FDIToR OF THE Prior.


Every one in the city who has suffered
from excessive taxation, or who has con-
trived, though possessing considerable
property to make an Indifferent showing
on the treasurer list, has read the series
of articles by O. Moses with considerable
interest. Every owner of house and
lot in the city of Manitowoc will bear
testimony to the fact that his property
at least, pays as high a rate of taxation
as his most inyeterate enemy could i'm
pose st the same time he cannot deny
upon comparing the aggregate value of
city personal property as returned by the
city assessor, with the personal property
of such towns as Schleswig, Meme and
Cato, that the assessor of the city of Man
itowoc errs on I. the side of undertaking
values or that the assessors Of the towns
named are eXtrayagant in their estima-
lion. The personal property of each of
the towns named is valued By the official
reports at one-third of the value placed
upon that of the city. do not know
to what extent the local board increased
the valuation Of the personal property of
the city, but the assessment committee
of the county board raised it almost
$500, 900, making almost double what
was reported by the assessor. IF the To-
cal board did not change the values plac-
ed upon property by the assessor, those
persons who were conscientious in list
ing their property, are forced to pay
double taxes because of an ineGuitable
assessment. Such being the case the
question arises-is not an assessor pos
tive injury to the majority of small
property holders? Does not such an As
sessment place the city in the position
of fraudulently attempting to escape its
share Of the taxes levied upon the county.
Until this year there was considerable
property in the city legally taxable which
was never listed. Among this class were
lawyers libraries. Parlor furniture still
escapes though representing considerable
value. Why is not the poor mans COW
exempt? Why should the rich mans
costly furniture escape? Each is a
species of property not exempt by law
and the unjust discrimination should
not / made.
The board of review did good work
this year and the lower rate of taxation
among the poorer classes is the result of
an increased valuation of the property of
the wealthier classes. But a great num-
Der of persons having money ON deposit
in banks, or loaned to other parties
escaped taxation because of their facility
in swearing to their comparative power
ty. The board of review are not bound
by the oath of any person who swears to
the value of his property. The law
reads: "And if the board shall be salts
fled of the truth of such statement, they
shall take the valuation so fixed by him
as the true aggregate valuation of his
personal property" It is certain that
there are many persons in the city known
to have money at interest who do not pay
one cent of taxes thereon. An interested
persons oath should have no effect in
contradiction of notorious fact. Per-
sons who under such circumstances are
satisfied with an oath are too credulous
to serve the public They ore too limo
cent to deal with sharp men whose con-
science will carry load in order to save
money.
1t is said that taxation is avoided by
converting personal property into green
backs on the LIST day of May. IF this can
be done legally, then the greenback par
ty can win converts inuumerable by
pointing out means of escaping taxa
tiCn. Let greenbacks be issued until
they represent value equal to the ag-
gregate value of the property of the
United States, and every man can con-
vert his property on the LIST day of May
into greenbacks and then defy the tax
collector. a land uncursed by taxes is a
Utopia which We should hasten TO create
[ can hardly believe that this means Of
avoidance was successful with the board
of review, but have had no opportunity
of determining the fact. Perhaps 1 shall
have something more to say upon this
subject.
0. Moses has proved blessing to the
county and to the city by directing atten-
ton to matters that have been neglected
Those whose corns have been trod upon
have nc love for him. But he has ap-
peared as the champion Of the people,
whose interests have been too frequently
sacrificed by those in power. MAX.
OFT d A