Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-01-29
MINING JOURNAL.
j. B. ODER, Editor.
FRosTBuRG, MD, JANUARY 90, 1881
INEQUALITIES or TAXA TON.

In his late message to the New
Yo.k Legislature Gov. Cornell calls
attention TO the ineqnaliti of tax
alton which prevail throughout that
State, based, OF cour'e, upon the
want CT I'M formity in the assessment
of property valuations. and especially
the invariable insufficiency of great
number of such estim ties. He ALEC
cites the vast amount of rersonal
properly which oes untaxed through
the neglect or inability of the asses
sors to reach 1T.
This evil is brought closer home by
the iecen. message of Mayor Latrobe
to the City Council of f'ltimore, who
complains that tie esq pc of property
from its legitimate burdens is of such
magnitude as to require further leg
islation' to prevent it.
But our assessment list here in AL.
legany county furnishes an exubet-
ance Of material for comment in this
connection. Indeed, We might come
right to Flostburg and see how gross.
ly the eff TT is made 10 escape taxa.
ton VIE: ever assessors are on the
wing. And it is always successful.
The man who has hundred doll ars
to make by depreciating his property
to The assessors generally has the time
at his command to give that matter
his undivided attention, while the
poor man, with few dollars at stake,
aluays loses the amount, both fol-
want Of time TO save it nd the recess
sity of supplying the Deficiencies in
CURED in inadequate assessments CT
the property Of those gentlemen who
secure attachments. The most dan
eerous feature OF this pr, ctite on the
part Of those who avail themselves OF
it is it's ten !enoy TO wipe out the
basis for taxation. Mayor Latrote
insists that on this account in Balti-
moro the "a ses.nent deci,, es i stead
of increases with the growing wealth
and prosperity Of he city," Certain.
ly; and it will grow worse every
year until assessora, like our courts,
are made nnapproachable by any in
huences wha, ever.
Last spring We had occasion 10
make sone remarks upon this subjec
in connection with our commissioners
reviea of corporation ssessT tents. II
was apparent then that vast body OF
rich property IN this county was in
adequately assessed and always had
Teen. The figures, we believe, were
eighty Improved, but not to the tx
tent warranted b. that emphatic
clause of the Declaration of Rights
which contends that "euery person in
the State, or persems no ding property
M.rein, ought to contribute his pro-
portion ofpublic taxes for the support
of the government. according TO his
actust uorth in real or personal prop
erty."
One CT tie worst consequences Of
cur system Of conducting the countys
business is that it produces high
rate of taxation, and the rate is all
that vast majority see, or ask for.
The basis is the germ and core of the
thing-tEat part which, along with
the expenses o! government, should
be kept at normal. market-valre
figure: tlen the rat: will never op-
press or burden anybody.
To assess Goa property, worth
million, at hat that sum is a terrific
injustice to the man whose thousand
dollar house is rate'l for taxable Fur
poses at fifteen hundred. To permit
MILLIONS Of personal property in in
struments CT inAexii ls value to es'
cape, and load the consequent lur-
dens Of Experimental protection upon
property huctuatlng with tie fortui.
tous exigeleies of demand and sup
ply, is high crime in the prevailing
economy. AS abuses of popular
rights these Will ultimately incur the
necessity of revolution and refirm,
Just as railroad determinations and
telegraphlc consultations are slowly
awaking tt e people to sense Of final
Feed Of checking the march OF cor.
poIate rover to sovereign monopoly.
The miners sent the companies last
week another very courteous circular