The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-02-18
Attorney Generals Renlri

The FOLLOWING nre extrncts from AZ.

collected and paid into the State Treas
ury Sl33,TS0,01, leaving n balance still
due upon the same of Sl2-, ,S5l .73.to en-
forcelthe payment of which the neces
sary legal proceedings have been insti.
tuted. In addition TO the amount col.
lected upon claims certified to me in
1879 and 1880, payments were made up.
on claims OF former years, the total col.
lections amounting to S46J, ,7O5,Gi.
In regard to the inequality of taxation
the Attorney General says that the feel.
ing,is so strong that assessors are unable
to do their duty. They deliberately and
openly return the property to one third
or one-fourth its cash value. Mortgages
and money at interest are neither re.
turned by the owner nor assessor, by a
sort OF tacit general understanding. and
all except a small fraction escape taxa.
ton altogether.
Such evasions of the law are the rule
and not the exception. Assessors who
attempted to perform their plain sworn
duty would be visited with stormy indig-
nation. Because the laws are felt to be
grossly inequitable, unequal and unjust,
the people agree together to disregard
and disobey them. Great diversity OF
practice exists in the different counties
as to the enforcement of the Tax laws,
and wide difference of opinion as to theil
proper Interpretation. Persistent effort
on the part of the Auditor-G General to
secure uniformity has not met with sue.
cess. With such q HETEROGENEOUS mass
OF ill-assorted. mismatched patches there
is cause for wonder that county of
ticials are enabled to perform their duty
at all.
In many States manufacturing and
mining enterprises are fostered and en-
| couraged by liberal exemption from tax
alton tor long term of years In 9th
ers no tax is demanded unless profits are
made out OF the business. In Pennsyl-
vania, though such undertakings are the
verv lifeblood of her prosperity, the for
bidding hand of local and State taxation
smites all corporate enterprise with four
told vigor and drives capital away from
our door and beyond our borders to en-
rich the stranger and beautify the stran-
gers land.
Such legislation is absurdly unwiso
and supremely unjust. The remedy is
plain. 1t may he found in two words ::
uniformity, equality Clear away the
whole cumbersome, unwieldy, expensive
and inefficient system of collectors and
mercantile appraisers, the latter costing
The State in various forms, upwards of
S14O,0OO annually Make every citizen
his own assessor and appraiser, Let
him under oath and penalty, annually
return through the township assessor to
the county treasurer an estimate and
valuation OF his real estate, deducting in
cumbrances, and of his personal estate.
including every asset of whatsoever ma
ture, stocks, bonds, money at interest.
debts due him, deducting only Just debts
owing. NOT liens on land, and also re
turn the business in which engaged,
with an estimate of its extent. Make it
misdemeanor to refuse or neglect to
make such return or to make false re-
turn. Require no inquisitorial or disa-
greeable detail, but o general estimate
of value. Men do not, rs a general rule.
underestimate their own possessions
Very few would chance the pains and
penalties OF perjury to save few dollars
OF taxes Let tile authorities leyying
taxes annually, at stated time, inform
the treasurer of their needs. Let him
prepare his duplicate, attend in every
town and township, on stated day and
place, to receive all the tax, abating for
prompt payment, adding for delay. Give
the county court power to exonerate un-
collectable tax, Let the state ITeasure,
he furnished with the aggregate of each
countys valuation, and assess the nee
essary State tax accordingly, directly up
on each county, according to its valua-
ton, give the counties all taxes, licenses,
rates and assessments of whatsoever ma
ture and apportion the State tax as
well upon the number of licenses, mer-
camille and other occupations, as to the |
value OF the property in each county
give the State Board of Revision power
to levy a large rate on oounues in which |
they are satisfied a Just return Is not
made to the extent of equalizing tax.
The principle TO be enforced is equality
and uniformity. There can be no logical
or just reason for taxing associated capi-
tai engaged in mining or manufacturing
at a higher rate than individual capital, |
while many reasons may be urged against |
it. The only additional burden to be
laid upon such capital should be an an
nual tax Tor the privilege OF exemption |
from individual liability. All other
taxes should be imposed on the property |
itself, whether real or personal, owned !
by the oorporation,and at the same rate
as though owned by individuals.
The anti Cameron War wakes sterner