The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1883-11-29
TIE TAXES THEY PAY.

We reprint below, in full, an article
from the Elmira Sunday Morning
Telegram, because we believe it is
time for every thinking man in this
country to promote, Is far as he may
he able, the agitation Of this question
OF equal taxation, The fact, indeed.
must be patent to all intelligent per-
sons that the rich men of this country,
whether it be through want Of moral
convictions or by reason of favorable
aud unequal legislation their rich lob
bies have corIuptly secured, succeed
in avoiding the payment of their just
proportion Of taxes, while the poor
are assessed to the last penny on
their little possessions accumulated,
generally .:by honest hard labor. Re-
form certainly is demanded, and the
only way to accomplish tits by means
of an intelligent agitation. Let it
begin at once.
William Il, Wand is supposed
to be worth $500 600, 900. A man sat-
islied to realize six per cent. on his
capital, would receive from this an H.
come of Sl2 .00J. 600, yearly. He paid
| in New York, last year, according to
the official list. a tax OF $s48, 500. Will
| liam X. Vanderbilt, according to
| his father account, has III six years
| increased his capital OF SIS 100000 to
$$11 900, 900 by successful stock gam
bling. I've paid !. tax of ST 1915. JAY
Gouid's reputation for wealth is of
the Monte Cristo character. Single
speculations are supposed to net him
millions Of Profit. He swallows rail.
roads and telegraph lines with the IA
cilisy of an anaconda, and makes his
stock grow Ike flowers by watering.
lie paid II tax Of 81, 800. Cyrus W.
Field, whose profits on the elevated
roads alone is counted up to $o.O0O.OUO
OF $4,000 600, paid tax of Sa9,SOo.
Mr.. De Nevarro paid $4, 500. ID. O..
Mills paid go, $50. Russell Sage, who
mounts into the $50, O00, 900 list, paid
SIS. AGO. Chales j. Osborne throws
81. 400 to the tax collector. James
Keene paid 80, 800, and henry Willard,
who. it is said, spent $s250,000 on a
junketing party, contributed $500
towards the public burdens.
Now these in themselves are all
large sums paid in taxes, but it is
very doubtful if they represent what
honestly ought to be paid when the
great wealth of the parties is taken
into actual consideration. The truth
is that rich mcn-fo not pay their due
or proper proportion of taxes-or at
least, what they fairly should or are
able TO. They manage by sharp prac-
tice 20 evaae the -gatherers, shift
ing the bulk of the burdens upon
those not 80 fortunate in this world s
goods, and therefore much less able
to pay. A mechanic, with only a
house and lot, is taxed to the full ex-
tent. A farmer is also made to con-
tribute bis full share to the expenses
of the town, state and national COVER.
ment, aad in many instances he pays
far more than l!e should, for in cases
where his lard is mortgaged he has
to pay interest on the sum borrowed,
while all the taxes fall on him. In
Justice, the rich man or mOney-lender
who holds the mortgage should be
taxed on it. as it represents so much
wealth to him, but this is not done.
The poor farmer has to stand it all.
This is all wrong. 1t is in fact one of
the evils that cannot be reformed any
too soon. We are pleased to see an
agitation upon the subject that may
be fruitfuD Of good results.