The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-02-22
MIR. ALIENS TAX BILL.

ave have received a copy of Senator Aliens
bill to 'Equalize Taxation This bill has
some good iea ures, the best of which is that it
| would make every man pay taxes upon what he
| Is worth actually III zeal and personal property
| In this valuation is included mortgages, money,
| Nc. Under 1t oil must 20 up TO he taxed each
year to the proper officers state his possessions
| and Indebtedness with minuleness, aud make
oath to the same The measure, however, is
| impracticable and Objectionable because of the
machinery requisite TO carry out its provisions,
and the exposure of mems private business af-
| fairs attendant upon the ascertainment of the
necessary data to u correct assessment in each
case"
Mr. Allen makes the following reply to the
above criticism of his bill by the Kent Ne"s:
ANNAPoI Is, Md. Feb. 10, 1884.
Editor Kent NewS:
DEAR SIR: am obliged to you for copy Of
your excellent paper. ] find In 1t a notice of my
impractcable because of The machinery neces-
sure of mems private business affairs attendant
upon the ascertainment of the necessary data to
n correct assessment In each case.
careful reading for the machinery necessary TO
carry out its provisions is so simple that not
single new office is created by 1t, and It's proyi.
sions are almost precisely the same that exist in
over thirty States of the Union, and the expert
of all the States justihes the retention OF the
law upon their statute books The only feature
in the bill that is new Is the enforcement Tax"
and mortgages and annuities are taxed in this way
In order TO let all start afresh with clean slate;
this form OF taxing such property enabling those
who now owe mortgages and annuities TO escape
the operation of that clause in their mortgages
and leases, by which they are bound to pay all
taxes and public dues that may be levied upon
them
You make mistake, too, when you say that
the bill requires all persons to Ego up to be
taxed" by which suppose you mean that all
property owners must personally appear before
the commissioners of county, or the Appeal
Va ri i'm Ha " -
of property.
The bin does not require this The lists are to
be made out by the parties owning property AT
their own homes. Your objection that the bill
requires the exposure of mems private affairs,
has no force, because IL requires no such Ting, 1t
expressly states that no person shall be required
to give la his list any debt that he may owe, but
If he wants his debts deducted from his assess
ment so that he may only be taxed on what he Is
actually WORTH" of course he must state these
debts in order TO have the deduction made.
Now, sir, the bin is long because IL Is necessary,
in all laws in order To avoid complications and
erroneous rulings, to be specific in describing
the duties of officers charged with its execution
but 1t il not half as long as the law OF 1876 Chap
go under which the last general assessment was
made. The objections made In your paper are
based upon an imperfect knowledge of the bill
itself, and also upon an imperfect comprehen-
sion of what is due to the people of the State In
the matter of taxation. Are we still to be taxed
on from double to four or Ave times our actual
worth in real and personal property forever, be-
cause poi tion OF the people choose to call law
that is as plain and simple as one can be made, TO
erect the equalization OF taxation, complicated
and in other ways Objectionable. where the OBJ
jections which they state have no existence?
Blanks are TO be provided, 1t is done by an officer
now existing; seals are to be provided, it Is done
by an officer now paid by the state, and he is
given nothing for providing the seals. The seals
are to be used in stamping the records it is done
by an officer now existing and he is paid nothing
more than is now paid for collecting other taxes
The blanks are to he delivered to property own
ers; it is done by the same officers that are now
appointed to collect taxes.
Nothing could be simpler, nothing could be more
etfectual, nothing could be more in accordance
both with justice and the rights of the people
that would not require all personal property to
be listed for taxation every year for this class OF
property Is constantly changing ownership AS
well as constant, varying in amount IN the
hands of each Individual.
| congratulate you, sir, on beng Ttch, which
know is 'he only by the fact that | have
found no man opposed to this bill of mine except
the Tch, and every one of the rich men have
seen up to this time denounccs this bill.
Very Respectfully,
l.. NJ. ALLEN.