The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-01-10
AnoUT TAxEs


Tax-Payer Replies to the NeMs and
Makes Some Good Suggestions.
EIToRs NEys:-In your issue of the
3ri inst. You wrote at some length In
reference 10 our taxes, and gave us
some very interesting figures and made
some well timed Suggestions; AID yet
thereis something in appearance in the
article that think has a tendency TO
discourage strangers unless It Is proper
| ly explained
There are two principles at work in
the county that conflict with each other
The purpose of one appears TO be TO
elevate in society circles, and the other
10 shun taxatIon.
l have not the tine, neither do feel
capable u do the subject justice, but
there could be volume probably writ
ten 10 This state on the subject of taxa
ton
Partly 10 reply TO your article aud
in some respects explanatory OF ii, will
venture few su gssiions In the first
place, do not think paying high local
taxes eyer made community poorer if
the money IS properly aud judicIously
expended. lock at it from business
stand point A man may (as many one
has,, get Iich by borrowing money at
fifteen or even twenty five per cent to
invest 10 calves. while thousands of men
have broken up borrowing money OF SIX
per cent. TO build fine houses, to buy
fne carriages, and TO pay for what are
known as society luxuries. think tax
ation, properly managed. is The most
convenient process We have ofdiatribut-
ing our surplus, as there ia no other pro-
cess that gives the poor a batter chance
to honestly get possession of part Of
the surplus Of the rich as by our system
Of taxation. II is simply convenient
way Of distributing accumuIations. and
the amount VIC pay does not make the
country or community at large any
poorer.
The influences abroad aad the preju-
dice Uri Justly created IN the minds of
those hunting homt S, on account of the
apparent large per cent. We pay, is what
I lost obj~ci {, in ynur article, and 9TH
er Previous sIticl s. All our business
m knnw that wnen our county clerk |
Ii multiply Ing eur assessment by five TO |
anL Tue an unI of taxes we must pay, |
thai # he was multiplying the amount |
we would and could sell out for, that the |
mTluplycr need not be more than |
two 20 get at the amount due |
from Us. Thea way not assets |
have known instances in this county
WAR, men applied to the board Of equal |
iZarion-ti have their assessments on |
nr farms reduced below $500 when |
they coald sell out for $4,000 before the |
hoard world pass on their application
The ASSESSOR lists u business hou.e ut |
50 800, aud the owner gives it II the |
agent to sell at $4,000 The assessor
lists that buggy horse of yours at $50. |
when you have refused $500 for him |
Remedy the par cent. by true valua-
tIou, rs the law directs and the officer |
swear5 30 do. And my suggestion as
remedy Tor the unequal high tax Of the
city is that The mayer and city council
e;onomlZe a lItle closer in some things,
ami that taey throw the corporate lines
around every addition and subdivision
now laid OIL, in lots adjacent to the city.
and follow it up as fast as they make
additions, if it is extended until It takes
in Americas and Plymouth. (See artI-
4
to cities Of The second class Having
all the benefits of city and paying
nothing for 1t is simply loafing, then GO
Ing home with some one ter dinner.
TAX PAYER.