The state journal., 1885-01-10
Legl. IatIon Ought to lie Equa5ized.

AtEAs ~ b6 hVuhtILen.
An examination Of the subjects of rev
enus and taxation induces the belief that
the time has arrived for the State to do
something to equalize the burden of tax
alton upon real and personal property.
1t is true the State imposes no di-
rect tax upon real estate, but it is
equally true that the species of pro.
perty in this Commonwealth furnishes
tour-tifths of all the revenue raised
within its borders. The figures are
indeed suggestive. AS far as ascer-
tanned it appears that for State, borough,
township, county, municipal, and all
other purposes, there is yearly raised by
taxation about $38, 000,0 900. OF this sum
real estate pays about $4,000, 900, and
personal property about So, 600, 600. One
would suppose from these figures that
the difference in value of the two species
of property would be in some proportion
to the difference in the amount each
contributes to the public revenues. The
facts, however, do not support such
supposition. The value of the paid
in capital of corporations largely below
the authorized capitaD is about 81, 200,
600, 900. The value of money at interest,
horses, carriages, watches, &c, amounts
to about $500, 600, 900, making as the total
value Of these forms of personally ST.
500, 000,0 Of course these figures are
very much below the actual value Of ali
the personal property in the Common
wealth, as the means for the valuation
of that form of wealth arc very imperfect,
and true appraisement, from the
nature of such property, is difficult
to obtain. The real estate in the Com.
monwealth, according to the latest re-
turns, is valued at 1900, 600, 600. The
difference, therefore, in the value of these
two kinds of property is only about
800, 0G0, 900, while one pays but s. 900,
600 in taxation, and the other pays $50,
600, 000 This is surely an unwarranta-
BILE and unjust discrimination, oppressive
to real estate, and giving personality an
exemption from the public burdens in
contravention of the spirit of the Consti-
tuition and natural equity. There is no
reason why the capital of the farmer
should be taxed tour times as
1t woul seem, if any distinction was
made, that it should be in favor of that
form of capital that is most productive,
and that contributes most to the stable
richness of the State. All that is con-
tended for, however, is that there should
be an equalization, or an approach to it,
of the burdens imposed on each form OF
property. AS an effort in this direction
| suggest that the revenue laws Of the
State be so changed that tax upon corpo-
rations shall bear all the expenses
of the Commonwealth, and that
the increase from all other sources of
taxation upon personol property be paid
back to the respective counties whence it
comes, to relieve real estate in those coun-
ties to that extent from local taxation.
This would revert to the counties the va
rious licenses collected, the tax on watches,
horses and carriages, money at interest,
&c.-in short all the revenue now de-
rived except that directly from
corporations. This would be mate
rial relief to real estate, and
would not be serious additional
imposition ON corporations. Corporate
wealth is so purely creation OF the State,
and that interest has been so carefully
nursed by the Commonwealth, that it is
no more than just that it should support
the State. It almost does so now, and,
by the plan suggested, the real estate of
corporations in the various counties would
share in the relief granted by the reverted
revenues to such an extent that the ad
dltional tax imposed would really be but
trihing. The tax upon corporations might
also be directly upon their paid up capital
stock instead OF upon the various items of
gross receipts, dividends. &C., as is now
provided. Ourrevenue laws are intricate,
complex, difficult of ascertainment, and
uncertain. If some one class OF corpo
rate property was selected, Gas for exam
pie, paid up capital stock, and the tax
assessed solely upon 1t, our revenue laws
would be materially simplifed. Such. =
system would give definite fund upon