Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-02-25

without Increasing The burden of Tax
alton. They have n difficult task be
fore them, and under the trying cir
cumstanccs, it they bnt partially sue
ced they will be entitled to the graft
tude of their constituents. Ii seem
TO us that much might be gained i
| they would eliminate partizan %fcclin!
from their discussion, for il is yer,
plain. even to the casual reader, tina.
the tactioIis spirit of both branches o.
the Legislature can result in no good
to the material progress OF the state.
On the question of assessments and
raising revenue, some learned and for.
chile reader has given expression 10
his views in the ClarlOR-L Ledger and
we recommend them to the careful Al
tention OF readers OF the Beacon.
Our System of Revenue.
The raie of taxalions in this State is
high enough. 1t embraces all tsngi.
Die property, and then il taxes pro cs-
sions, occupations, and business, and
debts due. No one can, with any re-
gard to accuracy Of assertion, affirm
that II system of revenue partakes
in the slightest degree of that fatal
faint, class legislation. The intirmily
Of %the:.svstem is not in the plan, The
fault lies in the fact that its practical
operations are unfortunately too much
under the control of those who have
the taxes to pay. II is abused by un-
der valuation, and by recusancy in res
pcct to the great item OF personal pro-
pcrty. EMISSIONS in the matter of rem
dering in personal estate, stocks, mon.
oy, securities etc., etc, are easy, and
the d~cplorablc truth must be confess
ed that a vast number Of people re.
gard the evasion of revenue laws a. a
vcrital fault. Men who are correct in
business transactions, in private deal
ings of all kinds, look upon taxation
as cSactivo, and that they msy beat
the assessor il they can.
II is curious to motto that among the
cases OF conscience money returned TO
the Treasury Of the United States, and
other repositories subject to be swim.
died, there is not a single instance Of
n man paying the tax he has evaded.
Conscience does not prick the recu-
Taxpayer. AS TO laws, there is
an unroncertcd but inevitable comb.
nation TO underyalve. If it should he
said to the land owner, "Sir. your land
is taxed OF n valuation far below actu-
Al value" his reply will be, or his
thoughts will be, 'lf you will force
The owners of personal estate to tote
fair, the landowner will hold level"
This condition of things is natural
md inevitable. The evil OF il is that
here is unequal taxation, because
The man OF money, and
tocks aud securities, finds the sum OF
lis taxes growing large as wealth in.
'%reases, he begins to reconcile himself
~ a loose morality to evasious. In
his country, cvading taxation is fast
'ecoming one of thu. fine arts. Land
5 visible and tangible and can only e.
ape by under valuation. Our land
ax is not excessive, but it is certainly
rue that owing to the quality, it must
axe on the burden.
The result is n tendency TO class leg.
%slntlon, or rather one class of proper.
y owners Is arrayed against another.
This spirit is. of all others, most to be
cared in any general revision.
1t is obvious to any fair mind that
eur system is MS free from impartial.
y IA i, is possible to make 1t.
These observations arc intended to
,oint not to an increase of taxation.
iot to u hunt for new subjects OF taxa.
ion, but TO reform IN the matter of Sc.
correct valuations and more
complete returns of personality.
here should be appointed n Revenue
Commission, carefully selected. Ii
ought not TO have pay, because pay
sill lead to that kind of competition
or the place that will result in getting
skillful o~fice.seekcrs, but poor
inanciers. This Commission should
required within the next Two years
o digest some system of assessment
md collection that will tend to dimin.
sh the inequalities which result from
cTchuc cVasiOns; Tor in this lies the
iccrct OF discomfort. | does seem rs
ia w~cll-choscn Commission of three
five could devise n working plan Of
'ur present system which would rid il
II the "roluntary" f%raiurc-ihc fca-
urc that admits of men paying Just
What they sec fit.
Churches require vast resources,
md in the aggregate raise vast sums
~ voluntary contribution. This fact
'espeaks the inherent power of the
iospel-its supernatural vitality. The
of men arc moved BY
'ornc %inscrutable influence, so that il
'cens that what 10 really needed in
lie carrying out OF the great plan is
found. But the money to sup.
port Cover ninent must he erocted.