The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1888-02-04
MR.. HUBNER ON TAXATION.
What he has to Say on the Report of the
Tax Commissioned Knotty Question
that Deserves Careful Handling,

John Hubner, Esq, member of the Legislature
from Baltimore county, and chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee of the House, referring to
the report of the State Tax Commission, appoint
ed by act of the last Legislature, said:
at is work so full of important information
that hope every member will give it that careful
consideration which the subject deserves and de-
mands. The question of taxation has, from time
immemorial, been knotty and difficult one to
handle. The people of this State have for a long
time been complaining of the inequality of its dis
tribution. At the last session of the General As
sembly the Governor was authorized to appoint a
commission for the purpose of inquirng into this
important subject and to report to this House all
important facts connected Herewith. The Gov
ernOr performed his duty by appointing five gen.
tlemen who for their intelligence and ability stand
high throughout this State. They have perform
ed their duty in faithful, painstaking, conscien-
tious manner. You will see by their report that
taxes in this State are most unequsly distributed.
The farmer and property holder bear the principal
burden of taxation; the railroad companies and
other large corporations shirk their duty towards
contributing their just proportion to the public
revenue. The commission plainly states that if
the railroads were compelled to contribute their
proper proportion it would add to the revenue of
the State 100000 or 100000 per annum, and
that our present State tax could be reduced to IL
"How this State is imposed upon can be seen in
the comparison of what the P. w. and B. Railroad
pays to the State of Delaware and what it pays to
our own State. Delaware receives annually the
sum of $40, 900. The distance of the road in that
State is 20 miles. The distance in our own State
is S. miles, and the amount of taxes received by
Maryland is only $40. 900. 1t pays $4,000 to
Delaware with only twenty miles of road, and only
$4,000 to Maryland with 6fty-fve miles of road,
including terminal facilities. To the counties of
Baltimore, Hartford and Cecil, through which this
road passes, it pays about one-quarter one-6fth
in proportion of what the honest and hard-work-
ing farmer pays. All other roads throughout this
State pay in the same proportion. How much
longer shall this state of inequality continue I,
for one, say now is the time to right this great
wrong now is the time to tighten the burdens Of
the farmer and the taxpayer.
"The facts are before US, and it behooves as
representatives of the people of Maryland to act,
and 10 pass such law as will compel these cor
porations to do the honest thing. The report de-
maDds your careful perusal, and hope each and
every member of this House will bestow upon it
the time and thought it so richly deserves. If we
pass the law as recommended by the commission,
and at the same time give to the people of this
State the election law prepared by our honorable
and able Attorney General, we shall be enabled to
go home to our constituents with the conscious
ness of having performed our duty"