The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-29
TAXES, MANUFACTURING AND DE
MOCRACY


In the year 1882 when the development OF the
now South was the song Of the Democratic press
all over our State. when the young aud active ee-
ment was asked TO volunteer their energies and
capital In manufacturing enterprises n few
Nashville men In circumstances quite moderate
felt inclined 10 do their part, aud each put what
he could spare Of his past earnings lnto common
fund aud received receipt therefor.
This re 'eipt was given In the namo OF the com.
pauy, and indicated the amount each gentleman
had put In. divided into shares That this com.
pany or copartnenhlp might becone an inAi-
yidual, with rights to sue aud be sued the States
most gracious charter was obtained.
sxty.hve thousand dollan In cash was put In, no
water, no land improvement Ani no bonds. There
were sixteen Subscribers 10 this enterprise all
Democrats aud they never intended 30 offend their
political party In the least This little infant In.
dusiry, this chartered Manufacturing company
this rich corporation. these baron rohbcr manu-.
iactunr never dreamed of putting their money
Into doublctaxcd. iarfprote ted undcmOcratic
Institution Their object was 10 build an enter.
prise, 10 make profit on the investment give en-.
ploymcni TO men. women aud children and help
build up the new south
This Is what u has done In grounds and buIld.
lngs snOO was invested aud nearly the rest of the
capital was put ialo machinery.
They have consumed IN raw materials prinel
pally the products OF Tennessee. Shape Ia cpal.
slO,2nS have paid wages, slii,2sS paid dividends
/ In cash. 800 paid dividends In stock $4,000
I have pale State aud county axcs. January. lsss.
on ground ouly. 81. January, iss1 10 January,
iss9. Slasa5O.
These taxes were assessed annually by the assessor
when he visited the property andas he thought bis
duty required.
Now Il there Is farm In the state that {. assessed
lIsI...s. ia
tributes a. much money for the beneht OF others
and make, as little for ~ owners let II speak out
will any sensible man, no matter what his political
prccrnccs may bc. say that this Institution should
be assessed at higher relative valuation than
buildings located on the streets OF our city built by
capitalists 10 rent for business purposes Notwith.
standing the taxes paid ~ beiofc stated. the back
tax attorney says the former assessors have not
done their duty, that he finds under tho law that
this institution should be assessed on tho receipts
given 10 these gentlemen called capital stock aud
proceeds by bringing suit Tor ~ rccoycry-ior d.
vision between himself aud the State and forces an
assessment upon this property. to be paid now at
| once OF ISIS - additional for isS5 aud isS1
lie aud some newspapers say these rich corpo.
nations" have not paid their taxes, while the poor
man has had 10 pay. This Is untrue concerning
this Institution. Who q this man that forccs this
double tax We know him oaly rs back tar at
torncy, and that will likely bc his most prominent
title 10 long as he lives aud some victim will likely
scratch that as HIS name on his tombstone.
Ifthls movement against manufacturers Il ap.
proved OF vet on foot by the Democratic party Of
Tennessee, aud Il looks like Il A. Cot this attorney
vas appointed by Democratic Comptroller TO en-
force Democratic law. approved bya Democratic
Governor, and declared Just by Democratic
Judge then the question 4. win they repair the
Injury they have donci win they LIT thrIr k--l
from "a We neck u enterprise
II they no no, they bad better read again the
nr,t section Of this communication.
The above communication. which origi.
nallY appeared In The Nashville Banner. /,
copied here for the purpose OF comment
and at the instance Of several leading man
uiacturcrs In the State. all Of whom agree
with Nathan that II our present Ia,
laws continue TO be enforced against then
rs rigidly as Is therein stated, Il will oithel
compel them to shut down their works
. or make a contest with the State authori
, ties that max delay the collection Of take
and seriously embarrass tho State in he
! financial obligations. Such movement
| NAV possibly result at tho proposed meet
/ ing Of Manufacturers 10 DO held at Iroi
. City on the 10Th OF Julynext When the oh
Q noxious nc, was on lis passage In the lIous
: TnK ArrRAL pointed on, then the possibl
4 disastrous effects II would have on IN
y growing interests Of the State. and ais
y that Il might have tho effect Of a fat
. recoll upon tho Democratic party al ID
a next State election. Wothon characlcrizc
4 II as an unfair aud unjus, because
o scarchingly discriminating law, and 30
@ Is proving 10 be. Il taxes the manuia
4 luren twice, and thus imposes burdc
J. moro than thoy ought 10 bear. aud mo
i than they can bear In justice 10 ihcmsclvI
Q and their interests. TITS ArrEAt, Il
, consistent opponent Of trusts conhin
? aud monopolies, regards this law rs N
4 democratic aud oppressive rs are Il
Il tendencies OF these combinations In trad
,i No one branch Of business, no single pr
q fcssion no body Of la5orcrs or mcchani
" or farmers should be specially opprcss'
70 TO relieve any other body, or increase q
n tax receipts OF the State. As the comm
h. nlcaiion Of Nathan" proves, this IL l
N ing done in Davidson and adjoining cou
9. ties under this law. and 10 an extent, as !
l. figures show, that threatens them wi
In ruin. We do not believe that any RIG
r. thinking man la tho State desires th
y. We do no, believe there Is an honest Ct
be zen who would willingly sec the indI
ut tries Of the State ruined by an unjust q
re- oppressive tax. We must not protect ma
he uiac,orics but We also mus, not ruin the
X We mus, deal fairly by them. But b
no Is this to be done In The face OF this Ia
M An agrced case TO be taken up 10
ay Supreme Court, and suspension
,lo the collection Of tho tax pending
TO decision, Is the only way that
III, can SEQ. The tax collectors have no
60. ton In the matter They must obey
md law in letter and In spirit And yet e'
Ia. this way Of escape may. rs We have "a
ion cnbarrss tho State In her financial o.
md cations and work dissatisfaction and
sod justice 10 that way. A bad aud vici'