The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-04-19
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, April 10. 1889.
a. THE PEOPLE OF HAKFORD 40

Thore ia n great prospect, at least. OF having
the question decided whether the law OF TAXATION
is sny longer to be such law as suits the rich few
nr such a. we are entitled to as free men and as
citizens OF Maryland for property whlch hOlu
as trustee. is seized on non-payment OF taxes,
ami / trust the public officials will show such
desire to have the peoples rights secured, as 10
interpose no technical legal bubbles that might
DELAY judicial settlement OF this important ques-
lion THE people have shown o singular apathy
10 regard 10 the matter, and; IN order thaI they
NAV have their attention called 10 the CONDITION
of The county finances, and to the effect that
The maintainance OF my position will have
upon the taxes of individuals, write this let
ter. .os,,.is A. ,hotr 1rtv tho roI-
roads will be assessed and in time for the levy OF
This year about 81, 80 900. which will reduce the
taxes for this year, TX the same sum has to be
raised this year as last, from 81 cents the sum
levied last year. TO a fraction over sixty hve cents
on the 800, a reduction OF abouttwenty per cent.
or one-hfth and this only because the railroads
are taxed in the same proportion as individuals.
Rut a. you pay no attention to II, think 1t like
ly the commissioners VIII let IL rest as u Is Tor
they plainly have more sympathy for railroad
companies than for poor individuals: for the
MARYLAND Central railroad represented to them
that the road was poor and struggling, and they
assessed il at about one-sixth of its value, proba
bly, less. Yet IL any one OF you are poor and
struggling, and owe money that you can not pay
and have children that are too young to
help you, perhaps delicate wife, go to the COM
mssioners and state your case. Tell them all
about the difficulties that surround you, and II
they reduce your assessment so as to have you
to pay taxes on one-siXth OF what you own, they
will prove that they have as much sympathy for
an embarrassed citizen as they have for public
corporation owned and controlled by men who
roll around In the summer from the sea shore to
the mountain tops and whose winters are devot'
ed 10 RormandiZing canvass back ducks and sad
die rock oysters, washed down with champagne,
whilst their families explore the depths OF POM
peH and Herculaneum
of our commissioners yearn-l judge from their
action-if not so, they will reduce your ASSESS
ment IL you are poor, and go and tell them about
it, Go and try IL. As said, If the railroads are
assessed as you are assessed. your taxes for this
year will be reduced about 20 per cent. thereby.
Then II In the suit against me. II is decided that
all men shall be taxed according to what they
are worth, your debts of every kind, will be de-
ducted from your assessment.
liz ia often said that IL a tax Is put on mortgages
the borrowers will have TO pay it, and that inter-
est will be higher. This is not true. unless the
borrower chooses to agree to pay the taxes. and
II he does 1t will make his taxes no higher; for II
his mortgage debt is 5000 and 1t is deducted
from his assessment, he VIII pay taxes on 5000
less and II he should have to pay tho taxes on
5000 Of mortgage, he would pay taxes on no
more than he does now, and he would have the
advantage of the chance or getting the loan at O
per cent. without paying the tax on the mort
gage.
and refuse to pay taxes on the mortgage: he will
get the money without paying 1t, and that GER
/ say so. because the lender does not lend you
his money to Obige or please you, but because
he does not know how TO do better with 1t.
The officers OF the Hartford Fire Insurance
Company tried some time ngo TO nnd some place
to invest the money of the company, and they
could find no investment, except some county
certificates. that would pay more than 81 per
cent. interest. l mean, of course, safe invest
ment. They could not put II in mortgages, be-
cause there might be too much delay in getting
1t again.
SO, where would the people of Hartford. who
have money invested in mortgages put the
money II you refused to pay taxes on the mort
gage. The taxes are usually about one per cent.
so II the lender paid the taxes on the mortgage
his int crest would be left at per cent. clear and
he cannot And any other safe investment of
money that will pay that much.
Your taxes then, would be neither greater
nor less II the mortgage was deducted from the
assessment, and you did have to pay taxes on the
IN OrtRaRe.
But IL, as eaid. you did not pay taxes on the
mortgage. you will be greatly benefited. But
the agitation and settlement of the matter in ac-
cordance with your rights, will greatly reduce
your taxes to a certainty, and proceed TO show
how.
A new assessment will BIO made. and that will
bring under taxation the following property,
and In about the following sums:
Money on deposit in the banks OF the comfy.
say an average of...............,. S700,000
Money In hands OF citizens say. go, 10000
Money on deposit in banks outside the
county, say......,... .,'.....,...'. 2OO,O0
Concealed property .as the proportion OF .
this county, estimated by Comp
troer at...''''.'.''.'''''.s'' go 2,5OO,OOO