The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-02-26
WHAT SnOULD BE TAXED.

We have letter from prominent
citizen and business man of South Flori-
da, from which we extract the following !:
Sc | notice in vour issue of 9Th inst a 'eng'iy
article On the subject of taxes, wher IN you az
wise certain amendments 10 the TAX law, "h'''-
by no;hing intended to.he taxed should cN''P''
Now, don't Won think it would ne more "s'cp'-
bic, and equally beneficial 10 the Ntf''' c",.h
ties and cities to cXOunge from the TAX h>.
many that are Of doubtful propriety, ana pay OUT
little revenue, and make up the required amount
oi revenue on real estate, manufacturers s!"'h
IN trade and The usual licenses on proicss'oi'S
and cmploympnte railroad corr Orat'ons. ana
banks might be taxed in the aggregate, hnl nov
Tor certificates of shares held by lndivido"i'!
This suggestion Of our friend would not
only be in violation of our State CONSTR
tuition, which provides that all property,
both real and personal, shall be taxed on
Just valuation, but, in our Judgment, It
would be unfair and unwise. The effect
Of such a proposition would be to exempt
a large portion Of personal property, such
as cash on hand, money at interest, and all
evidences of debt, all boats and vessels,
farming implements of every kind, aud all
classes of stock, including the vast herds
Of cattle that roam and fatten on the pnb-
lie domain. The main hurthcn OF taxa
ton would then fall on the land, which
Yields now to the man who works it the
smallest per cent. of any other invest
ment.
We have land all over the State
for sale. We want the immigrant
to come here and buy him
home, and become identified with us in
interest by becoming fastened to the
soil If he finds that that soil has to pay
much more than its proper proportion Of
the taxes, he viii not be very fast to at
tach himself to it. We invite the CAPT
talst to come and invest in our lands,
but when he finds that his capital is not
to be taxed here, but that the land is, he
will not be apt to exchange his montana
bic goods for the taxable article. He will
prefer TO loan his money to the land own
er at one or two per cent. month and
take a non-tayablc mortgage on the tax
ridden home; and he can then look on in
compospre 1T the farmer and fruit grower
who writhcs uni.r the burthcn Of the In
tcre>t and taxes he is paying to enrich
and protect the man that enjoys immu-
nifty from any tribute to the Government.
If we would have our lands sought after,
they should not be loaded down with
taxation.
We notice that our friend, the editor
an article on the same line, except that
he goes further, and would have the lands
pay al the taxes. His argument is, that
personal property being the fruit of a
mans skill, ingenuity, brain anl muscle,
should not be taxed, but that land beinr
" the bounty Of an all-wsc and infinite
Creator" should pay all the taxes. How
is it with a man who works hard, EN-
plOying all the energies Of bis mind brain
and muscle, to get HIM home for his
wife and children? Is that home to be
taxed? 1t is land, and is the fruit of
brain and mnscle. But if he should put
his money i'll pair of fine horses to drive
around town, he is not to be taxed for
them. Which, we ask, has put his brain
and muscle to the best use, and which is
entitled to most encouragement from the
government? God may have made the
land free, but it has been a long time
since it had no proprietor, and we don't
get homes gratutously. More brain, en-
ergy and muscle are spent in securing
homes than for any other purpose. and
these are what make people happy and
a country prosperous, and should not be
discouraged by unjust taxation.
ST1R.TROPTCAJ OPENING DAY