The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-16

Report of commettee on the above ques-
tions at the Illinois State Grange, and
adopted at its last session.
When the millennium arrives, and all
men live strictly within the inj functions of
the Golden Rule-"What things We would
that men should do unto you, do ye even
so unto them'-the necessity for legal en-
actments will cease, and the profession of
law will be relic of barbarism," that
will exist in name, rather than in fact But
until that perfect day is reached Legislation
is a necessity, and in a country like ours,
where the people rule, and though legis'
lation comes nigh, we must have II; and
the price we pay for securing and carrying
out necessary legislative enactments is the
burden of taxation we place upon our own
shoulders through our representatives.
Taxation and Legislation naturally go
hand In hand, Taxation is necessary to
pay Gu law makers for making our laws,
and our judges for telling them what they
meant when they made them, or whether
they made any law at all or not A sum
ing that the decision of the judiciary is an
affirmative one on that point, the necessity
for corps of officials to carry the legal en-
actmants into effect arises and as the hon
ors of official position have little in com
mon with those elements OfsfOod nee.
essary to preserve "life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness" every public servant,
from president to the manager of Della
ware whipping post, must, through the
mediumship Of the public treasury partake
If the benefits of taxation. AS a remarka-
bic instance showing the close relation
ship between taxation and legislation, the
''surplus" feature of the recent campaign
may be cited. A constitutional provisional
Qegislational) in the first prescribed Ger
ain method of taxation to meet the then
present necessities. The ultimate result of
this method of taxation is our present
treasury surplus, which, in turn, makes
Legislation necessary to check Its unexpect-
ed and uncalculated growth.
Of two methods of taXstion direct and
Indirect, direct taxation should claim most
of our attention The people rightly de-
mand that direct taxation shall be equitable
and Just. But so far as their observation
extends, they are convinced that our pres
ent system is neither equitable nor just.
Take, for instance, the present method of
assessment In relation to mortgages. The
notes secured by the mortgage are first as
sessed as personal property. The mort
gagged farm Is then assessed at its taxable
value as real estate. Now, as a matter of
fact, the mortgagor in giving mortgage
virtually transfers TO the mortgage an in
terest in the property equal In value to the
face OF the note, or notes, secured by said
mortgage.
Is system of taxation either equitable
or Just that demand of one man tribute on
property to which he holds the title only
conditionalIy, while another man has al
ready paid the tribute due the government
on the same property? II certainly seems
not, and we respectfully ask our next State
Legislature to so modify our tax laws that
the present injustice in this instance may
be corrected. In this connection we rec
ommend the passage of law embodylng
ideas to which we are indebted to Bro j
s. Armstrong of La Sale county.
WHEREAS, Under our present system of
revenue laws of the State of Illinois, large
amounts of eastern capital are annually
loaned in this State, which, by the shift or
device made possible by our present reve-
enue system escapes just taxation within
the State, thereby causing large amount
of capital owned in this State to seek in
NtStultut III w cstcIu ctutCc, uioo
taxation within our State; the practical
effect of which is to make the burdens of
taxation rest unequslly and and unjustly
upon the taxpayers; therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the revenue laws of the
State of Illineis should be, and we hereby
recommend and urge that IL shall be 80
amended as 10 make it the duty of the
mortgsgor, instead of the mortgage, to
list with the assessor the full amount of
mortgsged Indebtedness upon each and
every tract of land, village or city lot, to-
gether with the time when such mort
gagged Indebtedness will fall due, which
fact shall be returned by said Assessor to
the County clerk, who shall extend the
tax upon said tract, or lots so enumer
ated in two separate columns; LIST giving
the amount of taxes upon the assessed val
ne of said tracts, or lots, after Geducting
therefrom the amount of said mOrtgaged
circumference, tif any there be- and; End,
the amount of tax upon said mortgage en-
cumbrance.
And ,,rnvidipp that the nayr1enf of tayas