The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-30
EQUALIZATION OF TAXATION.
What Alderman Falligant Has to Say
About 1t.


have been an answering advocate Of
the equalization Of taxation ever since was
a youth. remember well the complaints I
have heard for a third of century against
the suicidal policy OF taxation which has
existed during that time, and done mora to
throttle the material growth of the city
than all things else. Merchants came here
from the north and from foreign Countries,
and joined with the native beneficiaries ia
the general cry, Don't tax capital,
or you. will drive it awayp
Then they and their friends
united in debating the policy Of council so
that these favored elements not only got
rich from the legitimate profits Of their
business, but secured for themselves the
extra profits coming from their exemptions
from taxation; and when they had gath
cred enough out of us to satisfy their crav-
ings, they would pull up stakes and carry
their capital and profits with them to
the north or to foreign lands from
whence they came. Nothing of the
kinds of business was left 10 the improved
real estate of the city to tell that they had
ever been part of its commercial machin-
cry. Had taxes been put upon them as
upon Others they would, at least, have con-
tributed to tighten our burdens whilst
they were here; but SO long as they
could sing the song, "Real estate ought t.
bear the burdens" and mean ime escape
their share of the burdens by inducing the
rest of the community tt swallow the bait,
just SO long they continued to pile up their
wealth aud prepare to leave with it when
they got ready. And what is the retro
spects Millions OF dollars earned In this
city have been carried away to help build
other places, instead of being invested in
the building up Of our own city, as much
of it would have been under a more
inducing system OF taxation.
Seeing these results as plainly as we do,
it strikes me that it is about time to call
halt and change our policy, and find out
whether we can't devise q method of tax
alton whereby greater material develop
ment will come to the city, and some of the
money heretofore locked in bank vaults find
its way into investment in houses and lands.
Then we will see better buildings take the
place of inferior ones; work given to our
mechanics whereby they can earn some
thing as we'll az the richer elements
of the community; prosperity bless the
community in all its component parts, In
stead Of only making the rich in stocks and
bonds richer by their savings Of taxes at
the expense of those who are made poorer
by being compelled to carry burdens not
in stIy their own; and a system OF mutual
benefit grow out Of the mutual interest of
capitalist, real estate owner. and all others,
in securing just taxation, mutual protection
from unnecessary extravaganza in public
expenditures, and mutual advantage IN the
building up of the city.
Why, sir, I can name you long list OF
members OF different city councils Of this
CITY whose investments have been specially
made in those classes of property which, by
their own constructed tax ordinances,
either entirely escaped taxation or were
taxed at such small figures as to make it
very easy for the holders.
The method of taxing all property alike
is going to have another good efect--it is
going to wake up some of those ge Itlemen
who have been suffering more or less from
double taxation. For instance, IL the De
Soto hotel is taxed ga real estate, as 1t
must be- then the stock of the company
owning Ii ought not to bs taxed. The stock
is merely a lot Of certificates that the holders
own q proportionate interest in the hotel.
If own building aid lot, my title is my
certificate Of ownership, and | am paying
taxes on the building aud lot, not on the
title, or evidence of ownership Now, these
stocks, representing bona Jide investments
in realities, agd being the evidence of such
investments, are simply evidences Of sub
divided title to the extent of stock issued;
and when the stock is taxed, aud the prop
erty also double taxation exists.
There is wide field for discriminative
study as to the taxation of commercial,
manufacturing and other enterprises; and
parties interested in them will accomplish
more by preventing double taxation
than by endeavoring TO escape their
fair share of the expenses of government.
Still another good result is likely TO follow.
The owners of stocks, bonds, stock in trade,
and other forms of personal property, and
the owners of real estate, are each inter-
ested in seeing that all property is asse sed
at its fair market value. If this is done,
the rate of taxation will be lowered in pro-
portion to the volume of property liable to
taxation: so that every Individual taxpayer
who knows that his own property Is as
sessed at a full and fair market value
is interested Ia securing an equally full and
fair market value assessment OK the prop
erty OF other taxpayers, so that he may not
be required to pay moro than his own fair
shars Of taxes.
All in ell, my Judgments that fair and
equal taxation will be better for each indi-
yidual taxpayer and more promotive of the
general good than any system of partial and
UNEQUAL taxation that can be devised--pro-
viding, always, that double taxation should
never be allowed.
LOUIS A. FALLIGANT.
"See how Penner and Spacer are laugh
q -. l. ~wre NSstr aH sr4E