Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-12
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
TAXES AND SALARiE5.
An Important Matter for Farmers Or
Ranfzatfons to Deliberate.

An Important Matter for Farmers Or
CARNATIONS to Deliberate.
In the administration of government
there is a continual tendency to extrava-
gance. This will exist as long as man
is not perfect. 1t can be used in check
only by the constant watchfulness of an
intelligent people. Ethics as we'll as
finance require that we hold the off,
Gals of the Government to a strict ac-
count There is no other form of trea-
son so insidious, dangerous and culpa-
BILE as Indifference to the administra-
ton of Government We may have
charity for the unreasoning revolt of
| the degraded man, though that revolt is
violent; but we should have no charity
| for the Indifference of the intelligent
man. The business man too busy, or
the doctor or minister too good, to at
1 tend the caucus or to vote, are public
| enemies.
Even greater should be our concern
that taxes are justly laid and fairly
collected. Here is a great possibility
of fraud and of injustice. We will first
consider the easiest aspects of it
No matter along what line taxation is
laid, every man should be compelled to
pay his just portion. Upon whatever
theory or theories taxes are appor-
toned, no man should be allowed to
escape the payment of his just dues.
Yet it is notorious that many are al
lowed to escape the payment of their
just portion and as result higher
10 - i
compelled to pay more than their share.
Farmers are the greatest sufferers
from this. Their property is nearly
all in such form that it can not be hid.
Lands, livestock, farm machinery do
not escape the assessors eye. But it is
safe to say that three-fourths of the
notes, stocks, bonds, etc, are not as
sessed. These forms of property have
now reached such amount that by rea-
son of so large portion of them escap-
ing taxation, farmers pay one-half more
than their share of direct taxation. Nor
does the injustice to farmers stop here.
The practice of having property as
sessed at less than its real value is
much more common and is carried to
greater length in towns and cities than
in the country. For example, in Illi-
nois it is an unwritten law that prop
erty is to be assessed at one
third its real value. Farm property
is so assessed; but CITY real estate
is frequently assessed at not more than
ten per cent. of its real value. While
much that is said about the ''hOneSt
farmer is arrant fattery, designated
for base uses, it is true that our city
cousins are the more skillful with dis
honest tricks. Even on real estate they
succeed in paying taxes lower than
those paid by farmers.
Now, for this our own Indifference is
to blame. We grumble, but do nothing.
We should use our tongues less, and
our brains and ballots more! There is
way to secure the fair and equitable |
assessment of stocks, bonds, notes and |
city real estate; and if we had earnest |
ly sought for it, we would have found it |
and have had it in force long ago. |
Several ways of securing the as
sesSments of bonds, notes, etc, are |
suggested, among them that the asses
sors be provided with stamp and that /
any note or bond not bearing the asses
sor's stamp between certain dates each
year be void and non-collectablo. 1t is
safe to say that fusing of the several
suggested, with the addition,
perhaps of some other features that
farmers have the brains to evolve,
would ferret out for assessment the
that now escapes. And if we
really want this reform, we can have
the necessary laws adopted and can
have them enforced. We must rid our
selves of our Indifference and we must
organize.
A State Alliance has been organized
in Indiana. As | write the formation
of Farmers League is being agitated.
Let tho farmers organizations take up
earnestly and determinedly this mat
ter of reform in assessment. They can
not engage in better work, or work
more urgently required by our interests
as class, or our duty as good citizens.
A stable government can rest upon only
Justice, and as we allow injustice in
taxation are we derelict? Some States
have officers whose duty it is to ferret
put property not assessed and collect
past taxes and a penalty. Perhaps
Ill States should have such an official
Do the State Alliances or State Oranges
,hink so? If they do, Legislature is
20 be elected this fall, and the Alliance
nen or Changers should vote for no man
hat will not pledge himself to aid in
securing the desired legislation. And
when such official is appointed, or where
le already exists, every farmer in his
Individual capacity, and every Grange
md Alliance in it's organized capacity,
hould give that official not only ;;
lis or it's moral support, but also a..
ctive support. Let every farmer :
.ssist him in the enforcement of the
aw and in bringing dishonest men to
ustice If we are Indifferent to the ,
of legislation we are even =
more Indifferent to the enforcement of :
aw. We think that the battle is won .
lhen the law is enacted; but it is only
egun, if we would accomplish any
hing. We make all our campaign be- !
ore election or before the law is passed; =
he hottest part of the campaign should 7
e after the election and after the law
5 passed. John NJ. Stahl, in Indiana =
'armer. a
ORANGES IN FRANCE. v