Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-17
The Farmers League Will Demand
Equalization of Taxes From
the Next Legislature.
NOT In LINE WITH THE ALLIANCE,
Which, Secretary lie MOyne Predicts, Will
Disappear as Rapidly as it
Came Into Being.
HOW HE WOULD MAKE PUBLIC ROADS.
The 6rsngs United and Intent Pure Tood Law and
Other Reforms.

The Farmers League will be after the
next Legislature with club.
The State organization held its annual
meeting at the Central Hotel yesterday and
elected officers. Among other things the
following list of subjects was prepared, which
will be submitted to the county associations,
and they will report to the State Secretary.
The concensus of opinion will be taken as
the expression of the farmers views on
many public questions. The list is: Equali-
zation of taxes, abolition of class legislation,
reduction OF salaries of State and county
officials, the public roads, inspection of car
tie both live and dead, imported into the
State, pure food law, taxation of dogs, elec-
lion of United States Senator By the peo-
pie, some restriction on immigration and
naturalization, government and control of
trusts, mOnopolies and other combinations,
nomination of candidates by popular vote,
heavier penalties for violations of the hunt
ing laws, and this resolution was unani-
mously passed.
A Demand for Equal Taxation.
Resolved, that the State Farmers League
demands the passage of a law equalizing taxes,
and that all property, whether real, personal or
corporate. shall bear equal burdens.
About 80 delegates were present at the
meeting. Thirty counties in the State are
organized and there are 81 societies alto
gether in Pennsylvania. j. K. McElhoes,
of Indiana, was reelected President, and
Julius LIE Moyne, of Washington, Secretary
and Treasurer.
In explaining the nature of the organiza-
NJ
other farmers societies in that we are not a
secret association Outside of the business
meetings, our proceedings are open to the
public. We are more conservative than
the Farmers Alliance, and do not approve
OF their sub-Treasurv scheme and manv of
their other ideas. 1t is my opinion that the
Alliance will go down as fast as it came up
They are very much elated now, but they
have stopped over. To use a bomely
Western expression the Alliance has bitten
OF more than it can chew. We affiliate
with them to the extent that We all want
equalization of taxes. The Farmers
League is about two years old, ana exists
principally in the Eastern States. We have
few branches in Ohio, but they don't
amount to much.
Favorable Replies From Candidates.
II think in the next Legislature the farm
ers will predominant. We submitted to all
the candidates, irrespective ofparty, what we
wanted before the election, and nine-tenths
of the replies were favorable. First and fore
most, we demand equalization of taxes; that is
we wanted real and personal property to bear
the burdens alike The reports show that out
Ol the S3UUO0OOO OF taxes paid annually, S32 000-
O00 comes from real estate. We believe in tax
ing bonds, stocks, securities and all manner of
personal property. The farmers have been
paving more than their share.
The public roads are another subject in
which we are deeply interested. ] am not
speaking for the League now, but have been
making roads for 20 years and have studied
their construction in detail To improve their
condition would insist first that all taxes be
paid in money, and that they be placed under
local supervision. Then l believe in paying
county and state aid for permanent improve
mentS l would put all the leading roads to
county seats ana railroads in good shape. In
making improvements would divide
the cost o: construction follows:
The abutting property to pay two-fifths of the
expense, the township. county ano State to pay
each one-tifth, provided no county subscription
IS payable fO- less than mile of road i'm
proved, and no State aid is to be put up for less
than five continuous miles.
The Building of County Roads.
TN hiIly territory reasonable grade should
be made. advocate the building of country
placing an iron rail on wooden support, and
macadamizng the space between the rails for
the horses 10 walk on. Such a road will be
built In Washington county this winter
and 1t will not cost more than s. 0OO per mile
while macadamIz ID road could NOT be CON-
structed for less than 5000 per mile while If
would take from SIPS to $50 per mile every wear
10 keep, them in repair. The rail road would
cost about 50 annually to keep In condition l
think the above outline Is the only solution of
the road problem in hIlly countries
As Tor the pure food law are not radi-
cal, and would not prohibit the manufacture of
adulterated foods. but want them branded
and sold Tor what they really are. The Austria
Ian ballot Is another question in which we are
very much interested. We would like to see
The system adopted in Pennsylvania"
The other officers elected were: Vice Pres-
dents. j; 5 " Williamson, Enon Valley; J. w.
Botsford, Brady: Alvin Monier, Rural Ridge;
Major George I. Work, Buffalo; Executive
Committee. J. {. Mcclure West Fairfield: i S
buchanan HIck9ryi d. ). Dickson. Bakers
town; Clew Smith, Homer City; w. II. Galley
PLAIN Grove.
Instances of Unequal Taxation.
As an example of what the farmers mean by
"equalizing taxes" they cited case in Char
tiers township, where an oil company that had
500 Onvested paid road tax of SIS 20 while the
adjoining farmer who hal put $50 900 inro his
1aIm whacked up Sl20 Another farmer cited
the plate glass plant at Tarentum, which cost
SSO0OOO TO build, and which is assessed at Sl2O :
OC0. They claimed the farmer had been leeched
AND assessed almost to the full value of his
property, and they have united politically to
demand relief. They believe in assessing
churches, colleges, etc.. with other real estate
One of the delegates spoke of a church in
Eastern Pennsylvania that had brewery con
nected with il that escaped taxation on the
ground OF church property. Reference was
also made to oil wells on certain church prom
erty In the CHARTERS field that paid nothing to
support the local government or roads.
The farmers are equally determined about
higher penalties for violations of the game laws.
1hey say that hunters frequently shoot their
cattle, and 1t is a difficult matter to prove il.
Even when case is made out against them the
line is only 81 cents