The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-04-12

The Re-Assessment Bill passed by
the last Legislature has not yet been
signed by the Governor, and if news
paper reports are to be credited, Gov
ernor Jackson seems to have under
gone some change of opinion with ret
erence to it and may yet veto 1t. As
we understand it the object OF the bill
is not only to secure the taxation of
lsJge amounts of property in the State
Which now escape taxation. but also to
secure what is very much more import
ant to small property holders, an eqnit-
able equalization of taxation. The in
equality OF taxation of property in this
State has been one of the lpiquities OF
of our present system. Large amounts
OF personal property escape assessment
under both individual and corporate
ownership, thereby placing the ad-
ditional burden upon land and real
estate. Since the last assessment of
property which was made in 1876, there
doubtless has been some depreciation
IN the value of real estate in many
counties OF Maryland. This Is largely
attributable to the depressed condition
of our agricultural interests owing to
low prices OF grain and farm products.
1t is very probable that as elsewhere,
an assessment of land and real estate
would show some falling off in Cecil
County. But while the drift of invest
ment has for some years past been
away from land, there has been a cor
respondingly large incr sase IN the ag-
gregate value of personal property,
which if added to the basis of assessable
property would more than over come
the loss by depreciation Of the value OF
lands and its improvements. On this
point we believe Governor Jackson has
rvcv recently expressed the opinion
that he State on the whole would gain
by a Ae- assessment, while ':some of the
poorr classes of our citizens are now
taxed entirely too MUCH" and some
capitalists and large property-holders
escape with comparatively little taxation.
If This is rally the existing condition
in Maryland, which glance at the
assessment books of Baltimore City or
of any County in the State will readily
prove, why should the Governor, VINO
has himself in his message to the Leg
islatuIe recommen led several of the
most important features of the bill now
awaiting his signature, hesitate to sign
it2
The Governor, says the Annapolis
correspondent of the Baltimore SIN,
since MS return to Annapolis has been
overwhelmed with protests from all over
the State against the bill.
"He states that when he left Annapo-
lis he July intended to sign the bill, be-
cause he had recommended many of
its provisions in his message, and be
cause ne recognized the need of assess
ing much property which now escapes
taxation. While he sull believes this
to be the case, he recognizes the fact
that he should be guided by public SEN
timent, and he will more fully consult
that sentiment before he attaches his
signature to the bill. He also recog
nizes that if proposed amendment to
the constitution should be adopted at
the next election providing for the tax
alton OF certain property, an assessment
will then be necessary. He thinks that
the assessment provided for in the
pending bill could be made two years
hence
Now it will be noticed that the pro-
tests referred to by the Governor, have,
if newspaper reports are to be relied
upon, come from the very class OF
property holders, who reap the benefit
of existing exemptions and inequalities
of assessment and taxation. This class
Is composed of the comparatively few
rich tax payers, who mold immense
blocks of private securities and stock
aggregating millions of dollars, consoli-
dated in splendid personal estates
which under our present system of
assessment do not pay their proper
proportion of taxes. But that full pro-
portion under the present system is an
nually collected from the small prop
erty. holder, be he farmer or mechanic,
as the case may be. From the very
nature of the property he owns, it is
for him to conceal anything
from the assessor. So far as we are
informed the objection to the law as
passed by the Legislature comes solely
from this class, to which class Cover
nor Jackson himself is fortunate enough
to belong. We are not imputing to
him an unworthy motive in the matter.
He naturally shares the sympathy OF
large property holders. They look to
their interests in matters of Legislation
Just as they have right to do. They
are not to be Disseminated against be
cause they are rich men. We must re-
spect the man who by brains, honesty
and industry from small beginnings &C
cumulates a fortune. We have no
sympathy with the too prevalent com
denunciation of men of wealth.
We hold in unmitigated contempt the
modern demagogery that seeks for
Interior political ends to array the poor
against the rich. But nevertheless we
all know the facility with which the
large capitalist can and does the world
over evade in larger proportion than
men of lesser means the monetary bur-
dens OF citizenship. The assessor can't
get down to the bottom of his strong
box. where thousands and even millions
Of untaxed securities lie hid III silent
repose, save when occasionally dis
turbed by the scissors of the Coupon
Clipper.
But not so With the struggling farmer !