The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-09-05
STATE TAXATION.
SENATOR BROWNS ADDRESS TO THE
FARMERS AT WILLIAMS GROVE.

WILLIAMS GRovE, Aug. 26.-Sena-
tor Gerald O. Brown, who is state
lecturer of the Pennsylvania Grange,
discussed the subject of state taxation
before the farmers to-day at length.
He said the necessity of uniting in one
. supreme effort for the correction of the
unequal and unjust system of taxation
prevailing in Pennsylvania had greatly
increased by reason of the depressed
agricultural interests. What could be
tolerated in prosperous times could not
now be endured, when the owners of
real estate were not only called TO pay
their own taxes, but large majority
of that levied on other property hold
ers. Real estate was taxed seventeen
mills, but the holder of city and
boroagh property could and did re-
coup himself to large degree by max
ing up for tax discrimination against
real estate by commanding correspond
ly higher rents. The farmer had 40
power to raise the price of his pro-
ducts and repay himself for increased
taxes. 1t was evident, therefore, that
the holder of farm property was at
great disadvantage as compared with
the holder Of city or borough property
in regard to this tax. As to other
property but three mills were levied on
it by any authority and that only for
state purposes. Senator Brown GALE d
particular attention to the alleged fact
that larger classes Of corporate and
personal property had within recent
years been exempted from taxation by
special legislation contrary to the ex-
press provisions of section l, 2 and
of the constitution A summary OF
.,ese facts showed that less than 81,
100000 real estate paid all the local
taxes and portion of the state taxes,
while of not less than $4,000, 100000
of corporate property and interest
bearing securities, all of which yielded
larger net income than real estate, al
least one fourth of which was entirely
exempted from all taxation, a levy ol
$4,500,000, or about two mills fol
state purpose is all that is asked as tax
The statements of the Senator were
fortified by figures. Senator Brown
then gave history of the suspicious
loss of the revenue bill which allowed
the several counties one half of the ia,
derived from licenses. The failur,
of this bill he strongly intimated wa
due to design instead of to an accident
and that the corporations were re
sponsible for its loss. A history o
the grangers' equalization tax bill wa
r,,xay, Cor tho ipotrunt;nr of Tho rno
pie who listened to his speech. Th
act was delayed as long as possible il
the senate after it had passed tn
house by an overwhelming majority
The corporations did not think
worth while to prevent its passage il
the lower branch Of the legislature an,
postponed the application of thei
power until it reached the senate.
having remained in the hands of tn
finance committee long enough to en-
danger its passage at the last session
he offered resolution to discharge tn
committee and give the senate an op
portunity to pass on its merits, bu
only twenty-five senators voted for hi
proposition, or one less than requires
to take it out of the possession of tn
committee. The senator did not sa
that Senator Delamater, the republica
candidate for Governor, assisted il
strapgling the grangers' pet measure
but left the audience to draw Its infer
ences. The resolution for the creatio
of mixed commission to daft ne,
revenue law he said was a sop t
Cerberus, but it was also public COZ
fession on the part of the leaders VIII
we responsible for the defeat of ia
bill that the present tax system is ou
rageous and that it could not be el
dured. Senator Brown counseled tn
grangers to put men in offices of trul
who had stood by them, and to col
denim those who had done otherwis
'1f they do not stand by the men VIII
at every sacrifice to themselves, ha,
fought the great aggregation of corp'
rate power that has ever stood in Ii
way of justice 10 the people" sal
Senator Brown, "they do not deserv
and are not likely to hereafter hav
competent champions OF their ow
interests"
In the evening Colonel Villa
Penn Lloyd, of Mechanicsburg, Il
democratic candidate for state senat'
in the Thirty-second district, spoke c
'Sigus of Encouragement for I'll
Farmer" after which a concert WI