The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-02-14
TAY REFORMS.

For The Egis and Intelligencer.
In these days when reforms of different kinds are
so much discussed it is about time the farmers
were putting in a word in favor of what they so
much need, namely tax reform. / mean by farm
ers those who dig their living out of the soil and
not those who by inheritance or by some other
business are possessed of wealth and engage in
farming as side business or for amusement. This
latter class cannot feel the unequal burden OF tax
alton pressing them down as can the toillng masses
of small farmers. 1t cannot be denied that cor
porations and capitalists very largely shape legis
lation and will in the future as they have in the
past work hard to defeat any measure that is de-
signed to secure fair and equitable assessment OF
property. Is it just and right that farmers and
small property owners who in reality own much
less than one-half of the property in this county
should be compelled to pay the bulk OF the taxes?
And yet such is the case. Everything the farmer
owns, his land, stock and farming implements,
necessarily comes to the notice of the tax collectors
who is in duty bound to assess them. While the
income of the professional man, very many private
securities and other investments are escaping tax
alton Neither Is the prSpefrK OF S as
many of them are entirely exempt, and yet they
demand and have the protection of our laws, all Of
which must be paid for by taxes levied on the lands
and possessions of the citizens of the State.
The Legislature of 1870 exempted mortgages
farmers in Hartford county are under mortgage and
the farmer thus mortgaged has to pay in addition
to the interest the tax on what is the investment
of the moneyed man. In the present depressed
condition of the farming interest. is it not plain
that very few can stand the pressure, and this I'M
just and unequal state of things results each year
in increased trustees and mortgages sales. Each
year the numbers pushed to the wall are greater,
and unless there is change it is only question of
time when nearly all the land will be i'm the hands
of this favored class and we will be the tenants
OH are own farms, lorded over by a landed
arstocracy as complete II not as oppressive as that
under which Ireland groans to-day. There are
other things contributing to this possible result
which we may notice in the future, but as our
present Legislature will be called upon to pass
Il new assessment law this seems to be the time
when farmers should step TO the front and insist
that they be made to bear only their just share of
the burden Of taxation W0uld If have hapn
better for the farmers at their meeting in Bel Air
to have given part of their attention to this matter
speechmaking of those scientific gentlemen which,
however interesting, very few will put to any prac
tical use.
President Stake in his excellent address before
the Farmers Convention, in Baltimore. has set
forth the matter very plainly and it would be well
for every farmer in the State to read and digest his
remarks on local and State taxation. In fact his
whole address so clearly sets forth the difficulties
and drawbacks of the farmer and is so replcte with
suggestions that every county paper should pub
lsh it for the benefit of their farmer patrons. Mr..
Stake knows whereof he speaks. for he is not only
farmer but think a lawyer who has represented
terms.
The tax bill recommended by the Farmers Con-
venti0n in 1881 pressed in the last Legislature,
but failed to become a law. This is the bill that
should, with some slight alterations perhaps, be
passed by the Legislature of 1890. 1t provides for
the annual listing of property and the exemption
OF property from taxation to the extent OF any
vides for the taxing Of incomes.
The listing clause provides that Legislature shall
cause to be prepared system of blanks for yearly
returns of property and investments and that every
person owning property securities of any kind
shall be required to fill up the blanks and make
return of their possessions to the collector under
oath. The bill also provides for the annual revi-
sion OF the tax list and correction of valuations
upon principles in use in most of the States. 1t
also prohibits contracts compelling one person
paying another persons tax. In short it eOmpels
every person to pay tax on just what he owns and
no more. Ile enemies of the bill that III is
practicable, but why is system that is in use and
found practicable in other States impracticable in
Maryland? The Democratic party prides itself
on being the party of the people and as opposed to
class legislation. 1t claims to be and has been
generally speaking the party to which the poor as
well as the rich could look for fair and equitable
laws. One of Its pledges in the last campaign was
for tax reform. Let the members OF our Legisa-
tlre see to it that they redeem those promises by
giving us an assessment law founded upon the prn
eiples of justice and right and the success Of the
Democratic party is assured. The people are
awakening to their interests in this matter and
our Legislators cannot afford to ignore them.
Upon what other issue could a man coming fresh
from the ranks of the Republican party receive the
vote that Mr.. Allen did in our last primares?-
We are looking for reform within the party lines
and we have faith enough to believe that we will
not be disappointed Brother farmers. let us
agitate this matter and be in earnest about it, that
Maryland may be no longer regarded as STATE
that legislate against her best interests.
JdTTsftsUile Md. G. A c..