The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-10-31


amount of taxes paid; this is an ac-
Acknowledgement due to Ex-Governor
Pattison irrespective of any partisan
consideration and should entitle him to
appreciation and support of every
farmer aud real estate owner IN the
State.
It was to remedy this gross noqual-
ity and injustice that the Farmers
Grange Tax bill No. 10 proposed to
correct in the session Of the Legisla-
ture of 1889. 1t was not intended to
rob the owners of personal and coipo-
rate property, but to distribute the
burdens equitably between all the IN
dustries of the State, and would have
relieved local taxation to the extent of
$6,OO0,000. This is the bill that Sena-
tor Delamster assured the State
Grange Committee should be reported
favorably from the Senate Finance
Committee, which he acknowledged in
his Williams Grove speech, that he
is now distributing to the farmers of
the State, which is nothing but an
afterthought and apology for voting
against the bill, when he happens to
want the farmers vote to elect him
Governor. How can Senator Della
mater, or any politician, accuse me of
unfairness when was simply carry
ing out the resolution of the State
Grange, which was unanimously pass
ed at the December session of 1889,
requesting that the vote of the State
Senate on the Grange tax bill be pub
lished for the information of the men,
bers of the Order Tin its publication
1 did not screen anyone that voted
against the bill,
The excuse that it was owing to
courtesy to the Cha rman of the Sen
ate Finance Committee that he voted
against placing the bill on the Calen
dar is too transparent, as everyone
knew in the Senate that the bi ! had
been pending for month in the Fl
nance Committee, and it was fully
argued on both sides, and that NJ
valid constitutional objections wer'
raised aginsJ the bill. The Grang,
Legislative Committee waited unit
the very last day that they could max
the motion to discharge the committe
and place the bill on the Calenda
with any possibility of passing it; per
haps the Senator will remember com
ing over to Senator's Browns sea
and apologizing, when he auswere'
shat it was unnecessary as the record
would speak for ITSELF"
l have no interest in this contes
from partisan standpoint, but l hav
the right as farmer, a duty owe t
the State Grange, to make known tn
actual facts in the case. / am no
! even claimed as a partisan, but th
, State Grange has for ten years formu
4 lated definite aud we'll defined prin
. ciples on State and local taxation
which were incorporated in bill
|, which was instructed, as Master G
the State Grange, to bring before tn
!. State Legislature, and TO use the er
!. tire influence of the Order in th
n State to secure its Enactment into Law
l have carried out the instructions {
the State Grange, with the undivide
support of the entire organization, an
came within one vote of placing it Q
the statute books of the State as ii
law of the land. The possibility {
l. the failure lies with Mr.. Delamat,
and other Senators who voted again,
the measure.
If farmers will re-elect these me
j. they will just as surely defeat the
!. Legislation in the future as in the pas
,. what claims have they upon the farm
rs er when they are opposed to the p il
/, ciples the farmer advocates If the
,e were honest men they would not al
,e for the support of those whose inte
A. ests they opposed while in public p
AZ sitions.
" The Importance of the impendir
" political State contest cannot be owe
,e estimated. Farmers do not depeI
upon what the present State Revenl
ty Commission may prepare, even shoul
" they succeed in reporting just ar
ID equitable bill, that will not make it
10 law; 1t will require the force of nur
re- bers 10 give it constitutional majo
ity in the House and Senate and Il
IN signature of Governor to maka it
IL law.
ne What farmers must do is to Il
m aside partisan bigotry and vote f
,s favorable men. See that every fave
ia. able voter is out to the polls.
"a. farmers are TO secure redress from
burdensome and lniquitous tax syste
en- they must vote for their interests
of other olassess do. They cannot do it
tie electing men who are opposed to tn,
bv interests. Farmers should not allo
g. themselves to be alarmed as to t
8 tariff issue. Settle that on your Co
ev gressional ticket; it has nothing to
Of with our State tax issue.
,te | have no personal feelings agar
10. these men, but their votes have be
ID. on the wrong side for farmers, and
O. is my duty to present the facts as tt
,ti- exist irrespective of party conside
nal tions.
lly Respectfully,
liza LEONARD RHoNE.