The Portland daily press., 1890-01-08
Taxation Methods

The Camden Herald is as much at sea as
other people over the great problem OF max
ing taxation equitable. 1t says its last issue,
Every one knows that there is more cheating
and mfsr epresenta ion in regard TO taxes than in
any thing else. There are men in almost every
their estates be administered upon, would have a
valuation OF twenty-five, fifty or severn y-fve thou
SAM sand aolars, bnt are not In fact taxed on valua
port to have assessors OF taxes who nominally
MAKE valuations. They are under oath but they
s apPtss property as worth only one third or one
ioItn OF It's real value in the market. How the
. nss payer can be made to give in more correct
ana reliable lists of his taxable property and how
properly at its full market value is a subject
worth considering. If every owner Of property,
whether that property be lands, vessels, merchan-
use or money, could be made to give in correct
nsts and be sever ely punished for misrepresentng
OF concealng facts In relation thereto, or for put
ting the same 10 the name OF parties where II can
not BE- reached for local taxation great improve
ment would be made.
1t is probable that under our form of gov
eminent no means can be devised to make
men return to the assessors correct inven-
tory Of their taxable property. About three
years ago Judge Savage of Auburn. pro-
posed to the Legislature law that would
have compelled every man to disclose under
oath to the assessors all his property of all
kinds as well as his debts. Judge Savage
thought that such law would result in
bringing all property On to the the tax lists;
since no one could conceal without commit
ting perjury. 1t implies little confidence in
mankind to differ from Judge Savage's opin-
Ion; but the operation of plan like his in
the State Of Ohio shows that for large por-
ton OF men perjury is much less fearful than
taxation. Under the ironclad law evasion Of
taxation prevails to as great an extent In
Ohio as In other States, with an effect upon
public morals that is exceedingly demoraliz-
ing. The clearest headed students of the
problem of taxation no longer recommend
more stringent regulations for disclosing
property: but are studying means of raising
public revenues from sources which are in
capable Of extensive concealment The
Governor of Massachusetts has recommended
a tax upon inheritances as one of the means
| of placing the public burden equitably and
| with an uniform pressure. Ex-Mayor Hew-
lit, OF New York, recommended the aboli-
ton of the tax upon personal property Alto
gether, since the operation of it in his State
| is to drain from those who do not conceal
| for the benefit of the greater number who do.
OF course the personal property tax under
such conditions is little less than form of
plumber. and not far different from the Turk
ish method. which is to extort the taxes
from those least able to resist. Other STU
dents have made other suggestions; but all
of them have been forced to the conclusion
of our Camden contemporary. that the rem
edy is as obscure as the evil is undoubted.
The suggestion which the Maine tax COM
missioners shall make will be awaited with
| interest and curiosity.