The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-25
X WILL BIZ HIGHER.


To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The appraisement of property for taxa
tion in this State. under the new law, is
likely to be at least % per cent. higher than
ever before. IL this be so, allowing moth
ing for enhancement in value since the
last assessment, the real and personal prep
erty IN the State will be taken at sl.0S7,-
1S4.S22 Unde the new levy of IS cents on
the hundred dollars this will produce q
revenue for State expenditures of about
100000. or nearly double the amount
raised under the old law, which, with
proper economy. should liquidate almost q
million dollars of the State debt each
year. Now. if the revenue for State schools
-l6 cents on the hundred dollars-be in
creased in like proportion to the appraised
value of property. the amount raised
in the State for this purpose
will be swelled from about 81, 39l. 595 to
81. 739. 494. an increase of S347. sos above the
demands. and this much above the colIec-
tions of any previous year. There will also
be a material increase in the university
endowment fund proportionate TO the ad-
vanced appraisement. Hence the farmer
who pays tax on 5000 this year, allowing
nothing for any intrinsic advance in the
value of his property, will pay on $3.50
AOAt On II NOsOVQ aC P0l tnlo q
for State purposes. 81. Next year, under
the new law, be will pay, on the same
property. for the same purposes. Sl1.25. For
state school he pays. this year, on his 5000
assessment, IS; next year he will pay on the
same property and for the same purpose $40.
As all the tax collected by the State is in
these three departments, namely, State,
State school aud university endowment.
and 10 levied by the Legislature, / can see
no other alternative than that We shall
suffer unnecessary as well as exorbitane
taxation for State. school end university
endowment purposes. This Is rendered In
property without reducing the levy. The
additional million of dollars and better
that is likely to be collected under the new
assessment law for State expenditures
o onn' t e State ss''n debt: % but sD Rhss
about the SS47, SOS that are likely to be
added to the State school fund, and the
$4,000, and over. that will go to the uni
verify endowment fund.- If there has been
any provision of the Legislature to avoid
this Unnecessary expansion of these two
latter funds the public is yet uniformed
of it. If overlooked. as seems to be the
case, the late act for the assessment of
property is certainly very careless legis-
lation. While legislative relief was great
~ desired, it was a gross error on the part
OF the late Legislature to interpret this
from money. This error will be found out
later. Finally, If with this enor-
nous increase of above q million
and q half dollars in the State tax, there
should be bad Judgment and worse econo-
my In making the levy for city. county
and township purposes. the people will
indeed be involved in ruinous taxation.
The Legislature. town councils county
commissioner and township trustees will
be likely to apply in some manner all the
money that may come into their respective
Golfers. A surplus in the treasury GER
tainly does not contribute to the honesty
or economy of the officials intrusted with
its disbursement.
Gruff Old Ben Wade once said: Zone
might as reasonably expect q powder
house in hell as to expect an honest Con-
gress with q surplus in the treasury This
is doubtless applicable to all legislative
bodies and to many public officials. there
fore the people will be very loath to con-
tribute to the public treasury n means
that are not currently demanded by the
s~trictest principles of public economy.
FARMLAND, md, May %. l. n. d.