The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-01-30
The Tax Question.

3tAAs = AV"ueiiys MastSi WOAhndn
of the knights Of Labor, made speech in
Baltimore recently, report Of which was
published in the city papers, from which we
take the following extract. Mr.. Powderly
said:
Learn the effects of free trade, protec-
ton, single tax and kindred theories; then
yor will be able to comprehend the wage
question and not before.
81 do not believe that the God who made
us all for common heritage ordained that
one of his children should be born with
fewer privileges than another. Some years
ago entered into contract for the pur-
chase of a lot in my native city, so by 150
feet, agreeing to pay 5000 for it. This was
to secure home for my family if should
ever be able to pay the amount had
agreed. Soon after the tax collector called
and said that in addition to the tax on my
personal effects must pay $3.50 more on
the lo:. But, said I, 'the. lot is not mine !;
have not paid for It.. You have agreed
to buy it, said the collector, and it has
been assessed to you.' / paid the $3.50.
Soon after built modest little house on
this lot to shelter my wife and myself, and
in a few days the collector was at my door
again with bill Of $50 against me. what
is this for?' / inquired. For the improve
ments on your lot was the answer receiv-
ed. This made me think, and the result of
my deliberations was the conclusion that
had enhanced the value Of piece of prop
erty in the town of Scranton and was fined
$40 for doing so.
1.-THE following day, as left my home,
which was on the outskirts of the town, /
saw signs up on all the vacant lots adjoin-
ing mine stating that the property was for
sale at the price Of 81, 200 for lots the size
of mine and 81 800 for the corner lot. had
paid out 5000 for mine. SO / sought the
owner and asked him why the next pur-
chaser had TO pay SO much more. Why
said he, Mr.. Powderly, this was bad
and unstable tract Of land before, but you
have enhanced.it by your.purchase and i'm
provements. You have national reputa-
tion and people will want TO live near you.'
Them said /, what do get for the $500
additional on each Of these lots that my rep
uiation is worth to you?'
Now what does this mean? Does il mol
look as if The city Of Scranton paid a pre-
mium upon speculation and levied fine
upon industry? Why should one uan be
given the right 10 charge you $500 more for
a place of shelter because / had erected
home near by? Why should the man who
had not the additional $500 be deprieved Of
the right to build home upon the same
terms as myself? Just across the road from
my home was farm of l40 acres, the tax
on which was $3.50 per acre. Why was this
man not made TO pay as much as +? In the
same proportion his tax would have been
instead Of 81, 300 upward of $1,000. I'm
provemenls on this land as on mine would
have brought revenue to the city Of $780,
600. This same condition exists in Balti-
more. Take the land all around you within
a stones throw Of the city. Improve il with
homes for the workingmen, as many claim
that everything is done for the benefit of
the workingmen, and the result is the
workman pays in rent the increased tax on
the improvement he occupies. The sur
rounding territory increases IN value TO
swell the profits Of the owner, but does moi
increase in proportion to meet the expenses
Of the municipality or district in which ii
lies.n
This description of Powderly's is an
exact presentation Of the tax system of
Maryland, which the next legislature is to
be elected to wrestle with. If uniformed
men are sent to Annapolis there will be no
correction ofthe great wrong of unequal
taxation which the producing classes labor
under. Farmers are taxed ON their land,
houses, barns, fences, orchards, farming i'm
plements, farm animals, household goods.
money, (if they have any), debts and
mortgages-or the property covered by
mortgage-and on every improvement they
make, while the wealthy men who hold
idle, unimproved property in town and
country, waiting till industrious people
settle down by the side of il and by thei,
improvements make ii valuable, pay but
nominal tax. Then they sell for high
price and invest The money again in some
property where il NAV escape tax and wal,
till industry makes il valuable. A system
OF taxation which permits, aye more, in
vites this procedure is all wrong, and should
be torn up by the roots. But this presents
only half the wrong. The men who 90
about improving the country are seized and
fined by the tax collector and assessor,
while these spectators in unimproved
property go SCOT free. The man who has
improved his property is fined, the man
who is sloven and idler is encouraged TO
remain SO and his property goes untaxed.
This unequal taxation is the question
which farmers in their Oranges and AL
liances should busy themselves in looking
into and formulate bill which they
should require their legislators to pass next
winter into law.
His Body Terribly Man
gled.