New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-26
GRIEVANCES OF THE FARMERS.
NOT THE TARIFF, BUT STATE TAXATION HAS
CAUSED THEIR APATHY.

GRIEVANCES OF The FARMERS.
NOT THE TARIFF BUT STATE TAXATION HAS
CAUSED THEIR APATHY.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Since election there has appeared mystery
which has not as yet been solved, and which has been
commented upon by many OF the papers throughoup
the State and also by Mr. Fasset the recent Republ
can candidate for Governor. The returns from the
rural districts give conclusive evidence that large
percentage of the farmers did not come out and vote
For this Mr. Fassett gives reason and that is That
they were paid with Mr. Flowers money to stay at
home and husk and dig potatoes. That Is false
and besides that 1t is not very complimentary to the
farmers. The true reason Of the apathy which pre-
walls IN the rural districts throughout the state Will
now endeavor briefly to give The farmers have Tor a
long time tried TO the passage OF Just and
equitable tax laws, but have sgnally failed. lheie
have been bills introduced at almost every session OF
our Legislature in the last ten years 10 revise our
unjust tax laws but these have been killed either In
the House or in the Senate. The appointing of
commission has been the usual in putting it off,
In the last session there bill introduced by
Senator Erwin called the Erwin Listing Tax bill, which,
had IL become law, would have benefited the farmers
more than any bill that has yet been introduced in
our legislature But it was killed. as all other bills OF
lis kind have been which looked like taxing personal
property Mr. Fassett opposed its passage, because it
would bring out all OF the personal property. Of which
lie has large amount.
For the same reasons Mr.. Flower opposed
the bill and also the per cent bill, which also meets
with the approval of the farmers.
Real estate, all are, perhaps aware, is paying
nearly nnetenths of the State tax and yet nothing
has been done to right the wrong that now exists.
According to the report of the State Controller the
amount Of personal property taxed In the state Is
gradually decreasing, while he made the further state
ment that there 500 100000 Of personal proper
ty which escaped taxation.
II this vast amount of personally taxed would
it not decrease the amount Of tax paid by the real
estate owners /? l answer, yes And yet, the ques-
ton is asked many times Is 1t true that the farm
ers paying an undue proportion OF the tax"
The state Controller also makes the further state
ment in his report that the assessed valuation Of
the property of the people in this State for the pur
poses of taxation for 1890 Personal 1886 800,
131 real So 29S 323, 931. Now, after adding the
sona that escapes taxation to the amount Of personal
that Is taxed makes grand total of 81 1856 1929, 131.
Therefore is it not plain that II all the personal
property were taxed 1T wOuld greatly reduce the tax
paid on real estate? The report of the state
also corroborate the fact that the amount Of personal
property within the state equals or exceeds that Of
the real.
We must not lose sight of the fact that double tax
alton is also in opposition TO views, and that we
are In favor of debt exemption, which would tend 10
alleviate the grievances that now prevail
| The Erwin Listing BILL which was defeated in the
| last session. pointed out way in which this great
question may be solved, and which is heartily ap-
| proved by the whole farming community.
The canal question is another question to which the
attention of the farmers is being called, and think
| that senator Erwin was right when he favored the
abandonment OF the whole canal system. 1t Is we'll
established fact that nearly $50 100000 have been
expended on the canals in the last seven years, and
well authenticated charges have been made repeatedly
that large sums Of this money nave been used tof I'M
Does this please the real estate owners, especially
under our present taxation system
1t is that the people voted for free canal but
after fair trial 1t has become evident That u was
wrong and outrageous.
| But small percentage Of the produce goes by way
of the canal and what little does, nearly all comes
canal in the hands the General Government, and sup
port 1t at National expense, as At ought 10 De, We
S SSqo Of the mecpe mr as it is It is Continual
expense and burden the taxpa+ ers Of this state.
men in I sSs State that we cannot have Just tax
awsl In other states this condition OF affairs does
often considered the qualification OK candidate All
of the questions that are usually asked are Are they
politics ought not to be counenanced it ieopardizeS
the welfare OF the people and stigmatizes the way
The ' Interests Of the farmer were entirely ignored
at both the Rochester and Saratoga Conventions The
politicians have an idea that the farmers will swallow
| and vote for anything that may chance 70 appear
In the recent campaign after thorough consider.
| and Mr.. Flower. with Pattism on side and Tam.
manyism on the other, OF the two evils the
farmers could not choose, and stayed at home
and attended TO their own affairs. The apathy that
now prevails throughout the state is largely due
| 70 the universal UNJUST taxation sentiment AND II
erroneous tax laws, the Alliance party will assume
proportions that will make future elections very
certain ana Just 20 io9g as as our tax laws remain meas as
with defeat in State elections, simply because tho
rural districts are overwhelmingly Republican. But
II tax laws revised as they ought to be, the
! Rem Y,
The farmers are not particularly troubled about the
tariff but satisfied with the principles enuncatcd
by that gallant leader and able statesman, James o.
| Blaine. A FARMER.
| Farmer Village n " Nov. IS, 1891.