Evening journal., 1891-01-26
EQUAL TAXATION.
Professor Jamoss Plan to Improve the
Condition of the Farmer


DR. Edmund J. James, professor Of
political economy in the University Of
| Penusy delivered lecture before
the Farmers Institute of New Castle
county Oh Saturday afternoon In Phil
Sheridan Post room in the Masonic
| Temple His subject was HAS ANY
State Relieved Landowners of an I'm
equal Burden by Equalizing Taxation
In opening he said that be knew of no
such state. After giving a succinct his
tory Of taxation, he told the evils Of the
land tax and how it made the chief bur
den on the farmer. The reason of this is
that the farmer puts his profits into new
buildings and other improvements, while
the wealthy man in the city puts his into
stocks. bonds and other invisible invest
ments The tax collector has no way of
asceftaining the rich mans wealth, while
he easily estimates the farmers property
valuation. The cities increase in popula.
tion In much greater proportion than
do the rural districts. and thus the bur.
den of the former grows greater. The
remedy for this evil of unjust taxation is
an equal taxation of all property, real and
personal
The land tax was levied three centuries
ago on the principle that the wealth
was in the agricultural interests. That
was true then and until century AGO
To day nothing is farther from the
truth. With the advent Of railroads
and the building up Of large cities the
wealth has departed from the farms to
the cities and is locked up as personal
property in railroa s, gas companies
street railways, electric light works and
so forth.
This being the case a change is needed
IN the ancient system Of taxation 10 con
fern to the change in the wealth. The
state should have the taxing Of all cor
porations within its limits and the Fed
eral Government should have the power
over the corporations which extet d in
many states The funds so received
should be divided equally. The receipts
from taxation should be devoted to the
support Of schools and institutions for
untortunates, road improvements, and
the administration of Justice. Farming
property should be exempt from All
taxes for state purposes The state and
Federal Governments must come TO the
relief Of the farmer The government
has made good start ia the establish
ment of experiment stations and TIE
farmer should work to get the hest re-
suits ther1from.
Delaware farmers are in a peculiar
condition and need to be more watchful
Of their interests in the future They
have helped 30 build up those enterprises
which has caused their downfall Their
only hope is to insist that the nation
shall contribute to their upbuilding They
should have portion of the proceeds Of
national taxation to assist in the support
OF common schools, highways, normal
schools, etc
Dr.. James favored the direct appro-
priation of large sum BY the govern
ment for the schools and road. Repre-
sentative John C. Higgins. Messrs.
Walker Of Christisna, Murphy Of Whine
Clay Creek and Medill of Pencader took
part in the discussion which followed. A
bill for equal taxation is in course of
preparation by members Of the General
Assembly. A resolution was adopted that
It was the sense Of the Farmers Insti
tute that bill be passed by the present
Legislature equalizing taxation on all
property. Secretary Clark was directed
TO transmit copy Of the resolution to
that body.