The advocate., 1891-10-28

well w mhA0 inquiry Oh bOm0 OL O09
agencies Of this association:
There Is in the great city Of New York an or.
ganizallOn known as the New York Tax Reform
Association. It's headquarters are at room 96,
III Broadway. One of the pIsnkE of the aSsOcEa-
ton reads as follows:
Mortgages and capital engaged I'm production
OF trade should be exempt from taxation, be-
cause taxes on such Capl9al'tend TO drive il away
and put premium on dishonesty and TO dis.
courage industry.
Another plank reads as follows:
Real estate should bear the main burden OF
taxation, because such taxes can be most easily
cheaply and certainly collected.
These two planks present marvelOusIy curl
OuS principle Of reform. They mean just this:
That the owners and cultlvatOrs Of land-the
producers Of material and wealth-shall be
taxed, while capital, bonds, interest bearing
mortgages and notes shall not be taxed. To
speak little more plainly, these plsnks mean
that real property shall be taxed, while wealth
shall not be taxed.
There's scarcely any necessity for an asSocia-
don for the purpose Of bringing about such state
Of affairs, for It exists already. In round numbers
the wealth of the country Is 100000 100000.
Something over @2O OOO 600 Of this is returned
for taxation, and Of this 900 the farm
eTS own nearly so per cent. and pay taxes on It.
The other $4,000 100000 Of wealth pays no taxes
at all.
Now, this, Tax Reform Association Of New
York is afraid that something will be done to
make this $4O,OOO, 100000 pay Its prOportiOnate
share Of the public tax. Justice and equity de-
mand that It should pay tax. It has the same
protection from law that other property has,
and It's value Is sustained by the same power
and agencies. Every able bodied man In the
country Is subject to cOmpulSlon in the matter Of
bearing arms and fighting to protect that
propertyand wealth, II such protection should
be needed. Why, then, should It be exempt
from Its prOpOrtlOnate share Of the public bur-
den?
But such organizatlOnsaS the Tax Reform AS
SOcIation do not stop to consider the justice OF
the thing. They are governed and guided by
greed and selflshness and avariCe. They work
to avoid helping and aiding the very society
which gives their capital and wealth It's value
How do they go about It? The following conf
dental circular letter, q copy Of which has
fallen into the hands Of the Reform Press Bu-
reau, will show:
NEW YORK, July IA, 1891.
sIR:-The history af the late sessions Of the
legislature shows that unless prompt and very
efficient steps are taken the next one will bring
q stringent listing tax bill.
These bills require sworn list Of all property,
bonds, notes, accounts, stocks, with their cost
and worth; an inventory Of all money In hand
and all debts, and to whOlA due, and win doubt
less provide Ike bills In other states, for BpieS
rewards for infOrmerS and penalties for false
Oaths.
Does this seem impossible? Unless organized
effort be opposed by organization some such law
Is not only possible, but certain.
The merchants Of the cities must be impressed
and united by personal Interviews. Every edi.
tor q 2 country paper must be aroused, and, II
possible, convinced on this subject.
This will require large sum Of money. We
can work only as means are supplied.
Bankers aud other corporations and estates
are the most vulnerable, and would, first Of the
community, feel the injury Of such legislation.
A rough calculation shows that there are over
1000 such doing business on large scale In New
York.
il each would contribute $40 We would have
enough TO educate such legislation out OF the
question now and forever.
How many win do 80?
We have no salaried officers and our expenses
are small, but printers and clerks must be paid.
The names Of opr trustees are guarantee that
your money viii be well used.
WIN you, sir, ask your directors to do your
part9 -,
At any rate, win you see that your concern In
some way contributes SIS?
Stamped envelope Is inclosed and reply and
the decision OF your concern requested, az It.
win save personal solicitation.
This 10 business, not politics; insurance, not
beneV0lence. Yours truly,
THOMAS BERKELEY,
Chairman Of Finance Committee.
Now, We do not attempt to make the Tax Re-
form Association responsible for this circular.
Tha naanniafinn "a a hohv NAV knnK nothing