Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-01-28
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the other II should be careful to observe tha
by unfair legislation their opportunities fo
the accomplishment of the legitimate purpose
for which they arc created are not unncces
sarlly crippled.
IL should not be forgotten that macy OF III,
improvements necessary for the proper deycl
opment OF the resources OF our state, and TO
the highest enjoyment by our people OF tn,
advanced civilization OF the present age, car :.
only be obtained through the aid Of grea
aggregations OF capital, and that this mua
largely come from voluntary subscriptions u
the capital stock Of Incorporated companies
From this day forward at least that country
viii lead the nations of the earth whose com
mercc Is most extensive.
The great thoroughfaros through which the
traffic OF u nation lows are literally the veins
and arteries OF It's corporate being.
To Impede ts progress To hamper the
culaton Of its life blood, is 20 plant the see
OF national decay, and reap us u result han
vest OF degenerate men,
While there should be no cessation OF con.
slant and ever watohiul care on the part Of
the legislature 10 see that transportation com
panics deal fairly with the public they serve,
1t Is equally necessary to keep IN mind their
importance Ia the state aud recognize the
fact that they are purely voluntary aseocia
tious, organized for pccuninry profit alone,
and that legislation, II adopted, which Is un.
fair to interests Of this character, viii Ia the
end result In permanent Injury TO the com
I
II cannot fail to he u source OF gratilca tito
20 all that the widely varied views Of many OF
our people on the one side aud those interest.
ell Ia lines of transportation ON the other,
which have been q source OF 80 much dsa
grecment IN the past, are gradually approach.
ing Just and harmonious union on lines that
are fair 90 both
All that now seems necessary Ia pcrmn.
nently unite the real interests Of these parties,
each Of which Is dependent upon the
prosperity OF the other Tor its own success, Is
u fair aud Just administration OF the laws
already enacted; aud such reasonable amend
mcnts thereto, II any aye required, MS expert,
cncc may demonstrate arc necessary for an
honorable adjustment OF the rights of each
upon the basis Of absolute fairness TO both.
STATE REVENUES,
II Ia unQucstonahy true that as the nations
OF the earth advance IN civilization the gov
ernments thereof become more and more OK.
pensiye.
IL seems an imperative law of our being
that each additional privilege We are per-
mittod TO enjoy shall, 90 some extent NJ least,
be compensated for by counter balancing
demand upon our resources aud consequent
restriction of some Of our desires In another
direction.
II the burdens Of government could be fair
~ distributed, so that each member Of SO
ciety should be required TO contribute thereto
according 20 hIs means, there would bo less
necessity for care on the part Of those ''h
control governmental appropriations, For iu
that event the load whether light or heavy,
would be borne by all Ia proportion To their
ability 10 carry the same, AMI n common
interest Influenced by considerations OF equal
Importance to each would soon lead 10 the
adoption OF u scale Of expenditures with which
the masses ut least would be satisfied.
Unfortunately, however, this problem of
fair distribution OF public burdens has never
yet been solved, and II Ia not probable II ever
Will la with entire
cannot feel, however, that the subject has
been approached, either In the state or nation,
with Tint spirit OF fairness that ought always
10 characterize the actions OF men,
In our own commonwealth II has long since
ceased to be even u moral delinquency Ia tho
eyes 81 many of our people TO avoid, by any
method less than the violation of u criminal
statute, their share Of the necessary expense
OF maintaining the government that protects
them
Every possible means are rcsorted to by
many men To unload these burdens from
shoulders abundantly able 90 bear them and
allow them To be carried 10y those To whom
they are indeed u cross greater than they are
able 10 endure
To accomplish this, laws fair upon their
face have been openly violated until nearly
every one has come TO consider II an
entirely proper thing To do, for public
officers even, 10 Disregard the plain
language Of our statutes In the assessment OF
properly lbf TAXATION anu NHl', hihl mas lcu
To the alarming want Of integrity manifested
IN the disposition Of 80 many OF our people TO
escape any assessment whatever whenever
thi Is practicable.
He who Ii capable Of deviBing system by
which the expenses Of the government shall be
limited 10 Its reasonable necessities and its
burdens distributed so that they shall be fairly
and Justly apportioned among all our people
viii prove y bencfactor OF his race and deserve
the gratitude Of all.
Al present Ia this state we are practically
without any legal system for the valuation OF
real property IN assessing II for taxation be-
! cause by common consent the law In this re-
spcct Is totally ignored by those whose duty II
Is TO value the same.
We ARE equally destitute Of any practicable
method by which all the personal property Of
the state liable 10 taxation can DC brought to
light, or the value aseertalncd of that which is
discovered
II the custom which has been adopted Of
assessing property at u fraction Of It's value Il
W be continued, II should be 80 provided by
law and uniform rule established on this
subject.
IL is however, In my Judgment, a matter for
unlimited regret that we have permitted a
| plain provision Of the statute liking u definite
| rule for the valuation Of all property to be
| superseded by custom ms variable MS the
! whims Of men and sometimes ms destitute OF
the spirit OF fairness, rs II Is OF law Tor It's
| support.
| That some changes In our present methods
| Of lcvyiDg and collecting the taxes OF tho
state should be adopted seems apparent.
| do not, however, believe IL practicable for
members Of the legislature In the brief time
| allotted them during a session thereof, with
| the constant aud varying demands upon their
| time which their duties necessarily impose, To
| formulate and perfect n system that would be
| n substantial improvement upon that now In
| force.
| IL this IL to be accomplished Mt all II must
I come through the aid Of commission APP
| pointed by the legislature and clothed with
| power TO perfect bill and report II To some
| future session Of that body for final action
| thereon.
| There are however. some defects In exist
ing statutes affecting the revenues OF the state
| which ia my judgment II Is the duty OF the
| present legislature to correct
There is no valid excuse for any law that
! furnishes compensation for one servant OF
| the people In excess of the fair and reason
| able value Of the services he performs
Public opinion In Iowa has long associated
with the office Of inspector OF Oils'' fees
exorbtantly IN excess Of the value Of the busi
ness capacity and labor required to perform
| the duties thereof.
am convinced that this opinion has some
| foundation In fact.
Whether or not the commonly accepted
belief Is an exaggeration of facts is not the
| question OF greatest Importance.
| L
| of the Office are to some extent In excess OF
| the value OF the labor necessary 10 perform
| its duties.
This excess whatever II is rightfully belongs
| To the state and not to any Individual OF
political party.
The legislature should require the fees OF
| this office to be paid into the treasury anu Tx
| salary for the chief inspector and for each
| of his assistants commensurate with the value
Of the services they perform.
| The argument that by such system tho
| character of the service rendered viii be de-
| Perforated is without weight. There are HUI
| dreds OF men in Iowa capable and willing TO
| faithfully perform the duties OF this Office Tor
| what the labor is reasonably worth.
| There may be other cases that wili occur 70
| the minds OF members where reforms OF this
| nature are needed. II so their duty Is plain
| The people Of our state are willing to fairly
| compensate those who devote their time and
energies to the public service.
| They ought not under any circumstances 90
! more than this.
Upon you whose privilege 1t has become 70
| shape the legislation Of your state q great re-
spopsibility has been placed