The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-17

Ier CENT. increase oN4 4D.Z
Personally, 1900. 231, 1926 2S4,4iS,7S7
Personally, lS91....... 252, 935OS3 29l, 5SO, 2O7
Increase ..---...-... 21.764.s27 67,116.32
Per cent increase. 8 24.3
As might naturally be imagined, the
conclusions that the Journal draws from
combinations of its figures are more or
less lurid. They are also more or less I'M
reliable. The figures given above do not
include railroad property, which was in
creased from SOS, 762, $40 in 1890 to $780,
S09,575 in 1891. The fact that real estate
has been increased in value proportionately
more than personally is what is relied up
on by the republican tax-agitators to prove
that the honest farmer has been mstreat-
ed by the new tax law. 1t will not do.
At least it will not if the aforesaid farmer
is put face to face with the facts.
The chief escape of personally from tax
alton was in those cases where it was not
listed at all, and this was usually when it
was in the form of money. Money es-
capped for two reasons-1) false returns
and ~ exemption of greenback currency
under the laws OF the United States. As
is we'll known, an effort was made to reach
the former by an Investigation of the
books of the banks. but it was resisted and
the investigation was defeated by the
banks. Hence large portion of this is
not on the tax duplicates now. If a just
system of taxation is reached this defect
must be overcome, and the most effective
remedy yet suggested is tax the banks on
their average deposits and exempt depos-
itors from taxation on money in bank.
Whatever remedy may be adopted we have
no doubt that the position ofthe democratic
party with regard to this question in the
coming campaign will be quite as salts
factory to the people as that of the repub-
reached only by legislation by congress
making greenbacks taxable like other
money. Their present non-taXable quail
ity has been maintained by the repub-
hcan party in the interest of the moneyed
classes who hold them, or pretend to hold
them, for the purpose Of escaping taxation.
When specie payments were resumed the
late Senator MCDONALD tried to have an
amendment adopted making greenbacks
taxable but, the republicans defeated it
and have defeated similar amendments
several times since. We have no doubt
that the democratic position on this ques-
ton will be satisfactory to the people.
So long as this property and other prop
erty readily concealed is not on the tax
duplicates, any large increase of person.
atty would prove a wrong had been done
to the owners of visible personally, which
has been as fairly assessed in the past as
realty. 1t would show that the increase
had fallen on the horses, cows, farming
implements and crops of the farmer, and
on the household goods, tools and other
visible property of other citizens That
would be no advantage, certainly.
The figures merely prove what every one
knows, that certain kinds of personally
are escaping taxation notwithstanding the
stringent provisions OF the new tax law,
and that still more stringent measures
must be adopted. The democratic party
will advocate such measures. It has I'M
dertaken this reform in the interest of the
people and will carry it through.
But while it is true that the new tax
law has not accomplished everything, and
no tax law ever did. it has accomplished a
great deal. 1t has given us the most
equitable assessment that the state has
had for many years. 1t has for the first
time in the history of the state put the
corporations on the same footing as other
taxpayers. 1t has given the people a
true conception of the evils of the old sys-
tenn and demonstrated that under "true
valuation only could there be equality in
taxation. 1t has increased the taxes OF
the rich and in many instances decreased
the taxes of the poor. and yet it has not
been unjust. These facts are proven by
the actual results, and we do not believe
the people can be deceived concerning
them. On account of these facts we re-
peat that the democratic party is proud Of
this law and glad to stand by it. 1t is a
distinct advance in tax legislation and a
forerunner of other advances that will be
made in the future.