The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-03-04
Tax Wealth, Not Poverty.

TO encourage and facilitate the acqui-
sition of homes by those who now rent,
all dwellings occupied BY their owners,
or those depending on such owners for
support, should be exempt from taxes
to the amount of one thousand dollars
on its assessed value.
This would relieve from taxes those
who live In humble homes on slender
incomes, and would not affect appreci-
ably those having liberal incomes and
elaborate homes. 1t is assumed that
dwellings are assessed at seventy per
cent OF their value, admitting this to
be true and If there are any exceptions,
they are in favor ct the more expensive
homes
At this ratio of taxation, homes val
ued at about three thousand dollars
are now enjoying exemption from taxes
the amount suggested in this commits.
nication. and the palntial homes of the
wealthy are released from taxes many
times over what is here asked, thus it
is that the practice of undervaluation
discriminates against the poor.
ne ueuclt tnUs caused Is largely met
by increased burdens on the homes of
the city, this is previously unfair but
the exemption here claimed would be
equal, for it would exempt all homes
alike.
1t would give the owner of his home
an advantage over the Spectator and
landlord, the amount of this exemption.
The homes of tho common people are
matter of vital importance to the
community and are rs conducive to the
substantial welfare of the country, a.
are the houses OF the clergy and Office
holders who occupy homes provided for
them free of taxes; thei efore the poor
mans home should not be taxed.
Government is Q necessity and rev
evue must be provided sufficient to de-
fray all necessary public expenses;
taxes for this purpose should be levied
in manner to bear as lightly as posi-
BILE on the productive enterprises of the
people who give employment to labor,
while taxes could and should be in.
creased on that unproductive wealth
held out of use for speculative purposes
and thus force such property into use
vacant land.)
This subject should be brought be-
fore our legislators for their considera-
ton and action, they could hardly do
less than grant this exemption asked on
behalf OF the toiiing masses who are
the wealth producers of the country.
The industry of owning other PEG.
pies homes may be pleasant and profit
able for those engaged in it. but it con-
tributes nothing to the wealth or hap
piness of the community.
The system of landlord and tenant is
from civilization, but the
for men to escape this
condition of dependence on
landlords should be increased ny Offer
ing all tenants, on becoming owners of
their homes, exemption from taxation
at least one thousand dollars
The remission of taxes, on the many
small and inexpensive homes of our
people, would necessarily increase the |
rates on the larger aggregations of |
wealth; this would be adjusting taxa
ton on the lines of justice and equity.
The expedients resorted to, under the |
name and forms of taxation, are mostly |
Of the character that seek to satisfy |
their wants on the lines that offer least |
therefore the poor, and be-
,ause poor also helpless, property own
sr, falls an easy prey to those maudlin
and pays much higher tax
ate than his well-to-do and powerful
leighbors.
The taxing power of the government
hould be. used for the same purpose as
Ill its other functions, viz; for the
'reatest good to the greatest number.
Homes appraised at one thousand dol
ars have nothing but the plainest
lecessaries of life which are usually
obtained by severe toll These are
mple reasons why the tax collector
hould never enter the poor mans door.