The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-10-06
Friday, Oct. 6, 1898.
The Taxing Question.


object in view haye prepared circular
letter, containing The follow questions, to
which the League requests answers:
Question l. Do you believe that our pres
ent Tax Laws ought to be changed?
Answer. We certainly do.
Question 2. Is that the best method of
taxation, which raises the needed revenue
ola community while retaiding as little as
may be, its prosperity? If not, what should
be the test of wise taxing system?
Answer. There would seem to be but one
answer to this question. That system Of
taxation which least retards prosperity is
surely the best; or would be when found.
The reverse, however, has been the
practice.
Question 8. Do you believe that all taxa
ton Of intangible personal property is in
reality double taxation
Answer. The term "intanglble personal
property is defined in question four, and
in answer we would say that comparatively
little Of such property pays, under our pres
ent taxing laws, even single tax.
Question 4. Do you believe that taxes on
different species of property, VIZ:
~ Real Estate Il. e. the ground value
simply.)
(2) Improvement TO Real Estate lie,
houses, barns, orchards, crops, &c.
(3) Tangible personal property ii. e. fur
niture, horses, wagons, tools, agricultural and
other implements, &C., &C.,
AZ Intangible personal property it,
stocks, bonds promissory notes, &c, g.
ought to be levied at exactly The same rate
If not what differences or exemptions
would you believe to be wise?
Answer. This question, in lis scope, en-
braces all the others and is far reaching in
it's inquiry. "Levied at exactly the same
rate" is not very clear. If what is meant
by the same rate' is the cost value or
what the articles might sell for, we answer
yes and no. Yes, if under the present
theory and system of taxation If it were
possible to ascertain the cash value by an
assessor, of such property, which it is not,
never has been and never can be, therefore
such system is the most unjust and in
equitable that it is possible to conceive
demanding radical change. The simple
eatue of property embraced in sub-questions
l, 2 and 8 cannot be ascertained. They are
all indispensable to the creation of wealth
n ho 10
wealth producer of one of his hands, as Of
the tools by which alone he is enabled to
produce wealth. The farmer must have
land or he is powerless 10 produce wealth.
He must have houses, barns for shelter for
his family and his stock. His orchard bears
the same relation as a medium of wealth
production as the land. His crops are the
gross result of all his outlay of labor, care,
assisted by the appliances enumerated in
sub.questions l 2 and 3. To lay tax on
any or all Of these tools, assistants or me-
dune of wealth production is TO virtually
impede the producer of wealth in bis efforts
TO add TO the sum total of values, and is an
injury not only to the individual most
directly concerned, bat to the general public
also. The land, houses, barns, tools, fur
niture, domestic animals, contain in them
selves no actual wealth, but are all neces
sary tools 10 acquisition of wealth and 10
tax them Is to impede the production of
wealth. The stock and crops which are
converted to cash at the end of the year con-
siitute the wealth resulting from the COM
bined use of all of these appliances, and the
net profit remaining after the necessary
expense of creating the wealth Is the only
source subject to taxation which would not
interfere with the production of wealth,
and from this the tax ought to be taken If
the demands of justice are complied with.
In other words the net income of business
should determine the value Of all the me-
dunn employed In producing it, and from
that tax may be taken without injury 10 the
business or distressing the party on whom
the tax is levied. To sub.q question relat-
ing to stocks, bonds, etc., similar answer
is applicable. The income derived from
them IS the measure Of their value, and if
our old system of taxation is retained, the
income derived from every business should
be the measure of the value Of all the APP
planes involved in producing the results
of that business. Such are subject TO yearly
changes, and those changes should govern
The assessment. This method of ascertain.
ing just taxable value Of personal property
by the income il produced could be more
nearly ascertained by the listing method
than any other.
Question 8. Would you favor the exemp.
ton WHOLLY or in part) of the various forms
of personal property or improvements to
real estate?
We would favor wholly the exemption oil
personal property embraced in the foregoing
question and levy the taxes on. the rental
values which the opportunities of location
afford, and upon the net incomes derived
from business.
1t is impossible to patch or remedy our
present antiquated systems oftaxation which
are wholly outgof harmony with present
conditions, which have undergone radical
changes, while our systsms of taxation haye
remained unchanged. 1t is like patching
old garments with new cloth, to attempt