The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-03-18

iatc William Hall of the Bell Telepho,,
Co. +. s Hubbard & Co., c. Il. Dunba
ana others Mr. Foord said yesterda
concerning the association and il
work:
The membership Is extending to al
parts of the state, and similar, though
independent, associations are crcaniz
Ing in Baltimore, Maryland, Scranton
IA; Portland, Ore, Toronto, Canada
and hercities. In the winters Lectures
are given to New York farmers TO pe
the idea of taxing personal pfopert,
out OF their heads. It ia only the farm
er's lack of Information that car,se,
MIN to urge the taxation Of persona
property. The association Is an orpani;
Aation OF business men who want to see
the taxes collected in business nan:
nes II exists for the rafpose of com
batting bad tax legislation and work
ing ia the interest of good legislation.
"Will a bill be introduced for the
taxation of real estate only? Mr.. Feord
was asked.
I'VE want to educate the people, hs
answered, "and then leave the intro.
duction of any bill for taxation 10 their
good sense. We want TO forestall bad
legislation. IL is easier and better To
do this than to bring about the repeal
OF bad law. Many people have not
given much thought to the subject of
taxation. They say II the tax were on
real estate only, some would totally
escape bearing their just share Of the
burden. As matter Of fact. eyery-
BODY has to use real estate, and when a
tenant pays his rent he is necessarily
paying his proportion of tax, which has
been added to the rent by the land
owner, who has paid his tax
In regard to the relationship of tax-
alton to personally and real estate, re-
spectively, the reflection of the value
that the public, or population, gives to
real estate is clear. For instance, we
viii say merchant has barrel of
Hour Tor sale for say s., which repre-
sents personality, and another has
piece OF real estate for sale. Now, il
tomorrow the population of Buffalo
were increased 100000, or just double
the present figure, the man who held
the real estate could sell his property
for about double, or more than double.
its former value, but the merchant with
the barrel of flour could not for that
reason sell his product for nickel more
than before. This shows distinct re-
iection OF value that the population, or
The public, gives to real estate, and if
t thus confers SO large a proportion
II value, it most certainly, in order to
'quare the account. should pay back to
he public that has conferred the value
omething in return.
The reason for this difference is that
he supply of personal property can be
increased indefinitely as the demand in
reases, while the increased facilities
fforded by improvements in the arts
4 production and the growth and con-
entration OF population tend to reduce
ne cost of production. But as real es-
ate must be partly land, the supply is
early fixed, and an increased demand
neans, of course. increased value"
How are funds secured to keep the
in existehce?r
I'm Buffalo and New York some of
ne members are very wealthy men,
nd they give according to their
leans"
Mr. Foord spoke of the evil effects
the New York corporation tax
rvs, and the personality law in
hio, which, according to the BUSH
ass men OF Cincinnati, has driven
uch capital and business out of the
ate to be invested elsewhere. Michi-
IN also has law that makes it almost
apostolic to borrow money in Detroit.
'lifornia has a law that has caused a
eat deal of lodging and led to the
Election of some of the most absurd
nsus certificates ever heard of.
The association is circulating petit
'ns, to which many responses are be-
received 1t is as follows:
A BUSINESS LAW.
The undersigned respectfully request
cir representatives to vote for a law
accordance with the following prin.
,les:
!. This county should bear its fair ]
rden OF the taxes, and should collect ,
EN- whichever way it thinks best.
:. Stocks of merchandise, household
rniture, money owing or used in busi- :
IS, should not be taxed, because hon.
", trade and home-making should be |
couraged, not discouraged.
The consumers pay the taxes, and :
cry one should know how much he I
to pay and what he pays for.
l. Taxes should be mostly on real es. :
e, because these taxes can not be a
dyed and are least hard on the indus. i,
ous.
inc' sssss ..sss 80.
Der and street. &
VI to"H Ii. 49,. p
I you are interested in taxation. G.
lnge any part of this which you do
agree with. sign and mail to the 81
ce OF the secretary of the New York Ell
x Reform association, No. III Broad is
y, New York. t.
harles f. Dunbar, who is one of the Il