The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-01-26
GRANaERs, DEMANDS.
Want Listing System in the Assess
ment Bill-They will Insist
on this Feature.

on this Feature.
ANNAPOLIS, MD, Jan. 24-Mr. E.
J. Chiswell of Montgomery county,
made an address before the assess
ment committee today. Mr.. Chiswell
is chairman of a committee of the
Maryland State Grange. There are,
he said, about 1900 members of the
grange, and thirty subordinate
oranges in nearly all the counties
The grange, he explained, has no
connection with the Farmers Ali.
ance -Four other members of the
committee were expected to accom-
pany Mr.. ChiswelI. but they did
not come He said that it has been
objected that certain investments if
taxed would yield scanty income
to the holders. No property is max
ing q poorer return than farms. TIE
farmer of small capital if he have q
family may work twelve hours day
and make household drudge of his
wife, and then esteem himself fortu-
nate if the balance is not on the
wrong side at the end of the year.
The result is that the old landowning
citizens are leaving. The farmer
comes to the Legislature not asking
exemption from taxation or begging
a subsidy, but only for justice. The
most conservative bill is one which
taxes all property alike, and does
not deal out exemptions on one hand
and heavy taxation on the other.
All property should be taxed, even
including churches and cemeteries.
The granting of one exemption will
but increase the clamor for others
The farmer gladly accepted the
Hayes bill not as a perfect measure,
but as long stride toward equaliza
ton. Especially and most earnestly
are they in favor of the letting sys
teen. The machinery recon mended
by the Governor is too expensive to
be used except at long intervals and
these intervals work injustice and
inequality. He then gave some in.
stances of the escape of private secu
rites from the assessor in 1875 and
the prompt assessment of buildings.
The home rule system, at least for
the city, is favored if it can be
accomplished without changing the
con situation. The farmers of the
State are jealous of the 18th article
of the Declaration of Rights and will
resist any assaults made upon it. To
it alone they look for justice. The
farmers are also anxious about boards
of review. The idea is to give them
power to reduce. Care should be
taken to get good assessors and to
let their work stand or to be revised
by the county commissioners or
Appeal Tax Court The feature
separating land aud buildings is bad.
1t is impossible to separate the two,
80 the farm improvements are part
of the farm. There is no cash value
of farm lands without forced sale.
A large amount of property in
counties escape taxation as we'll as
IN the city
Where assessments are made once
in ten years person who escapes
the assessor escapes ten years taxes,
and this is too graet temptation,
and the usual method is too expen-
sive to be used more frequently.
Mr.. Bruce questioned Mr.. Chiswell
closely upon the listing system. He
SAID that there are but few taxpaye 9
in his county who can not write and
who would be unable to make out
the returns. Some M ght be subject
to the penalties of the bill, but ne
understood that the system is in
successful operation in other States
and be had heard of no great hard
ships restlting from it.
Mr.. Bruce asked whether be was
not aware that under the listing
system the assessable basis had de-
creased seventy millions in CaIifor
MIA. and that tax commission in
Ohio had recon nended its abol ton.
Mr.. Bruce asked whether Mr.. CHS.
we'll would advise the Legislature to
insist on the Hayes bill with the
knowledge that it would he vetoed
by the Governor and we would have
no assessment. To this Mr.. Chiswell
replied that he would put the respon
sibility on the Governor and let the
next Legislature try their hand on a
bill. "We have lived under tie old
law for many years." said Mr.. CHS
we'll, sand we can get along under it
a little longer" He explained that
the grange is not welded to the
Hayes bill, but accepted it as long
stride in the right direction. He
thought the Legislature should pass
a bill according to it's hest judgment
and then leave the Governor TO act
upon it according to his judgment.
Mr.. johnson asked Mr.. Chiswell how
he would assess land if not according
Ito its cash value. not at forced
sale ?" He replied that in California
it was gagged according to the val
uation at which a farm would be
taken by creditor in payment of q
just debt from a solvent debtor
BALTIC. San.
Trnnortont RilIa