The Opelousas courier., 1894-11-03

sAT.RlCAE.

The Constitutional Convention and Leg,s-
lative Power to Change Tax Laws.
To the Editor of the Utica Daily Press.
Most people suppose that the consti-
t%utional convention was called together
to modernize the constitution. While
the convention is dotting is and cross.
ing is let us be careful that the consti-
tutional right of poular self-goyern,
ment Is not stealthily talten
from the people of this state,
not to- be recovered again for
twenty years. The writer wishes
to direct attention to the following
proposed amendment (No. AID, which
has been favorably reported to the con
vention: The legislature shall not
hereafter exempt from taxation any
property or class of property except
such as is now expressly exempted by
the statutes of this state" This
amendment is aimed at the Ainswofth
local option tax bill. 4 change, Of
three votes would have passed the bill
n winter. A change Of six votes
would have passed it another winter.
Last winter the leaders of both
parties voted for and worked for the
bill. Oneida county voted solidly for
the bil1, In order to permanently de-
feat local option the convention is on
the point of taking the jurisdiction
over the tax laws out of the hands of
the legislature. To prevent the people
from gaining local home rule, the peo-
pie of New York are to be forever de-
prived of self-government III the mat
ter of tax reforms. Our tax laws have
become sacred and perfect. Why not
make it a misdemeanor to speak dis
respectfully of the tax law? Why not
initiate Russia and forbid discussion of
the subject? Foreign books and papers
could be ruled out OR else heretical
passages could be hidden from the
eyes of weak-minded citizens by layers
of black paint. Says Mr.. Collins: 1T
is / who killed local option with my
little bow and arrow" Let it be whis-
pered that Mr.. Collins is the thunder
maker for the official organ Of
the Farmers Union League" Mr..
Collins proposes to oppose local option
in the name of all the farmers; and
yet Nj. Collins. has recently admitted
that the exemption of improvements
from local taxation, and thus leaving
taxation upon land values, would cause
the burden of taxation to fall where
the greater part zof land values lie,
that is, in cities. But Mr.. Collins al.
leges that counties with mixed, rural
and urban population are the excep-
ton. Do you hear that, farmers Of
Erie, Monroe, Broome, Chemung. Os-
wego, Jefferson, Albany, Rensselaer,,
Montgomery and Oneida? You would
be benefited by local option through
the shifting of part of the burden Of
taxation to the. cities, But because
other counties have not cities to
in like manner relieve them OF
excessive taxation, you are to be
marked Exceptional counties" and be
relief. What matters it that
the brilliant lead of New
Zealand, (see Consul Cono11y's report),
every English speaking legislative
body is considering the tax reform
problem. Thanks to Collins, we are to
no such problem. We are neither
to say "tax'' or think tax" And yet
have one solace-it would not be
without representation be-
cause Mfr. Collins represents us. THE
state, = says the emperor, L. D. Collins,
ut is I.''.%5t ~ JOIN D. Hilton.
Washington Mills, Sept. II, 1894.