The Opelousas courier., 1894-12-22
AGAINST DOUBLE TAXATION.

AGAINST DOUBLE TAXATION.
Formation of a League In Massachusetts
Composed of Leading Business Men of
the State---Declaration of Principles.
BosroN, October.
1.-THE Massachusetts, Anti-Double
Taxation League" has just been formed
in this city to carry OF the fight for
more equal taxation which has been
waged hotly, without substantial re-
suit to either side, for the last four
years in the legislature. The president
is Alexander S. Porter. a leading real
estate man: the general counsel is
Richard Fl. Dana, who was counsel for
the same side of the contest at the last
session of the legislature; the treasurer
is Horatio G. Curtis. Among the di-
rectors are men we'll known all over
the state and outside. They include
Charles Francis Adams, Mayor Mat
thews, ex-Railroad Commissioner
Croker. Charles U. Getting, one of the
heavy real-estate men of Boston; Jon.
athan a. Lane, a leading merchant;
William II. Sayward, secretary of the
Master Builders association; Charles
E. Adams of Lowell, president of the
Massachusetts state board of trade; w.
w. Grape, of New Bedford, Exon
gresham Whiting of Holoyke, X
Mayor Converse of Maiden, Edward
Atkinson, T. jefferson Coolidge, jr.,
and ex-Collector Beard. The declara-
ton of principles is as follows:
| . nS.11- .~--x.-- - H. ..-s.nk
and injurious to the best interests of
the commonwealth. The object of the
league is the abolition of double taxa
ton, whether this taxation falls upon
property protected elsewhere and al
ready taxed, Or upon both borrower
and lender in respect of the same prop
erty, OR upon income derived from
property already taxed.
Also the abolition of the taxation Of
obligations of the state or municipali-
ties of Massachusetts. of which the in
terest is already a product of taxation,
and the principal must be raised by
taxation.
We. therefore, mutually associate
ourselves for the purpose of urging up
on our fellow-citizens. and especially
upon the legislature, such amendments
in the laws as will correct the system
in these particulars; and also strenu-
ously to oppose any of those changes
in the laws now advocated which
would tend to aggravate the evils of
double taxation.
The practical points which are Gov
cred by this abstract declaration are
the double taxation of stocks of for
stocks in trade which have been bought
with borrowed money, which money is
taxed as well as the goods which have
been bought with it, the prevention of
the proposed return to the double tax
alton of mortgaged real estate, the ex-
emption of municipal bonds from tax
alton, and the exemption from the in
come tax at least a part which is now
taxed. The income tax law of Massa-
chusetts specifically says that so much
of the income as is derived from prop
erty which has once been taxed shall
not be taxed. but there is a decision in
court in 1870 which says that the in
come of a capitalist is from his capital,
industry. and skill. The industry and
skill are no property which has al
ready been taxed. and therefore the
income from his capital, which has
been taxed, must be further taxed be-
cause of the items of industry and skill
which enter into it. Hence the provis-
ion of the law is worth nothing. The
league proposes to restore the law to
its original purpose.
Opposed to this league is the state
Grange and the farming interest gen.
orally. 1t is this element which has
been agitating for four years for a law
to compel sworn returns to the assess
ors of all personal property which is
subject to taxation and which would
put the screws upon the taxpayers
more stringently than YER. There is
strong opposition between these two
elements. The farmers urge that they
are overtaxed, while the rich people
evade their just taxes. Class feeling is
a great factor in the case. The poorer
element control enough votes to pre-
vent the passage of the desired laws to
prevent the double taxation of foreign
corporation stocks, while the other ele-
ment has been able to prevent s~tricter
returns Of personal property for taxa
ton. Each side believes that it is the
victim of gross injustice, and each pro-
fesses to want only equitable taxation.
This contest is wholly independent of
the single tax theory and any other
modern theory of the tax reform.-N.
Y. Evening Post.
Equality il Equity.
Legislation, Senator Hill declared.
must be for the whole people. If real
estate is 10 be taxed. then all real es-