The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-30
DEPRESSING THE PEOPLE.
In the Interest of ce.holders:
and TaX.title Sharks.


and Tax.title Sharks.
They used to laugh at US, in the
State Senate, when we declared
against the policy of treating the
owners of property, who were in de-
fault for their taxes, as criminals
and outlaws. We asserted that the
great end of government was not
the collection Of taxes but the happi-
ness of the people. The three hun
dred thousand voters of Minnesota pay
fourteen million dollars of taIes ere1y gear,
OR FORTY SIX DOLLARS AND ST NTY-
SIX CENTS EACH..! And the govern
ment supported by these taxes refuses
to protect the people, but takes the
part of the thieves to rob them: and
then when they are unable to pay
real-estate taxes at maturity, the gov
eminent puts penalty Of 10 per cent
on them; and then charges them 12
per cent per annum on the amount;
and encourages. shysters to come in
and buy their property, by an agree
ment that if they don't get the citi-
zens' property for oAe-tenth it's value
they shall have back their principal
and interest from the county. Why
don't they go step farther and have
the state offer bounty for the heads
OF delinquent taxpayers, as liberal as
the bounty they give for wolves
scalps? Surely the wretches ought
not to be permitted to live! A man
who can't pay promptly ought to die.
But the coffee is getting too strong
even for the fools. We quote the fol-
lowing article from the st. Paul Globe
of January 18th. We do not expect
the Legislature will do anything. The
bankers and usurers, and tax-sharks,
and oflice-holders will swarm, and tell
the Legislature that the first duty Of
government is to squeeze the last drop
of blood out Of the taxpayers
To he Editor of the Globe.
1T is appalling to see the large
amount OF property daily published in
the st. Paul Dispatch. giving notice
| that upon the I'd day Of May, 1895, the
time of redemption for the non-pay-
ment OF taxes will expire. Now it is
apparent that large number of citi-
zens will inevitably lose their estates
and in many instances their homes.
This is undoubtedly the result of
reckless expenditures of the public
money, and to meet the deficiency
over per cent is levied upon an eX-
cessive valuation of real estate. rem
dering it impracticable for thousands
OF citizens to meet the demand of the
tax collector. 70 make the payment
of the taxes still more onerous and
unjust, punishment. is inflicted upon
the unfortunate owner of property by
a penalty of Is per cent added to the
already high rate charged. and to
make it still worse II per cent per
annum is levied upon the whole
amount until paid. 1t is difficult to
understand how legislatures can be
induced to pass such insane laws. A
man who is unable from financial dis
tress TO meet the payment of tax is
not subject Of punishment, but is
entitled to leniency. II it is impos-
sible to pay the tax when due, the in
Fiction Of heavy penalty will not
help the matter. The city can bor-
row all the money it wants at a per
cent; then can any reason be assigned
why poor citizen should be com
PEELED to pay for the first year after
delinquency the enormous interes Of
Fl per cent? The object of govern
ment is supposed to be for protection
and not to oppress. A delinquent in
the payment Of lis tax from Inability
is not criminal, and is entitled to
receive all the constitutional protec-
tion that a humare system OF laws
can grant. Heavy penalties do not
mend the matter. 1 a party cannot
pay without penalty, he cannot nav
with it added. The Is per cent
charged for delinquency is enormous,
and should be reduced or entirely done
away with, and the interest should be
reduced from II per cent to I. The
time of redemption ought to be in
creased from three to five years. the
same as in assessments for local i'm
| prOvcmcnts. JJNIUs.
There is only one thing more to do:
take the taxes off the banks, rail
roads, mills, foundrics, palaces, in
comes, imports, manufactures and
everything else, and put it on these
poor devils whose homes are now bel ne
taken from them by excessive taxation
Give it to them. Hit 'em again.
| they've got no friends. And when the
last foot of land is gone hand over G..
j. Buell. to them to reason with. He
will demonstrate to them that the
more is taken from them the more
they have left:-that subtraction is
the same thing as addition; and that
expenditures and income are Identical.
| Selah. ID.