The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-13
Discussed by the Beacon
Hill Society,".
More Effective Tax Laws In
sisted on by Speakers.
Committee Appointed to Present
Memorial 10 Legislature.

| EiiI Improvement Association. Numer-
ous remedies were suggested and there
was a unaniniity on tho rart OF the
speakers in denouncing the present sysss
TEN in Rhode Island. Mayor McGunness
soid In part:
"Ihe first law OF taxation is that per-
son should contribute towsrn the support
of the community according to the share
Of his benefits. Aftor a number of invss-
| LEGATIONS 1t has been found that many do
not bear their share.of the burdens OF the
State. For a mans personal property Is
not taxed according to the place where II
10 located, but according TO the place
where the owner claims residence. Often
| q mans business Is situated in this city
| and IL receives protection uuder the fire
depart ment and police department. Yet
not one cent Is paid into the treasury OF
| the city of Providence. Many wealthy
citizens own two homes. In one they
may live out of town for six months and
a day, aud in the other one day less than
| six months, claiming residence at the
former place. They then make comforta-
ble arrangements with the treasurer OF
the town and sbirk their responsibilities.
"a committee Of the Leg gislature which
sought TO remedy this evil has suggested
that ell tangible personsl property be
taxed where it stands. Another sugges-
tion wss that there should be levied tax
on collateral inheritauces. Another wes
that there should DO q tax on express and
transportation companies doing business
in the State. These plsns for relief were
unan imously favored bv the members Of
the committee. But on account Of the
taken up.
"Auother matter and one that ! men,
toned in my message, was the subject OF
street franchises. Some seem to have the
idea that the Legislature owns our streets.
For nothing, the people of this city have
surrendered their riA rs In the city
streets to q powerful corporation. The
Union Railroad Company watered its
stock to something like the amount OF
s., 900, 900 and bonded it for $40, 900, 900
believe, as q res ult Of this gift.
81 am glad to see these discussio ions.
The persons who own franchises do not
wish meetings of this nature to be held.
A man who owns q small home and one
often mortgaged, Doesn't want to Dear
increased taxes when he is not paid fair
rate OF interest for the use of the public
streets.
"1he citizens are thinking over these
questions conservstively. They are acting
slowly but inevitably. / welcome these
meetings, as they bring to the. attention
of the whole people the truth in regard
to these questions, and will ultimately
show thom . way TO secure ail the civic
and municipal blessings OF the day,
without shouldering additional taxes. |
The burdens of the State should be fairly |
among its citizens"
Mr.. Thomas w. Bicknell enumerated |
the following POINTS relating to the sub
ject:
1. Universality of Taxation. This prin- |
ciple declares that the person and mis- |
real belongings are part Of the States |
the subjects Of It's protection.
As the individual is the recipient of all |
that government has to bestow, either in
positive good or immunity from evil, he |
10 obligated to IL IN return for its SER |
vices, true manhood 10 elevated by this |
rule.
2. Equality of Taxation. This princi-
ple afirms that all men are to bear the
burdens not equally in amount, but ac-
cording to their several ability. This is
W hat John Stuart Mill calls Equality of |
sscrifice.' "For what reason ought |
Equality to be tho rule in tho matter OF
tsxstion?" he says, and replies "For the
reason that 1t ought to be so in all affairs
Of government. AZ government ought
10 make no distinction OF persons or
classes in the strength OF their clsims on
IL, whatever sacrifice 1t requires from
hem should I've made to bear rs nesrly ~
possible with the same pressure upon ell,
wrich. IL must be observed, Is the mode
by W wbich least sacrifice is occasioued on
tho whole. II any person hears less than
his fair share OF the burden, some other
person mus, suffer more than his share,
md the alienation TO the one Is not, on
he average, $50 great a good TO him, as
he increased pressure on the other IL an
svil.n Equality OF taxation therefore ss
\ maxim Of polite, means equality OF
'acri ice.
8. Taxation should be regulated to
keep capital at home, rather than feud II
,broad.
4.-Tsxstiop should he certain I'm
amount and method OF payment ana
ordered paid at the greatest conseniepcs
Df the texpaycr.
s. Those things should be tsr,d which
permanent values as re,l estste,
snd which ore not capable of being con-
renlet from the putlic view. Porsons and
real estste sre the only rssl,is'. Personal
propsriy sbould not he included in muni-
tipsl tsSstion.
9. Tnx,tion should encourage home
and the ownership Of homes, rs
Di prime importance To society and To the
individual. II should encourage the wsgo