The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-21
MUNICIPAL
LEAGUE.
Annual Meeting Held in
Palestine Hall.
PRES. GREEN REELECTED
Prof. Gardner's Remarks on the
Subject of Taxation.
AMASA NJ EATON'S RESOLUTION

The Municipal league held It's annual
meeting in Palestine hall last evening.
The president Arnold Green, presided.
and the executive committee presented
report on the work done by the league.
From this report IL appeared that the
league has participated in two municipal
elections and one state election. In 1898
the league endorsed the candidacy of
Hon. Il. ID. AlcGuinness for mayor, and
be was elected by plurality much
greater than that given President Nc
kinley in the city. In the state election
one senator ana nine representatives were
elected in Providence VINO were supported
by tho league. since the last meeting
William 4. Baker was elected over John
T.. Kendrick, Republican candidate.
The report recommended the appoint
ment OF "a permanent campaign commit
tee consisting of two members from eacn
ward The member ship Of the league was
now over 400.
When a report was called for from the
committee on taxation, Prof. Henry Is.
Gardner stated that the committee was
not yet ready, but nj the request Of the
president the professor stated his own
views on the subject. The question of
taxation, he said. is one that has received
a good deal OF attention during the last
20 years There have been about 30 COM
missions appointed by different cities and
states, and In Massachusetts during the
last years four or five reports have
been made. Everywhere there is a grow
ing call for revenue upon the part of
states and municipalities. Under the exist
ing tax system IL Is almost impossible TO
meet the increasing demand.
The chief difficulty is encountered In
the personal property tax.
There are some kinds Of personal prop
er.y that can To reached as well as real
estate anu there Is personal property rep
resented by titles, stocks bonds and
notes that IL is almost impossible In reach
in any way. That has been the almost
universal experience he believed I'm every
state in the Union whom they have
reached a point where they felt the neces-
sity of more complete assessment of per-
sopal property All sorts OF plans have been
tried. and In some places tax
payers were forced to make returns and
the almost universal experience has besn
that this method failed after it had been
in practices few years No larger pro-
portion OF personal property was reached
than had been the case in previous sys-
TENS.
o. The kind OF equality that arises under
that system is Of sort that does not
+ana-ta-a -alaallza- matters In any way.
Some people make returns because they
are extremely conscientious; other
peoples property happens TO go through
the court SO that there IN record of IL,
and some people dispose of real estate and
the amount is added To the personal prop
erty tax. There are certain chances
which lead TO tho property OF some per-
sons being taxed TO It's limit. The diff
Guilty Is not due % any fault on the part
of the assessors. 1t IL possible that the
assessors might be able TO get Mt the
amounts Of personal property just as fully
NJ they get at the real estate, and still IL
would be- possible TO avoid taxation. The
taxsfollows the domicile OF the owner and
it is always possible for person TO move
TO another town where he coEld make
better arrangements for himself Another
way To escape tins tax is To turn wealth
over into forms not taxable.