Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-11
TAXATION TALK.
fconnnned From First PsEs-'


- 49, =
cages was no less than 1t was on per-
sonal property, IN spite Of the law
In answer to question from Chair
man Marble as to how he would force
people to make a return Of their per-
sonal property, Mr., Otis said he would
fetch them before the court and deal
with them for contempt If they refused
to answer.
Hon. Henry A. Marsh called the at
tention Of the speaker to that part OF
the commissions report which advo-
Gated the taking by the state OF the eX-
cess corporation tax and the assumption
of the county expenses; and Mr.. Otis
said he was opposed to it. He said 1t
would mean a loss to Worcester In an
average year Of $4,000 instead Of about
$27, 600, as estimated by the commission
ers. Besides, he did not believe 1t was
good policy to allow one board to spend
money and another to raise it.
Charles A. Chase put a question to
Mr.. Otis relative to a farmer in Dudley
who owned 10 shares Of Boston and AL
bany stock valued at $2250. The state
collects the tax and sends it to the treas
urer of the town. Now, this farmer de-
cides to build q house just over the line
in Connecticut, and takes his stock with
him. The state of Massachusetts con-
tinues to collect the tax on the Boston
and Albany shares, but does not send ii
to Dudley; and the town Of Thompson,
into which the farmer moves comes
down on him and taxes him on the
$2250. Is not that double taxation?
Mr.. Otis responded that the farmer
suffered no hardship. He moved over
into Connecticut to better his condi-
ton, and if he took property with him
he ought to pay taxes on it. Otherwise,
he would have the town of Thompson
protecting dhim and educating his chill
dren free of expense.
Rev. John Gregson took a hand in
this discussion with the query: rs the
present system of taxation just?" Mr..
Otis said he thought it is proportional
and just when well administered but
he admitted that too much personal
property escaped taxation. 1t would not
be so had not the moneyed power in the
community spent so much money to
prevent desirable changes in the law.
Mr.. Gregson wanted to know what Mr..
Otis thought would be the effect of the
proposed single tax on land values on
the business of the community, and Mr..
Otis said it would disturb business to
such an extent that would be better for
the business men to pay the entire
amount now raised by taxation Mr..
Gregson then made little single tax
speech, in which he combatted the idea
advanced by Mr.. Otis, that a man
should be taxed in accordance to his
ability to pay. He insisted that the
single tax was right, and that it would
ultimately prevail
Justin A. Ware wanted to know by
what rule of equity large tracts of land
are taxed by the acre, while land sur
rounding them, divided up into house
lots, are taxed by the foot at a higher
rate. Mr.. Otis replied that assessors
We're obliged to tax land at its market
value, and it is hard to tell what is the
market value of large undivided lot.
1t is estimated that it takes one-sixth
of large acreage for streets and it
costs thousand of dollars to lay it out
into lots, grade 1t and make it fit for
residence purposes. He said that as
soon as the owner divides his land up
into lots, then the assessors tax it by
the foot; but they do not increase the
amount Of the tax unless they are of
the opinion t:lat it's market value of the
property has been increased
On motion of A. w Parmelee a vote
of thanks was rendered to Mr.. Otis, and
the meeting adjourned to a discussion
Of a small collation. served at the lower
end of the hail