The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-23

<nV u'S3cFttt kV,It itcts II 3tt0W| SuCu n
systcm Is not only to rob the minority
thus unduly burdened but u to rob the
State OF that which u essential 10 lis
healthy exietencc, and. indeed, 10 the life
OF republican instituions Honesty and
carcfuincss in public expenditure will have
no effective watchers. The watch Of the
minority viii be intellectual. and the ma
iority will be careless as TO the usc OF
funds, 10 the accumulation or which 1t has
NOT contributed.
For very many years an opinion has
been prevalent that the great bulk Of tte
personal property OF the States, especially
OF the class deuoniinated securities. In.
GLIDING stocks, bends, notes, mortgages and
such like. has Escaped taxation. With "a
very few exceptions tho great fortunes In
this country are Invested in such securi-
tics. The delinquency apreaIs to be To-
Gated largely IN our GREAT cities Recent
Investigations OF students OF political ocl-
ercc, and recent tables prepared by State
officials, have disclosed an appalling con-
dition of things. The evil seems TO have
been progressing until, In some OF our
great ctnters Of population and wealth.
these forms OF personal property seem 10
have been almost eliminated from the tax
list.
I'm New York State the proportion ~
personal property assess~AA Tor taxation Is
only about " per cent Of tho total amount
of property taxed. Yet Comptroller ROB
crts OF that State .exprcsses the opinion
tlat the taxable personal propsfty owned
In the State is at least equal TO the amount
Of real estate. Illinois and many other
States present the Same coalition, differ.
ing only IL degree.
at Is cosy To see how this ctfcnse
against patriotism has grown TO such pro-
portions The very sense that Inequality
Is injustice has promoted H. one man
l.sI. hlasNf AMI IiNQ
seicntious tax return. and that II hs re-
turns his property honestly he VIII pay
dispropcrtionately, The result Va that his
conscience finds salye In the saying
everybody docs IT.
eli Is probably also true that under the
tax laws OF many OF our States double
taxation results, and taxpayers take u
upon themselves TO remedy this defect tu
the law. not by the methods prescribed IN
the constitution, but by lesvthG OF FROM
their tax returns such stocks and scoufi-
Hes as they suppose 10 he taxed invother
States.
Taxes are L debt OF the highest ohiga.
ton and no easuist can draw sounu
moral distinction between the man who
hides his property or makes u fslse return
in order TO escape payment of his debt 70
the State. and the man who colocais ms
property from his private rreusters Nor
should it be more difficult 10 follow the
defanlter in the one case than In the other.
IL our taxes We're farrncd out 10 an ia
diyidual or 10 Il corporation they Would be
collected as fully as private debts are now
collected, There would be visilant and
unrelenting pursuit. The civil and Grim
inal processes Of the law woult be invoked
with effect Just as they were aSatust
fraudulent debtors under the bankrupt law
.Mhen to this enormous and csying evil
l. added the corruption which 1t ~ alieysd
-. 4 a t.t.s. .l.N n ~
real estntc we have condition OF things
with which we dare not palter, We must
inaugurate and nj once, system that
shall cquaiize tax burdens. The men OF
wealth in our great communities should
lead the movement. This great club. or.
ganized as a rallyinR center for LOYALTY lafu
patriotic citizenship, should hear eau as
loud and imperative as that which came TO
Il during the years Of the ciyii war.
MIR, I.incoln's startling declaration that
this country could not continue to exit
half slave and half free may be paraphFhsed
today by saving that this covntry can net
continue TO exist half taxed and half free.
"This sense OF inequality brea'hes a
fierce and unmensuring arger--'crcatta
classes. intensifcs social differences and
! makes men willing 10 pay their debts IN
half dollars Tho just sacredness Of tnese
money obligations. the right OF The 10 defs
to be paid In money of fun value, VIII DO
clearer to these angry men II thy see thar
these securities are paying fully their Jaw
ful taxes
where is the moral distinction between
the act OF putting one hand In his neigh
boris pocket and clandestmely absiracing
HIS pocketbooR. and the frSuduently shift
ing OF debt that ] owe 10 another
IF there Is not enough public virtue left
in our communities TO make tax frauds dis
creditable. II there is not yiriiiiy enough
Amin lot Al
OF justice In our courts TO bring 10 punish
ment those who defraud the State aud
their nelghbors: II crimes OF fraud may
stalk unrebuked and unpnnshod tn our
streets. how long Will II BE- until crimes
of violence make Insecure The fortunes that
have refused 10 contribute ratably 70 the
cost of maintaining social order2
THE failures which have accompanied
in an increased ratio. the attempt TO coli
lect the personal property tax have LED
many tax reformers TO favor Ito t0ta'
abolition. and the substitution Of other
forms OF taxation. The failure OF tne
wealthy holders OF these Intangible seeuli-
ties 10 pay their just proportion oil me
cost of government has stimulated de-
mand for special forms OF taxation and for
progressive taxation with n view in som
measufs to recoup to the community the
Losses which are inflicted by eyasive and
fraudulent tax returns. These, efforts should
serve AZ a warning. The people VIII not
consent that this state Of things shall be
accepted as a permanent condition. II we
are 10 leave no taxes save ouch as In Their
nature necessarily exclude conccaiineni and
bribery, what lax VIII remainf II We al
nit the disgraceful conclusion that the
state OF public and private morals has be-
come such in our country that The wealthy
may not be brought under the law aud
compelled TO Weld 1t reverence and obadl-
enec. have we not confessed the failure or
republican institutions2
s'Refore lie adoption OF tho constitution,
when each state made ITS own tariff laws.
the POWER 10 levy imports was practically
nnliihed BY the competitions between TIE
States. They underhd each other IN the
between their potts. The soin-
tion was found In copfidfng the tax upon
imports wholly TO the National govern
mant In measure the same enbar aFs-
ment Is now being felt In the framing and
administration o. the tax laws Of the
several States. Real or stimulated changes
OF resldence are made from one STATE 70
another. with view OF finding the most
favorable tax condition, or the mos pliah'e
aeSesgnrs