The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-24


TIE address Of ex President Harrison
on the obligations Of wealth, supplement-
ed by that q Gov ScOtield Oh taxation,
has placed The suhlect of equitable as
sessmen on hi.h plane II ahonld be
kept there and licensed Temporarily and
intellig11tiy until a proper solution of
the question is reacbed, Passion has
never Yet al5gd reason and Remuneration
~ s never been factor in occurring prop
er adi1e,mant.
Railw"y companies and other corpora
tons arc regarded rs enemies to the pub
lie GOO They ara largely 10 blame
themselves fer beng thus cl6ssed as they
have used Tho power Of organization and
concentrated wealth to escape obligations
and secure privileges, thus throwing ad-
dItlonal Dnrders u00n those who cannot
escape obligations. Corporations were
originally intended by the state AS a
meaEa tc promote lie public good. Large
enterprises can he undertaken only by
those J assessed OF large means. aud 10
unite these possessed by several indivld
nails arG thue increase their efficiency
y The Justification Of the creation Of the
corporation.
The operation having power. rsed IT
to escapy certain obligations and Thus M
once aroused the suspicious Of the public.
who ID prr attacked corporations on IN
defensive lines. 30 that they frtquentl,
had To nse rrprpheDslha means TO secure
simple Inst!ce. Corporations have suffer
ed more from the hostili,iss thew have
provoked than they have gained from the
unjust privileges they have secured. TO
remedy th;s and restore confidence"
should he their irst aim They should
rs hTst step ngree upon, aud take the
initiative IN urging, some form OF assess.
ment whereby they will pay their PRO
portonate share of taxes. The sama
thing is true Of all large owners of per
soma! property, particularly that which
Is intGp glble.
The Common people excuse their con
cealmelt OF personal property from the
assessor by declaring that large holders
do llke0lse. The excuse is a valid one
III those WHO can best bear the burdens
shlrk tbelr duty, those least able shouId
not he expected TO assume them. But
The burdens must be and are borne nv
some class. The owners of visible pron.
erty constitute this class aud they have
been patient and long suffering" The
remuneration comes from tbs nor-.eXpav
ing class ard the danger 10 orr insti
lions Turks N them. The wild instice
OF revenge" is their policy of adjustment
ana those who furnish argument by reg
let of duty are largely responsible for tie
state OF feeling they have created with
respect to themselves
Railways are & necessity. They are re
garded - menace, aud to irinre them
Is deemed trustworthy. This Is the ey-
IRENE manifestation of the feeling for
which they are themselves responsible.
! be railway lobbyist was originally
man of lUtiuence whose duty IT was IN
secure an unfair advantage for his com
panv. tie Is now necessary to protect
The nights OF the company he represents.
ne mss encountered Il purpose similar To
bis own It the ontset and he is larcaly
responsible forit. Coniscation is a wrong
hut It Is simply weapon forged 10 fight
wrong On The other side.
The money loarer has his place. Re
cannot be dispensed with He Goes no
wrong 10 bis creditor in loauiug hlm
money on good security, requiring fair
return. bnt ne robs the public when he
eonceais his property from the assessor.
J ms IS ne Tesl Cause of bis appropriately.
nut the lubhc mind Is quick 10 jump to
the concrete and the money loaner is de
nouneed becauee be loans money. It is
Ike the development OF word whose
meaning changes SO as to more QUICKLY
represent an i6ee.
General Harrison's speech may be the
beginning of reform. 1t indicates The
proper ! lace for reform to begin. If it
is instituted where be indicates. it will
work down the ranks until the common
people are reached.