The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-28

they did the same with ex- President Har
Ex-President Harrison said:
, DoDGNG TAXES.
1.-The special purpose of my address
today is to press home this though
upon the prosperous well-to do people o
our community, and especially of oul
great cities; that one OF the conditions O
the security OF wealth ia a proportionats
: and full contribution to the expenses o
the State and local governments. 1t ID
not only wrong, but it is unsafe, to make
q show in our homes and on the street
that is not made in the tax returns.
Equality is the golden thread that
runs all through the fabric OF our civil in
stitutioI-the dominating note in the
swelling symphony OF liberty. Equality,
not OF conditions, not OF natural endow-
ment. but OF rights. is the foundation
stone OF our governmental structure.
5nd as corollary, necessary and i'm per-
ative, to this doctrine of an equality of
right, is the doctrine OF proportionate
and ratable contribution TO the cost OF
administering the government. The
duty OF the State to protect life, liberty
| and property is conditioned upon a fair
| contribution to the cost of government.
A full and conscientious discharge of that
duty by the citizen is one of the tests of
good citizenship. To eyade that duty ia
| moral delinquency. an unpatriotic act"
''Mr. Lincoln 9 starting declaration that
this country could not continue to live
hall slave and half free may be para
phrased today by saying that this couu-
try cannot continue to exist half taxed
and half free.
This sense OF inequality breatbes a
fierce aud unmeasuring anger creates
classes, intensifies social differences. and
makes men wiling to pay their debts in
halt dollars. The just sacredness of these
money obligations, the right of the hold
ers to be paid in money OF full value, will
be clearer to these angry men il they see
that these securities are paying fully
their lawful taxes.
where ia the moral distinction between
the act OF putting one hand in bis neigh
or's pocket and clandestinely substracu-
ing his pocketbook, and the fraudulently
shifting OF debt that owe to another"
GET AFTER TAX DODGERS.
III there is not enough public virtue left
IN our communities to make tax frauds
discredtable; il there is not virility
enough left in our laws and in the al
ministration OF justice in our courts to
bring to punishment those who defraud
the State and their neighbors; if crimes
OF fraud may stalk unrebuked and I'M
punished in our streets; how long will
IL be until crimes OF violence make inse-
cure the fortunes that have refused to
contribute ratebly TO the cost of main
tanning social order.
"The failures which have accompanied,
in an increased ratio the attempt to col
lect the personal property tax, have led
many tax reformers to favor it's total
abolition, and the substitution of
other forms OF taxation. The failure
OF the wealthy holders of these Intangi-
able securities to pay their just proper
ton OF the cost OF government has stimu-
lated demand for special forms of taxa
ton and Tor progressive taxation, with
q view in some measure to recoup TO the
community the loses which are inflicted
by evasive and fraudulent tax returns.
These efforts should serve as warning.
The people will not consent that this
state OF things shall be accepted as a
permanent condition. IL we admit the
disgraceful conclusion that the state of
public and private morals has become
such in our country that the wealthy
may not be brought under the.flaw and
compelled to yield it reverence and obed.
fence, have we not confessed the failure
OF republican institutions?
GRAND JURY SHOULD ACT.
"We should discard these old notions,
and, wiping the slate off, proclaim a tax
renaissance. Every agency that deals
with public and social questions should
lend its help. The grand jury should be
charged to investigate and to indict the
d, II Iquents. Returns and assessments
must be honest. II there ere INEQUALITIES
in the Il W they must be rep'edied by leg
islation, and,not by the usurpation OF the
indiyrd ual.
Il think we must assume that there
are very few, II any. of our States pre-
pared % consent to the abolition of our
personal property tax.
"As supplemental tax, levied within
the requirements of equality and uni
formity, succession or inheritance tax
may be well enough, il the State consti.
tuition permits IL; but the principle OF
progression, a higher rate for large es-
tates, seems to me to be inconsistent
with that rule OF proportion and equality
which should characterize all taxation.
The practical question the one our peo-
ole must solve, and solve speedily, is the
enforcement OF the personal property
tax and the equalization of real estate
assessments. Perhaps the State might
declare and maintain an estoppel gainst
the claim OF any man or his heirs to
property, the ownership of which has
been Unclaimed in the tax returns.
"Of late years there has been a ten
dency to permit the wealthy to escape
their share OF taxation. They are gradu-
ally pressing the entire burden upon
those least able to bear it. Excessive
taxation upon the masses brings in it's
train poverty and ignorance and destruc-
ton OF our institutions. For the repub-
lican party In this State any longer to
permit millions Of dollars worth Of prop
erty to 90 untaxed, or partially exempt
ed, 10 certainly placing an artificial
weight upon the shoulders Of such as
have to make good the difference.