The herald., 1898-02-23

| but II is unsafe, to make snow In our
homes and on the street that is not made
| in the tax returns.
'Tf we do not hold by this rule of proper
ton, which / think is an essential part Of
| the definition OF taxes, then everything
becomes subject to the whim of the legis-
lature The whole revenue of a state may
| be derived from contributions exacted from
| very small minority of its population, the
majority going free. To allow such sys-
| tenn is not only to rob the minority thus un-
duly burdened. but is to rob the state Oh
| that which is essential to its healthy exist
cnce. and indeed to the life OF republican
| institutions.
For very many years an opinion mas
| been prevalent that the great bulk OF the
| personal property of the states, especially
of the class denominated securities IN
| cluding stocks, bonds, notes, mortgages
and such like has escaped taxation. win
a very few exceptions the great fortunes
| in this country are invested in such securl-
ties The delinquency appears to be To-
Gated largely in our great cities. The evil
seems to have been progressing until. IN
| some of our great centers OF population ana
wealth. these forms of personal property
seem 10 have been almost eliminated from
the tax list.
"In New York state the proportion of
personal property assessed for taxation Is
of property taxed. Yet Controller Roberts
of that state expresses the opinion that the
taxable personal property owned In the
state is at least equal to the amount OF
real estate. Illinois and many other states
present the same condition, differing only
in degree
IF there is not enough public virtue left
in our communities to make tax frauds dis
creditable; If there is not virility enough
left in our laws and in the admin
istration of justice in our courts
10 bring to punishment those who
iefraud the state and their neighbors: II
crimes of fraud may stalk unrebuked ano
unpunished in our streets. how long will 1t
be until crimes of violence make insecure
the fortunes that have refused to contrib
ute ratably to the cost of maintaining So
cial order?
I'VE should discard old notions and
wiping the slate off, proclaim a tax renais-
sance. Every agency that deals with pub
lie and social questions should lend its help.
The grand jury should be charged to in
vestigate and to indict the delinquents.
Returns and assessments must be honest.
If there are inequalities in the law, they
must be remedied by legislation. and not
by the usurpation of the individual.
II think we must assume that there an
very few if any. of our states prepared to
consent to the abolition of our personal
property tax.
LAS supplemental tax. levied within
the requirements of equality and uniform
ity. succession or Inheritance tax may be
well enough il the state constitution per-
mits it; but the principle of progression.
higher rate for large estates, seems to me
TO be inconsistent with that rule of proper
ton and equality which should character
ize all taxation. The practical question,
the one our people must solve, and solve
speedily, is the enforcement of the per-
sonal property tax and the equalization of
real estate assessments. Perhaps the
state might declare and maintain an
estoppel against the claim of any man or
his heirs to property, the ownership of
which had been disclaimed in the tax re-
turns.
1T is not within the purpose of this ad-
dress to propose in detail the needed re-
forms in our tax laws, but rather to en-
phasize the need. and to suggest that our
men of wealth and the managers of our
great corporations should themselves come
forward and take the lead in these reforms;
that they should not only show willing
ness, but a zeal, to bear their full proper
tionate share of all public burdens. If
they do not the sense of injury is so strong
that ways will be found to exact more than
is equal To do justice is the best safe
guard against injustice"
General Harrison referred briefly to the
Cuban question, saying: I'VE stand now
in the awful shadow of one of the most
tragic events that has ever happened in our
history, and we stand with the poise, with
the self-possession of people who under
stand their might and can abide by the de-
velopments of time. We are not hys-
terical people. We can wait and we will
know our duty when 1t shall be revealed.
We can understand that in time like this
there are grave responsibilities devolving
upon the president of the United States:
single responsibilities that he may not di-
vide with any man. Let us stand about
him. strengthening him in the calm assur-
ance that this great country desires only
what is right and can welt until facts are
known before it issues it's proclamation"
Four hundred persons attended the an
nual banquet in commemoration of the
day at the Union League club tonight. Six
toasts were responded to. as follows: 'The
Orator of the Day." President A. H. Rev
ell; response by ex-President Benjamin
Harrison; Soldier and the Student Dr.
John H. Finlay; Patriotism in the Parti-
san Press" Charles Emory Smith of the
Philadelphia Press; 1.-The Ideal Citizen
Rev. ]. S. Mcpherson; Personal Recollec-
tions of Lincoln" former Governor Rich
ard ]. Oglesby of Illinois. The speakers
confined themselves to patriotic senti-
ments inspired by the life and deeds of
Washington.
AT SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22.-Wash-
ington's Birthday was made great pa
trotic holiday today in this city. While
there was no general military parade, yet
the various civic associations took the
celebration in hand and this afternoon
there are meetings in honor of Wash
ington's memory. The athletic young
men celebrated the day by indulging in
their favorite sports and crowds at
tended the races and coursing. The ma
tional flag was displayed to very much
wider extent than ever before on this an
niversary-particularl in the down
town district.
AT PRINCETON
PRINCETON, N. j., Feb. 22-Captain
cipal speaker at the Washington birth
day banquet of the New Jersey society
of the Cincinnati tonight.
Captain Mahan said: I'VE should be
very cautious in forming hasty conclu-
sions in reference to such things as the
Maine disaster.
"People are liable to jump at con-
clusions at a great national crisis like
this which might involve them seriously
There is one actual good to the nation
from the Maine disaster which has been
little dwelt upon. 1 refer to the dis
cipline in the ship after the accident oc-
Cured. The conduct of the captain and
officers at that juncture showed the
A ri cI, aofa Of -