The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-23

eIZ1sft$ g tT justice MS prtIEsttI ~ .'.sN
man sees that his 5etghbor - rot making
a conscientious tax return. and thar !.
he returns his properly honestly ne WA
pay isProportiouat ely. The rss2lt Is thAt
mis- conscience finds a sasve u TIE say las.
Every body does 81.
It = probably also true that under
the tax laws OF many OF our states oo1o4s
taxation results. and taxpayers lake II
upon themselves 10 remedy this defezt n
the law not by the met hods prescribed
in the constitution. bat by leaving or
from their tax returns such stocks ana
securities as they suppose 20 De tAkea Il
other states.
when to this enormous and crying evil
Ia added the corruption whsca. II 10 "a
legged. has characterized the app-alse nents
OF real estate. we Rave condition OF
things with which We dare not paIteF-
We must inaugurste. ard a. once, sy--
TEN that shall soasiiZs lax burdens. ne
should lead re movement This great
club. organized - rallylng center f9r
loyalty and patriotic citizenship. should
hear call as loud and IN. tsrafiye as inat
which came 10 II during The years OF the
Mr. Lincoln's startling declaration that
this country could not continue 10 exist
half slave ard half free may be para
phrased today by saying that this coun-
Try cannot continue 10 exist hah faxed
and half free.
This sense Of inequality breathes q
fierce aad unmeasurlng Angsr-eTeates
classes. intensifies social differences ana
MAKES men wiling to pay lhe.r debts IN
money obligations. the right Of the hold
ess 20 be paid liz money OF full value. Will
be clearer 20 these angry men II they see
that these securities are paying fully
their lawful taxes
Where is the moral distinction between
the act OF putting one hand IN MS ne'ga-
ing his pocketbook. and the fraudulentiy
shifting OF debt that owe 10 another?
Danger ia Tax Fraues.
If there is not enough public virtue LETT
in our communities to make tax frauds
disereditablp: If there Is not vlr.nty
enough left in our laws and in the admin
istratlon Of justice in our courts 20 bring
TO punishment those who defrdud ne state
and their nelghbors: II crimes 0, fraud
may stalk unrebuked and unpublished In
our streets. how long will II be until crimes
Of violence make insecure the fortunes that
have refused 10 contribute ratabiy 10 the
cost OF maintaining social order2
The failures which have aecompan,e ed,
in an increased ratio. the attempt to col
iect the personal properly tax. have ied
many tax feformsrs to favor lis TO al
abolition. and the substitution OF otae-
forms Of taxation, The failure OF the
/. ties to pay their just proportion OF the
cost of government has stimulated a de-
mand for special forms Il taxation and for
progressive taxation, with a view in some
measure to recoGp 10 the community the
losses which are inflicted by evasive or
fraudulent tax returns These efforts
W
viii not consent that this state of thirgs
shall be accepted as a permanent con-
diuon. IL We are TO leave no taxes save
such as in their nature necessarily exclude
concealmeut and bribery what tax viii
remain? If W. admit the dsgraceful con-
clusion t1at the STATE OF public and pri-
waite morals hae become such IN our COun-
try that the weclthy may not be brought
under the Law and compelled 10 yield II
reverence and obedience. have We not CON
fessod the failure OF republican institute
Before the adoption of the constitution.
when each state made its own tariff laws
the power 10 levy imp0sts was practical y
nulliiet ~ The competitions between the
states. They underbid each other in the
competition between their ports The So
luton was found in combining the tax upon
ment In 4 measure the same embarrags-
ment is now belrg felt in the framing and
administration Of The tax laws Of the sew
eral states. Real or simulated changes of
residence are made from one state to an
other. with a view of finding the most
favorable tax condition. or the most Pill
able assessors.
lit is not easy. however. 10 see how a
Federal control Of these questions can be
established. The states are not likely TO
surrender such important powers TO the
qaes;Ionabie whether neither New jersey st ' and
Connecticut. for instance. could be In
duced to forego the Inducements which
their tax laws. or the administrat on OF
them. may offer 10 We lJhy New York erS.
Yet ! think It would be quite well TO
assemble "a convention nh o. Tax commits
intricate and eXigent problem. Possibly
some general principles might be agreed
upon that would remedy the Just com
plants Of double taxation. especially in
the case OF corporate properties and
cur;ies.
4 Matter of Public Concern
II do not believe that II IL impossible SO
70 stir the cunsciences 81 our people. so 10
t.. 4
Of our assessors and of our courts and
prosecutors as 10 secure a fairly gene al
enforcement Of the personal property tax.
/ know that men hesitate 10 cali neigh
hor TO judgment in this matter. We have
too much treated the matter OF mans
tax return as personal matter We have
put his transactions with the state on
much the same level with his transactions
with his bank but that IL not the true
basis Each citizen has i personal inter
est. a pecunisry Interest In the tax re-
turn ~ his neiEhbor We are members Of
a grea' partnership. and II is the right OF
each 20 know what every other member ~
contributing 70 the partnership and what
he - taking fram Il. II is no; private
affair it Is a public concern Of the first
Importance
Perhaps there should be A general proc
lamaflon ~ amnesty. and a fresh start.
We should discard these old notions
and wiping the slate Oft, proclaim "A tax
renaissance. Every agency that deals with
~ bile and social questions should lend its
he(p- ! ne grand jury should be charged
- investigate ard 70 indict the deln-
GuenIs. Returns and assc UeD-s mus; be
honest. u there are inequalities In the
Law they must be rem died by legislation
anf not by the usurr ton Of the indi-
vi9ual.
Il think We must assume that there are
very few II any. of cur states prepared
80 consent 20 The abolition OF our personal
property tax.
AS q Supplemental tax. levied within
the requirements q equality ana uniform
ity. n succession OF Inheritance tax may
10 Neil CacD2h. If the state constitut on
Permits ft, but the principle % progress
SEN higher rae for large estates. seems
sc nre - be Inconsistent Win that rule u
pFei7rtiC1 ard equality which should
ChsFaC.eriTe all taxation. Ire practical
question. the OUe oar people must solve
amt solve speedily. - the enforcement II
me pecsc-r property Tex ard thc eauaH-
eaton ol veal ate assessments Per
haps the state ulzh. declare and main
tain ar fstopp*i against ,hc claim 81 any
man or his heirs - property tae owner
$ 'p - wlieh had been d.scl1!ued in the
TAX retgrus
IL IS NET Within 'he purpose - this ad-
dress - propose in dctsu he ucedsd re-
forms in our tax Laws hut rather 20 en-
Nras'Ec the need and % suggest thai our
men of wealth and the managers Of our
<-c0t corporations should Themselves come