New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-03-02

great cities. Recent Investigations OF
students of political science, and recent
tables prepared by state officials, have
disclosed an appalling condition Of things.
The evil seems to have been progressing
until, in some of our great centers of
population and wealth, these forms OF
personal property seem to have been al.
most eliminated from the tax list.
1t is easy to see how the offense against
patriotism has grown to such proper
tions. The very sense that inequality is
injustice has promoted it. One man
| sees that his neighbor is not making a
conscientious tax return, and that if he
returns his property honestly he will pay
disproportionately. The result is that
his conscience finds salve in the say
Ing, Everybody does it,
Taxes are debt of the highest obli-
cation, and no casulst can draw a sound
moral distinction between the man who
hides his property or makes false re-
turn in order to escape the payment of
his debt to the state, and the man who
conceals his property from his private
creditors. Nor should it be more diff
cult to follow the defaulter in the one
case than in tie other.
| When to this enormous and CRYING
evil is added the corruption which it is
alleged has characterized the appraise.
ments Of real estate, we have a condi-
ton of things with which we dare not
palter. We must lnaugurate, and at
ouce, a system that shall equalize tax
burdens. The men of wealth in our great
communities should lead the movement.
MIR. Lincoln's startling declaration
that this country could not continue to
exist half slave and half free may he par
APPRAISED today by saying that this coun-
try cannot continue to exist half taxed
and half free.
This sense of inequality breathes a
fierce and unmeasuring anger-creates
classes, intensihes social differences and
makes men willing to pay their debts in
half dollars. The just sacredness of
these money obligations, the right of
the holders to he paid in full value, will
be clearer to these angry men if they see
that these securities are paying fully
their lawful taxes.
| Where is the moral distinction between
the act of putting one hand in his neigh
boris pocket and clandestinely abstract.
ing his pocketbook, and the fraudulent;
shifting Of debt that owe to another?
It there is not enough public virtue
left in our communities to make tax
frauds discreditable; if there is not vir-
ility enough left IN our laws and in the
administration of justice in our courts
to bring to punishment those who de-
fraud the state and their neighbors; if
crimes of fraud may stalk unrebuked
and unpunished in our streets, how long
will it be until crimes of violence make
Insecure the fortunes that have refused
to contribute rateably to the cost ol
maintaining social order.
/
1t IS an old time fnct; and still
| Anew twill oft surprise the land.
Folks seem to know lot until
You get them on the witness stand
:.-- Washington Star
The original family tree was of the
apple variety. i
If love Is blind, can't it he said that
marriage is an eye-opener.
Newspaper articles climb the ladder
of popularity by going the rounds.
A salt-and-pepper costume is alway,
seasonable at masquerade ball.
In love algebra one and one make one
! Wher creek meets creek look out 70,
opAAuS AAOou0S5' $s.G 5$S
The knife grinder is the happiest when
things are dull in his line Of business.
It is said that several Of the best pen.
men at the stockyards are unable to
write.
Hold-up men are not the entire show.
| There are number of women enpaoed
lin holding up babies. Chicago News.
There IS no particular harm in an A
Perican boasting Of his family tree as
long as there is nothing shady about it.
Philadelphia Times.
The st. Paul Globe IS authority 70,
the statement that Justice Daniel Buck
of the Supreme court and Judge Sever.
ance Of the district bench would like to
change places. Both are Democrats. Z
Chesterfield was with Voltaire at q
fashionable event in Paris, when the lat.
ter inquired: my lord, which are the
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