The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-23


lature. The whole revenue of a state may
be derived from contributions exacted
from very small minority of its popua-
ton, the majority going free. To allow
such system is not only to rob the mi
nority thus unduly burdened, but is to rob
the state of that which is essential to its
healthy existence, and, indeed to the life
OF republican institutions. Honesty and
carefulness in public expenditure will have
no effective watchers. The watch of the
minority will be Intellectual and the major
ity will be careless as to the use of funds,
to the accumuiation of which it has not
contributed.
For very many years an opinion has
been prevalent that the great bulk of the
personal property of the states, especially
of the class denominated Securities in
Guiding stocks, bonds notes, mortgages
and such like, has escaped taxation. With
very few exceptions the great fortunes
in this country are invested in such secu-
rites. The delinquency appears to be To-
Gated largely in our great cities. Recent
Investigations of students of political sci
ence, and recent tables prepared by state
officials, have disclosed an appalling con-
dtion 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
list.
In New York state the proportion of
personal property assessed for taxation is
only about II per cent. OF the total amount
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.
1T is easy to see how this offense
against patriotism has grown 60 such pro-
portions. The very sense that inequality
is injustice has promoted IT,. One man sees
that his neighbor is not making a con-
scieutious tax return, and that if he re-
turns his property honestly he viii pay
disproportionately. The result is that his
conscience finds a salve in the saying
Everybody does it,
"It is probably also true that under the
tax laws of many of our states double
taxation results and taxpayers take t
upon themselves to remedy this defect in
the law, not by the methods prescribed in
the constitution. but by leaving off from
their tax returns such stocks and securi-
ties as they suppose TO be taxed in other
states. tac
1.-THE most serious aspect of this state
of things is the injury which results to
sions. The man who is robbed has not
lost his character or self-respect. but the
other man has lost both. Taxes are a
debt of the highest obligation, and no
casuist can draw a sound moral dstinc-
ton between the man who hides his prop
erty or makes q false return in order to
escape the payment of his debt to the
state, and the man who conceals his prop
erty from his private creditors Nor
CHI lNn ~ .lsE1 es11-
defaulter in the one case than in the
other. If our taxes were farmed out to
an individual or to a corporation they
would be collected as fully as private
debts are now collected. There would be
a vigilant and unrelenting pursuit The
civil and criminal processes of the law
would be invoked with effect; just as
they were against fraudulent debtors I'M
der the bankrupt law.
When to this enormous and CRYING evil
Is added the corruption which it is alleged
has characterized the appraisements of
real estate, We have a condition of things
with which we dare not palter. We must
inaugurate, and at once, a system that
shall equalize tax burdens. The men of
wealth in our great communities should
lead the movement. This great club, or
ganized as a rallying center for loyalty
and patriotic citizenship, should hear a
call as loud and imperative as that which
came to it during the years of the civil
war.
Mr.. Lincoln's startling declaration that
this country could not continue to exist
half slave and half free, may be para
phrased to-day 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, intensifies social differences. and
makes men willing to pay their debts in
half dollars. The just sacredness of these
money obligations, the rights of the hold
ers 10 be paid in money of 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 be-
tween the act of putting one hand in his
neighbours pocket and clandestinely ab
stracting his pocketbook, and the fraudu-
lently shifting of a debt that owe to an