The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-07-18

W Pay uOE0 bu6u bu0IE LaIE pEOpOEGlOu
OF taxation, while other classes escape
entirely, or pay very little. The entire
tax system is disiointed and unsys
tematic. Not two counties in the
State assess real IS ate according to
the same rule, disparity exists among
the towns of the same county. 1.-THE
report of the tax commissioners of the
same State for the current year shows
very conclusively how unjustly the
burden Of taxation falls upon the farm
ers. They say: "It is generally con-
ceded that the personal property liable
to assessment in this State fully equals,
and probably exceeds, the value of the
real estate. The total personal assess
ment is only.about one-seventh of the
assessment of the real property. The
enforcement of the law has, in many
instances, caused added injustice to
rural communities. where the burden
of taxation has hitherto fallen most
heavily" Now show why this is 80.
"Ot all the personal property liable to
assessment in agricultural districts,
ninety per cent. is of a visible, tangible
character, open to the observation Of
the assessor, and which he cannot over
look in the honest discharge of his
off cial duty; while in the cities by far
the larger proportion is intangible,
easily concealed, and of a kind which
successfully deties the most conscien
tious effort on the part Of the assessor
to reach it,"
Within few days the writer has re-.
ceived letter from a prominent Ohio
farmer asking for light on the methods
in force in New York and indicating a
decided dissatisfaction with the severe
listing laws of his native State. The
State of Illinois is struggling with the
same vex9d problem, and an act has
just emerged from joint committe g
of the Senate and House providing for
radical changes in the methods of as
sessing property. A commission ap-
pointed to investigate the subject Of
taxation in New Jersey last year re-
ported: GAS to personal property we
regret to say that the assessors appear
to make no earnest or honest effort to
reach it anywhere except in the agri-
cultural districts" Every where the
farmer takes the burden. Professor
Plehn, of the University of California,
writing a few weeks ago on the tax
laws of that State says: Real estate
in California pays nine.tenths of all
taxes"
But it is not necessary to multiply
cases. It is the same story all over
this country-untair laws, unjustly
administered and the farmer getting
the worst Of it al the time.
Now, let us ask how the farmer is
standing up under this load: It is
probably true that in some respects
there has been an improvement within
the past few months, in spite Of the
present iniquitous tax laws in opera
ton. But single quotation from the
annual report of the Commissioner Of
Labor Statistics of New York just from
the press will show how things stand
in that great State. He says: 1.-The
farming industry in our State is in a
most deplorable condition, with ex-
ceedingly poor prospects for recovery
or Improvement in the imme date
future. As rule, no interest has been
realized on farm ins ruments during
the years 1894 1895 and 1896. Where
there we're no mortgages requiring in
terest payments, a farmer was consid-
cred almost miraculously fortunate if
his income from products could be
made to pay the cost Of production,
and even that degree OF success was
only attainable by stinted allowances
for household expenses, and by starv-
ing the soil; and when the farmer was
hampered by mortgage indebtedness,
he ran behind and incurred the penalty
of foreclosure" An honest, but sad
and discoursging con nfession for pub
lie eff ;ial of a great State to make;
and who can dou ot that this statement
only voices the true state of affairs in
all parts of this beautiful country of
ours9 We all know that farming has
been far down in the slough for long
time. We may hope for better things
and God grant the hope may be real
iz9d.
But if were to be content to point
out the evils of the present tax laws
this article would have little value. 1t
is no sign of greatness simply to find
fault. The situation is one of the ut
most seriousness. The very founda-
tion of the success and welfare of this
country are being threatened, and we