Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-13


he is usually able to silence objection
with the big word. The writer has
heard the argument many times but
has never been able TO discover Q
man who could point to a line. IN the
constitution or the decision OF
court, that forbids the taxing of notes,
mortgages or deeds held as security.
There is no such line. The intention
of the law is that they shall be taxed.
The land is assessed to the occupant
Of the premises who is regarded a. the
owner. Payment Of the taxes i
neither legally nor Justly credited L
the man who holds the deed as secuI'
ity. lie must pay on the value ofth'
loan, otherwise he escapes taxation
altogether.
A brief consideration of the under
lying principles of taxation may be
helpful. Taxes are not imposed as g
penalty for owning property; that
not the idea. They are paid by the
people to the government for security
to person and property which the GOV
ernment in turn guarantees 70 Tho
people and for public Improvements
The owner Of farm, whether the
farm is fully paid for or not, Of right
should pay taxes in return for the
peace and security he enjoys IN the
possession of the propertYand the right
to sow, reap and marke; his crops free
from molestation. tits law that gives
this protection and he ex'
pense of admin stering the law in JUS
tice should fall partly on the land
owner.
But what about the moneyed man
who holds a mortgage OF deed for Sc
curity against the land? Does tho
law grant no favors to him? Does he
receive no protection from the govern
ment? If not, perhaps he might be
excused from paying taxes But be
is granted privileges and very marked
ones. 1T is the law that makes it pos
sible for him to get security for his
loans Law collects his interest, law
gives him the other man farm in case
OF failure to pay. 1t is law that enables
him to enjoy ali the comforts and
blessings Of highly civilized life by
guaranteeing the payment Of interest
on his loans; and for these guaranteed
comforts and blessings the law eX-
poets him to contribute an equitable
portion toward government expenses.
Not only does law require il but rea-
son requires it, Justice and morality
demand it,
The question of legal and just as
sessment is receiving considerable at
tention in this community. 1t is
proper that it should There are
ilagrant wrongs TO be corrected Let
us have clear thinking and plain
speaking Is the evasion Of paying
taxes any better than stealing No,
it is form Of theft; il takes from the
pockets Of ones neighbors that which
Of right should come from his own
Criminal taX-dodging ha, come to
be an appalling evil. It has 50 cor
rupted public sentiment that the
sanctity of an oath is no longer re-
garded. Men whose word ought to be as
good rs their bond, men who occupy
places high in the church raise their
handsto heaven and before God and
men aud swear they have no personal
property or name a triiling sum, when
they are known to be living on the
interest Of their money. and are known
TO be worthin securities, ten, twenty.
thirty, forty, it may be fifty or one
hundred thousand dollars.
Perhaps, dear reader this hits YOU.
If SO you viii say "Wel if the others
will give in their property. ri give
in mine; but | don't want TO pay on
securities while Mr. So-and-so who
has more than ! have pays nothing .
1t isn't question, my friend, of
what you want to do ltisaquestion
Of Justice and of truth. Your first
duty is TO correct your own assess
ment; then 90 after Mr.. So-and- so.
1t IS wrong for him 70 dodge. that :
sure. Its just as wrong for YOU 70
dodge because every cent You sneak
out Of paying is taken from the peck
cts of your more honest neighbors. II
is a question of whether few paltry
dollars of taxes outweigh your word
of honor as gentleman and the APP
prevail of God whom you call to wit
ness your solemn declaration
These are plain words; but they are
the words that fit the case We need
a revival Of truth and honesty on the
taxation question. The law is gooG
enough as it stands if only lis pro
visions were carried out
1
Hows This?
We offer one hundred dollars re-
ward for any case OF catarrh that can
not be cured by Halls Catarrh Core