The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-07

2-ss,v SSp''NsW
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
been exempt from taxation for twenty.
ave years are about TO be subject 10 TAX
alton. II one will only think for mo.
ment he VIII see that while the tax com.
mission claim that they are reducing the,
taxes OF the farmer and the owner OF
small homestead from 20 cents on the
500 to l2h cents, that there are millions
of acres OF vacant land held by syndl.
Gates. as we'll rs individuals, for specu.
lative purposes who will DO a greater
gamer by this reduction In the taxes
from 20 cents to i2's cents on tho $500
The population OF Texas Is not yet
large enough 20 create the demand for
lands al the prices demanded by tho pres.
ent owners, therefore can you not see
that this saving of IA cents on the 800
valuation to the owners of those mil
lions OF acres amounts to a great deal
to them and will enable them to hold
these lands out Of use and out OF the
market until they can levy their tribute
upon capital and labor, meanwhile re
strictlng migration and making II more
difficult for factories TO be established.
Ii the trainers OF this bill were in reality
trying to reduce taxes OF the small home
ltesder and farmer they would have
framed bill moro In accordance with
The dear people will see through this
pretended sollcitudn IN their behalf and
VIII be heard from az the proper time.
Tho governor aud his self-oppointed
committee Of three ON taxation are re-
specially referred 10 tho following cam
nops of taxation which have been APP
proved by all political economists from
the tlu,e OF Adam Smith TO tho present
day,
l. That II bear IS lightly as possible
upon production, 80 as least 90 check the
! increase OF the general fund from which
| taxes must be paid aud the community
maintained,
! ?. THAT Il be easily and cheaply coll
/ iected and fall as directly as may be upon
/ the ultimate payers, so as to take from the
4 people as little as possible In addition 20
| what II yields the government.
3. That IL be certain. so as to give the
! least opportunity for tyranny OF corrup-
I ton on the part OF the officials. aud the
| least temptation to law breaking and ava
sion on the part OF the taxpayers
/ 4. That II bear equally, so as to give nc
! citizen an advantage or put any at dis
advantage, as compared with others
would ask you, my readers. to not only
read the above four canons thrice, but To
consider them carefully; but for fear thai
| you will not re-read them, | here write
an abbreviatioD, with comments on same.
/. THAT II bear as lightly as possible
upon production" ! ask the tax commis'
sion to show wherein this bill Will bear
! lightly upon production, Read 1t careful
! ~ and you will see that instead OF bear
Ing lightly upon production II 10 bill
which will cause men Of means 10 with
draw their capital from enterprises OF pro
duetion and invest II In the Wild lands oi
Texas, thereby reducing the number OF
productive enterprises.
O. That II be easily and cheaply col
Iected, and fall as directly as may be on
the ultimate payers" ! ask the tax COM
mission to show that the taxes as pro-
posed in the bin can be easily and cheap
ly collected, and that they VIII fail as d.
rectly as may he on the ultimate payers
Take. for example the tax on notes. While
the law is far-reaohug and the trainers OF
II claim that the borrower will not have
TO pay the tax, take Issue with them anc
state that the borrower Will have TO pas
the tax According to the laws OF Texas
81 is legal TO loan money at the rate Of Il
per cent, Banks are now loanine none,
Mt per cent: money can be borrowed a.
aven & per cent on good security, This
know because | have borrowed some In
the last three years and paid only pei
! cent and could have borrowed n up e
tho time this tax bill MAS proposed at the
same rate II should borrow money nov
/ the lender Will say TO me that I must pay
! the tax. and he will increase the per cent
/ OF interest Just 20 the amount OF the tax
I and he will do It legally, and ths law pro-
posed by the tax commission can not reach
him nor protect me. The rate Of interest
has fallen in Texas during the last ten
years to responsible borrowers from 10
per cent TO per cent, and the rate will
4 now be increased Just In proportion TO the
tax on notes.
3. THAT It be certain As evidences
that the tax on personal property is MOI
certain, ! refer my readers 70 the history
OF the world from the time OF Christ to The
present day. The tax upon personal prop
erty has never been collected In full be-
cause there Is no way OF ascertaiuing thu
full value OF personal property. Take, 10
example, the effort OF the State OF New
York 10 collect the tax on personal prop
ertY In tho year OF 1899. The assessors o
that State assessed personal property a
$4,000 600 in round numbers When
came 20 the collection OF same they col
iected taxes on only about 500. 900, 900
showing that over 81 ,000, 600 900 OF per
eonal property escaped taxation
4, That II bear equally" Show me
you can wherein the proposed tax bill vii
bsar equally on the citizens OF Texas. 20
can not do II, for the reason stated in tn
above paragraph. and for the further rea
son that the Influence and power OF tn
wealthy will be brought to bear upon IN
officials whose duty Il is 20 make the as
sessment.
In conclusion, wish 10 state that II 1
not possible 10 enforce any Law which 1
contrary 70 the convictions Of the msjorit
Of the people Of a state.
The trainers OF this bill could learn
something by studying the life OF Pete
the Great Tie not only understood N
effect ot taxation. tnt used II snectuslly
Desiring 70 prevent bis people from wear
ing long robes. he levied a tax on Ion
robes. and long robes disappeared. Desir
, ing that his people should not wear lon
boards. be levied a tax on long besrdl
and long boards disappeared.
Or Is Il possible that the trainers OF III
bill fully understand the effect Of taxa
J ton and are trying TO destroy the indus