The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-03-28
EXCESSIVE TAXATION

EXCESSIVE TAXATION
The people Of Oregon and Marion
county have turned their thought In the
direction Of solving the problem Of ex-
ceasive taxation. In our state several
commissions have been abolished. In
cur county expenditures have been re-
duced and business methods have been
introduced that In time will reduce the
tar burden. The mind OF our people
should not be diverted at the coming
June election from this duty by the in.
lection Of national issues. The money
question has been settled 20 far as an
act Of congress can settle II. The people
Ia 1895 decided in favor Of the single
gold standard and that has been enac.
Ted into law, the national debt and the
Spanish war debt refunded ON the gold
basis. That question Is practically
taken out Of politics. The tariff has be-
come a non.partisan issue involving the
trust and expansion questions and can
not be made party iost.
Excessive taxation Is likewise bat
tie that must be fought out not on party
lines but by the formulation Of a
definite program and the election Of
candidates Of the proper character and
intelligence 10 carry u out 10 the letter.
Excessive taxation Ia the curse that IL
characterixlng local government from
Maine 10 California and the remedy has
not been found. A convention In Maine
last June declared that state expenses
had increased ility per cent the past ten
years while property had steadily de-
clined IN value. Tnr JouRsAL showed
Tuesday that In our state taxes had
risen 100 per cent while values had de-
clined more than ten per cent. In Ma
rion county values have gone down 20
per cent aud the total amount Of money
taken for county taxes had gone up ten
per cent Taxes In the State Of New
York have gone up from ti.oO per capita
la 1880 10 ti0.4s In 1896. This Is an in
crease Of 2iS per cent In 80 years
The law that goserns values In real eu-
tate with relation TO taxation may be-
stated thusi II the annual tax rate ex.
oeeda the unearned increment--ihe nat
ural advance In value from the growth
Of the communiiy--the owner grows
poorer. II the iax rate is lower than
the annual unearned Increment the
owner grows richer. Il il only a quea.
ton Of time when the present rate Of
taxation In Oregon aud Marion county
viii produce bankruptcy and large bod
Ice Of land will pass into the hands Of
persona whose private fortunes and In.
comes from other soOrces still enable
them 70 hold the property a. against the
Agsrnaslons Of Tho ev.r.increasing tax
eating class. Unless the burdens Of
taxation can he diminished or shifted
the siAle will finally become The holder
Of titles 10 land and the citisens tenants
with the official class A. permanently en-
thFoned landlords, thus realizing the
single tax, or state ownership.
More than Mr., Bryan's theories or
Mr. McKinley'a theories oWgcn needs a
henoio al,pllcAuon oI eeonohly, Me erea.
tlon q no new debts or bariens, the
abolition Of All boards and commissions
that represent special Interests, lks
fruit aud llsh and cattle aud educating
teAchers and lawyers and dentists and
wbas-not proicssionai classes end lsying
down the principle ihai people who want
the especial sorsicss Il pablE oiiicial
must pay Cor lhai scryloe Apd render
shat ofice seli.sasiainlng and that Al
clesioal oiIices shall earn money for the