Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-10-10
Beniamin Harrison ON Taxation.

BENJAMIN Harrison on Taxation.
In a series Of lectures on The obi
cations of Wealth by the late Benja-
min Harrison, published by the Bowen
| Merrill Company. Indianapolis, a num-
Der Of very sound observations are to be
found that are entitled to serious con
sideration The estimation in which n
man is held, he says, should be deter
mined by his character, and not by bis
possessions. 1t is quite as illogical TO
despise a man because he is rich as be-
cause he is poor. Not what man has
but what he is, settles his class. Poverty
is not a virtue, nor is property crime.
What we want is equality of opportuni-
tv. not of dollars, and the dull brother
must not be handicapped by chicanery.
Justice is the best safeguard against
/ injustice.
One Of the Just causes for complaint
| which the poor have agaist the rich, he
argues, is the fact that many rich men
faunt their wealth ON the street and
hide it from the tax gatherer.
1T is part of our individual cove
nant as citizens with the state that we
will, honestly and fully, in the rate or
proportion fixed from time to time oy
| law. contribute our just share TO all
public expenses.
"a full and conscientious discharge
| of that duty by the citizen is one OF the
tests of good citizenship. To evade
that duty is a moral delinquency, an
| unpatriotic act
Real estate seldom escapes proper
taxation, but the great bulk Of the for
| tunes of rich men are represented by
| securities, including stocks, bonds, notes
mortgages and the like, and these are
seldom fairly represented in the tax re-
turns. The delinquency is most fragrant
in the great centres of wealth, where 1t
is notorious that the rich do not pay
their Just proportion of the taxes.
"a gentleman Of prominence, resid-
| ing in one of the smaller towns of New
England, " says the late President Har-
rison, recently told me that there had
resided in his town for many years
gentleman who was reputed TO De
wealthy, whom he supposed to be
| worth, perhaps a million dollars, and
who was assessed for $780, O0O
"He died. and when his personal
property was scheduled by his executor
| it was found to amount to about SIX
million dollars and when this property
went upon the assessment roll OF the
| town the tax rate was reduced one-half.
In other words, this gentleman, Inv
| ing in neighborly relations to his fel-
| w-citizens and discharging apparent
| ly with kindliness all of the obligations
Of citizenship, had been every year OF
! his residence in the town detraudlng
his neighbors by compelling them TO
contribute to the public expense a
share that he should in honesty ana
| good conscience have discharged.
s'He was filching from every hand
| that was extended to him in neighbor-
| Iy confidence His aims were OF other
mems goods.
| Asa remedy for this evil Mr.. Harri-
| son suggests that the various State leg
islatures should pass laws estopping the
claim of any man or his heirs TO prop
erty the ownership of which he had
disclaimed in his tax returns.
While it is true that in Pennsylvania
the expenses of the State Government,
as well as the large appropriation to
our public schools, are paid largely from
corporation tax, it is also true that local
taxation, especially in the cities and
larger towns. would be very materially
reduced if men who have their wealth
in the various kinds of securities were
compelled to bear as large share OF
the burdens Of taxation as those who
have their money invested in real es-
tate.
1t is very difficult. however, to reg
ulate these matters so as TO prevent the
dishonest from defrauding the honest
The 'single-taxers" maintain that the
only solution of the problem is to place
all taxes upon real estate, and THEN
theories are presented in very plaus-
ible language. But it strikes us that
all wealth, of whatever kind, should
bear an equal share of the burdens OF
taxation Punx'y Spirit.
AT the recent convention Of County
Commissioners, held in Bellefonte, one
Of the Myers voting machines was on
exhibition. 1t was examined and tested
by many, and all agreed that it was q
perfect device TO secure a secret and
honest ballot and an expeditions coart
The cost of the machines would be re
paid in two years by the saying on the
present system Of conducting elections
The Legislatures of twelve States have
legalized the machine for voting. and
over 600 cities and towns in New York
are using them now with most gratifv-
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