The times., 1901-06-09

and receive his pay in the space of
single day. Nay, more. A man may
acquire property and part with IT at
places on the opposite side OF the globe
with the greatest ease and security
within the space of a few hours.
"A change in the standards of NOR
ality has been alluded to as antagonlZ-
ing methods of taxation. Thus, not
very many years ago, every man
knew. at least approximately, the
amount and kind of property of all his
neighbors, and knew that his neigh
bors knew the same in respect to MN
self He was willing to admit, under
oath or otherwise, what everybody
knew; and he would hardly dare to
drive six cows to pasture every morn
ing and swear in the afternoon that
he had none. But now let us see
from an indiSputable experience of
very recent date how the conditions
of property and of morals have
changed. Previous to January /, 1889,
the State of Connecticut. in accord
anCe with common practice. taxed per-
sonal property in the form of bonds
and notes from l to 2 or more per
cent wherever it could be found. The
result was that the State from the
outset could never reach for assess
ment but small fraction of such
property, although every citizen was
required to annually submit a list to
the assessors and make oath that he
character in question; and this frac-
tion, furthermore, tended to rapidly
decrease. Thus, in the so-called grand
list or aggregate valuation of the
State for the year 1855, the value of the
notes, bonds, and money at interest
made subject to assessment cOnstitut-
ed about 10 per cent of the entire tax
able property of the State. In 1865 IL
a little over ; per cent, and in
1885 about 3% per cent; and yet
during that period covered by these
statistics it is probable that the
amount of State, railroad, municipal,
and farm mortgage bonds owned by
the citizens of Connecticut increased
to an extent equal to a least one-half
the valuation of all the other property
in the State returned and made sub
ject to taxation. In 1855 the inhab-
itants of eighty-One towns of the State
did not own single mortgage bond.
Not bond was returned as owned in
the ricn city of Meriden. The 20. 600 in
habitants OF the thriving city of Wa
terbury by their united efforts man
aged to scrape together only $3.50 in
bonds. So far as cash is concerned
there was never a community since
mankind emerged from a state of bar
ter that got along with so little In
1SS9 however. the Legislature of Con-
necucut modified her former statutes.
and provided that the owners of ali
notes and bonds who would register
agree to pay in advance a tax of one
hfth OF per cent per annur! for a
period of five years, should be exempt
ed from all further State or local tax
alton on the same. Note now the re-
suits. The law in question went into
operation on the 1st of August 1889
and between that date and the LIST of
January succeeding, something over
SScoOOcO0 of bonds and notes were reg
lstered under the modified assessment
of which the Treasurer. in his report
to the Legislature, says: Probably at
least three-fourths have never paid
any taxes whatever Here, then
within within five months was uncoy-
eIed 10 the taxing power quantity
OF what the law makes property in ex-
cess of so. Coz. coo and returns are still
being received in large volume. The
conclusion, therefore, seems to be that
there is good deal of conscience in
the highly moral State of Connecticut
which can be induced to cheat and for
swear on per cent tax that cannot
De brlDed on tan of one-fifth of l
per cent; or that a tax of from / to
per cent on bonds and notes in Com
nectcut is sufficient to nearly tax ont
or existence all conscientious scruples
OF lts peop:e in respect to the violation
OF law and the preparation of fraud
IN respect to matters of taxation
In view of these facts the follow
ing answer, made some years ago by
a man of New England birth and ed
HtoGOH. pul OF lnenH1aDle character
and influence, to a question as to his
fatner's honesty, has no little of point
and application: He is honest as the
world goes. He won't tell a lie for
twelve and a half cents (the New
England ninepence) but he will tell
eight for dollar
Which reminds one of the rnulatto poll
ician's epigram in Cables novel. John
iarch'-
''Niggah steal by de peck; white
man steal by de boatload''
There are a good many cases in the
history of the world in which
tealing on a large scale has become
conveying in the language of the wise.
Indirect taxation, the principle of tax
tion for revenue only, and other prob
Ems connected with the subject, are fully
iscussed, and the last two or three chap
ers are taken up with a recapitulation
nd with the consideration of various
lethods of taxation practicable in mod
IN times. The book cannot fail to be
lteresting and profitable reading for any
ne. (New York: d. Appleton & CO. 81
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