Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-21

ISOLATED capital, and the tendency
toward organized labor is as marked
and will probably be as enduring as
the tendency toward organized wealth.
The collision between these forces IN
society not only disturbs the peace of
Industrial pursuits, but is so destruc-
tive that the student of affairs is con-
stantly looking for some plan through
which agreements, fair to both sides,
may be affected I thoroughly believe
that the government must bear a
hand in the solution of this problem,
and am equally convinced that it can
not efectually do so until we national
ize the subject.
Corporations.
There is another thought which is
directed more to the creation of a
wholesale sentiment than to the en-
actment of laws, to which | must
draw your attention. He who hon
estly makes, has the right to safely
keep, whether it be one dollar or a
million dollars; yet there are certain
incidents of wealth, and especially as
ISOLATED wealth, which ought to re-
ceive the serious consideration Of
those who have the welfare of their
country at heart. Wealth gives to him
who owns or controls 1t power for
great good and for great evil; 1t gives
him power to endow schools, found
libraries, and relieve want; but it also
gives him power to seduce and coerce
his fellow men, and this power should
be most jealousy scrutiniZed. Wealth
and especially incorporated wealth
has many rights; but it should always
be remembered that among them Is
not the right to vote. Corporations
have, and ought to have, many privi
leges; but among them is not the
privilege to sit in political conven-
lions or occupy seats in legislative
chambers. Corporations, as such,
should be vigorously excluded in every
form from participating in political
affairs. Here at least the rich and
the poor, as individuals, should meet
upon the plane of absolute equality.
The conscience and intelligence of the
natural man must be the sole factors
in determining what our laws shall
be and who shall execute them.
At this point | must be permitted
to refer specifically to one phase Of
corporate interference that ought
speedily to disappear under the right
eous Indignation OF honest men. The
professional lobbyist has, I regret to
say, become one Of the features of
legislative assemblies; he has become
stencil in the nostrils of a decent
community; and he ought to be driven
with the lash of scorn, pursued by the
penalties of the law, from the presence
of every official and from the pre-
cincts of every legislative body in the
republic.
Taxation Defects.
The most fragrant defect in the exc
cution Of our taxing law is disclosed
in the escape of so large part of the
personal property within our jurisdic-
ton from the view of the assessor
The plan which has been recently
adopted to bring it to light, cannot be
said to be permanent in its character,
and eventually some officer of the
county must be entrusted with the
duty that contractors perform. Final
relief will come, l believe, first from
the gradual growth of a sentiment that
the tax-dodger is an unworthy citizen.
There ought to be, and will be,
quickened conscience that makes the
duty of the taxpayer much palmer
than it now is, and that will command
the truth and sincerity in dealing with
the assessor that is practiced in all
other business matters | believe
further that there ought to be imposed
a reasonable penalty upon the failure
to list taxable property.
My observation reveals another
weakness which may well engage the
attention of the general assembly. A
casual examination of the reports to
the state board of review shows that
many of the assessors of Iowa sadly
mistake their duty. 1t is probably
true that personal property fails to
bear its just measure of taxation.
partly through the weakness or the
connivsnce or both, Of assessors, but
the more serious charge to be brought
against them. or some of them, is their
aisobedience of the statute which re-
luires that the true value of property
shall be made the basis for as
sessable value.
Railroad Taxation.
No discussion of the subject would
be complete without reference to
the taxation of railroad property. The
policy of our law which has created
distinct tribunal for the ascertaining
of the value of the railroads of the
state, naturally introduces compari-
son between the values attached to
railroad property and the values as
signed to other property. Those
whose property is valued by assessors
subject cr!y to limited revision by
the state board of review, have an I'M
doubted right to demand that the
executive council, the assessing board
for railroad property shall so perform
its duty that the railway corporations
shall pay their just and proportionate
share of taxes. or TO DhraSe If differ.