Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-10-10
FACTS ABOUT THE BUcKLIN
AMENDMENT.

tho Real Australasian System Of
Taxatlon-ciass Legislation In tho
Extreme.
In order that the voter may not be
deceived by the plausible platitude of
the advocates of the (Bucklin) Austria
lasion" tax system. 1t is essential that
few important facts be emphasized.
First-The term Australasian tax
amendment Is q misnomer
Second-The Australasian tax is u
federal tax and small land tax,
amounting In New Zealand at Its maxi
mum to only GOT per cent. OF the total
revenue raised, and In the other colo
MES 1t Ia less.
Third-Prior to the adoption OF the
land tax In 1891 the landowner of Aus
tralasia escaped all taxation.
Fourth-The purpose In instituting
the small land tax In Australasia was to
equalize the burden OF supporting gov
ernmcnt. and to break up large estates
held by residents abroad. who reaped
| the pecuniary benefit OF government
but contributed nothing towards It's
| support.
Fifth-All lands under the Australia
siap system valued at less than $500
are exempt
Sixth-The land tax is graduated on
all lands valued at s25. 900 and over. but
ut Its maximum 1t does not reach over
| IL mills on the dollar.
Seyenth-Under the workings OF the
New Zealand law according to Henry
ID. Lloyd in Newest Engiand'). out OF
10000 landowners only 1900 pay n
land tax.
Eishth-Thc economic conditions OF
Australasia have not been materially
affected by the law OF 1891. according
to Senator Bucklin's own statement In
his report to the Legislature.
Ninth-Ncw Zealand raises abou;
3ls.ooo.o00 for the purpose OF revenue
tn. enormous sum OF Sl0.00O.0OO In
raised by n tariff on Imports and the
balance of Ss.0o0.00o Is raised by tax
on mortgages. incomes and by other
devices. and the tax from land values
nlonc amounts TO only 81 800 900.
Tcnth-Thc prctext that the pro-
posed amendment IN local option In
taxation il u political subtcrfusc. 50
Ion. as tho power To exempt land
values is expressly forbidden.
Eieventh-Thc average landowner In
Colorado under our present system
pays i've times as much as the average
landowner In any OF the colonies of
Australasia
VIVA NtNu h'sA'hR pstlF0HtAfoa
the complete overthrow OF one system
OF taxation and the substitution of an
other. no man Ia justified In deecivinE
the public. for the material welfare OF
the entire commonwealth Ii In jcop-
ardy.
Should the amendment be ratified
and It's purposes be carried out. the
lands In twcnty-four counties In the
state would be taxed from two to three
times as much as at present.
In Glipin county the land would be
taxed foT,y-threc tines more than
under the present system.
In Arapshoc county lands arc taxed
30 mills on the dollar a, present
Under the pgekiIn amendment the tax
would be doubled aud tho laad would
be taxed 20 mills.
Senator nuekiin. in his report. states
that land values deprecated in South
Australia upon the Introduction of
4 mill tax.
In South Australia. where the land
tax. "a well as tho increase of popula-
tipn. has been very small. and the orig
Inal assessment vas made at a time
when prices were very much inflated.
there have been two considerable re.
due;ions in the valuations: the nrs; ono
because the valuations wore made ON
the inflated. untaxci yaiucs. and tho
second one succeeding the loeal option
ia~ Of iSsJ and the Increased land tax
Of 1884,. paEe Il. U. $. Senate pocu-
taont No. .osJ
tf 80. at.sss, D.. 40 ,,tas 10, thc na.,.
Of common sense would be the deprc-
citation in Arapshoc county II the rate
we're Increased twenty millse
The land values OF Colorado amount
TO $500 .cOo. 600. Senator Duckiin's tax
medicine will cut this value in two
and reduce the purchasing power. or
wealth. of the state 10 that extent. and
the further application Of an increasing
tax on declining value will impovcr-
lsh the commonwealth.
The purpose of the Bucklin amend
msnt il to introduce the single tar in
Colorado.
This is denied upon the stump and
In the press. by the specious special
plea of local option and home ruic.
but only little light is necessary TO
expose the ulterior purpose of this mis-
called "Australasian tax amendtscnt."
II has been stismstized as anarchis-
tic. socialistic and revolutionary. When
the radical character OF the change
proposed is contemplated the eonclu-
sion that IL is decidedly revolutionary
is inevitable. when the proposed vio-
iation of constitutional vested rights
and the deliberate subversion Of our
organic laws is closely examined. IL be-
comes as anarchistical as secession it,
/ self.
Cold Winter Predicted.
Denver. Oct. 5.-The recent wet
weather has aroused the weather
propnets. The News says:
The general impression among peo-
/ pie who prognosticate concerning the
/ weather is that Colorado is about TO
| enter upon a long and stormy winter.
/ This belief is gained by the expo
riencc of a hot, dry summer and. the
fact that comparatively little snow
4