Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-18
BY D. w. NORRIS, SIR. Grinnel. Iowa.

only fair to say that n large major
ity of them uphold the law and neces
sarily the ferret, because he is a part
of the law.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette says "the
tax ferret is not injuring the people
who have paid their taxes and who
have concealed none OF their prop
erty."
The Montezuna Republican says
we have never yet seen a plausible
reason given by an attorney or any
body else why the tax ferret law should
be repealed"
The Eagle Grove Eagle says "it is
not apparent why any man who Is
honestly listing his property with the
assessor. and listing all of it. should
tax ferret law"
The Brooklyn Chronicle contains one
of the very best articles I have seen
anywhere upholding the law. but can
not quote from it for the reason that I
have mislaid the paper. I think that
the article from the Sioux City Jour
nal fairly represents the thourhtless
attacks on the ferret and the inv.
admit that taxation OF money raises
the interest rate, but that il the fault
of the law and not Of the ferret, but
Mr.. Perkins view is mere quibbling.
To begin with, there are very few cities
or towns where the taxes are . per
cent. Jus. how the lender can net .
per cent by sending II out OF the state
Is not made clear He can not get any
more on Illinois or Missouri mort
cages than he can on Iowa. mortgages.
He is not exempt from taxation be-
cause his money Is loaned without the
state. The best banks d, not FAY 4
per cent generally. AMI hey do no,
compound interest any oftener than
other debtors.
If MFR. Perkins will declare IN favor
of the abolition of this kind of tax I
will gladly Join him. But go long az
A pays his tax It is indeed fine fam
TO A for to dodge his. The assessing
boards do not fix things SO the loan
err shall pay per cent. The assessing
boards merely, say what levy is neces-
sary. Mr.. Perkins writes as If the
board of supervisors levied taxes SIM
per cent mortgage. II tnat be their
ODJeCl Ittlr stltOFtS nave Ucbu II us
mai failure II seems 10 me that the
huge Joke on the lender comes in
when A pays his tax on his per cent
mortgage and B. the skinfiint. pays
nothing on his S per cent mortgage.
And the laws Of this state also require
that moneys and credits be listed for
taxation at their full value like other
property. Whether the latter provis-
ion is right or wrong is neither here
nor there-it is the law. l may say
In explanation that l do not think 4:
is wise to tax moneys and credits but
this can be discussed at another time.
The GrnnEl Herald replies to the
Montezurra Republicans challenEe by
quoting banker and an attorney. II
any banker ever said my such thing
he doesn't know what he is talking
about. and / suspect the attorney is
engaged 10 defend some of The men
who have been asked to pay some taxes.
The bankers statement l do not be-
lieve. and the attorneys statement is
not an argument. because the same
thing might be urged against the en-
forcement OF any law. Laws are not
enforced as a money making PROPOSE
ton. Now as an illustration. let us
bring the discussion OF this matter
right home 10 ourselves. There has
been a. tax ferret at work In Poweshiek
county all summer. How much he coll
iected do not know, nor do 1 care.
He has sent out notices to many people
who had listed all their property. This
was annoying, 1t Is true, hut after all
1t is q mighty eina;l annoyance for one
to suffer to the end that men who are
robbinx nneir nsighbors may DO COM
PEELED to nnasca restitution. It Is also
true that occasionally man may nave
to employ counsel to defend against an.
unjust demand and possibly there are