Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-05-30
Discrimination Against

Tax Discrimination Against the
Farmer.
Speaking Of the credits and indebt-
edness that may be set on against
each other in filling out the assessors
blanks, Tax Commissioner Dillon uses
the following illustration in the In
telligencer on May 10th:
IF a man possess ten horses on the
first day of April worth one hundred
dollars each, but had not paid single
cent on the animals, he would be as
sessed on the full value of the ami
mails regardless of whether he had
paid for them or not If, however, he
held someone's note for $500, which
he would likewise be required to give
in to the assessor on the blank, he
could deduct this amount of his in
debtedness on the horses from the
amount of the note, or only be assess
ed on $500 In other words, he could
subtract his indebtedness from any
Intangible property that he may own
IF he held no such note then he
would be required to pay taxes on the
full value of the horses, or $1,000, even
though he had not paid for them.
From this it is evident that the
farmer must generally pay taxes on
everything that belongs to him wheth-
er he has paid or still owes its entire
price, or any part of it. And these
taxes are to be based, not as hereto
fore. upon fair cash value, but upon
| the true and actual value that the
| property would bring at a voluntary
sale. The farmer, if he holds note,
on which he is of course also taxed,
may deduct what he owes on the horses
| from the face of the note. But how
often will the average farmer that
| owes for some of his farm equipment
| be SO fortunate as to hold note?
| The banker or money lender usually
| has both his credits and his debts rep
resented by the same kind of property
notes and similar securities, so that
| he can always deduct the full amount
of his Indebtedness, thus only paying
taxes on the net balance in his favor
| This is fragrant discrimination
against the farmer.
AS will be seen from the same inter
view the small merchant and retail
dealer is in the same boat with the
farmer, though possibly not to the
same extent.
! Probably it would be said by the
/ said advocates of the fake tax reform
that this feature of Discrimination
against the farmer was to be found II
i the old law. But if this be the case,
/ is to be remembered that Messrs
4 Dawson, Lakin & Co. have now de
i prived the farmer of any compensa
! tive advantages that he enjoyed undel
4 the old law. They have put the tai
value of his real estate up to twice it
old figure They are putting the ia.
value of all his other property up t.
what it would bring if disposed of a
1 voluntary sale, and frankly, the,
4 have deprived him of the long enjoye,
privilege of entirely exempting from
taxation all agricultural production
and all increase in live stock for tn
year preceding the current assess
ment..
The leading organs of the fake ia,
reform claim Mr. Lakin's nomination
is an evidence of the popularity Q
their pet scheme with the people. Tn
accident of Congressman Dayton
resignation affords an opportunity t
test this claim Will the. voter, espt
cially the farmer. seize this oppo
tunity?
Will he put brake on the caree
2 Of reckless extravaganza that has lie
! to increased taxes or will he by ri
). vote continue to encourage the Stat
administration to accelerate it's spec
l on the course that can only resu
5 in greater expenditures and still higl
! er taxes?