The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-10

- Jul pAuu VI NtAilAtun
includes notes and bonds and stocks
they must be listed The plea Of bust
ness privacy has. been driven too hard.
II for mere statistical purposes We may
ask the head OF the family whether
there are IN idiots In his household
and enforce an answer by court pro.
cess. we may surely, for e pur-
poses. require a detailed list OF his So
curities. The men who have wealth.
must not hide It from the tax gatherer
and iaaRt 1t on the street. Such
things breed a great discomfort. All
other men are hurt They bear n dis.
eroportionate burden. A strong sol.
der will carry the knapsack OF a GRIP
led comrade, but he viii not permit a
robust shtrk to add SO much as his
tin cup to the burden.
THE special purpose Of my address
10 day is to press home this thought
upon the prosperous, weittotdo people
OF on communities. and especially of
Il great cities: that one of the con.
ditions OF the security. of wealth. is a
proportionate and full contribution to
the expenses of the State and local
governments. 1t Is not only wrong
but 1t Is unsafe. TO make a show in our
homes and on the streets that is not
made in the tax returns. "
at Is a part OF our individual cove.
nant Rs citizens with the State that
we will. honestly and fully. In the rate
or proportion fixed from time to time
by law. contribute our last share to all
public expenses. A full and conscien.
tio"s discharge OF that duty by the
citizen Is n OF the tests OF good citi
zenship. To evade that duty is n NOR.
al delinquency, an unpatriotic act. The
tnx-payipg conscience Is duiied In
times Of peace. When a ravaginG foe
threatens n population with fire and
sword men appreciate the defence
which the government interposes be.
tween the man danger.
81 want 10 emphsaize. II ! can. the
'i''ShN 'hdt 'ue PRESENTATION VI iHiS
principle OF "a proportionatc ccntribu.
ton, according to the true value of
what each nan has. to the public
pendftures. Is essential to the mantle
nance Of our free institutions. and OF
reace and good order in our commune.
ties. ! do not say that every tax must
lie universal ard touch all property Of
every kind. The general property tax
must do so. but ] recognize the fact
that excise taxes and franchise taxes
and such like. may be levied in add.
ton to the general property tax. and
that the requirement as to such taxes
Is only that they shall be uniform In
the class which Is subject to them and
that the classification shall be natural
ard not arbitrary. *"h*
For very many years an opinion
has been prevalent that the erea;
hulk OF personal property OF the State /:
especially of the class dominated Sc
curlties.' including stocks. bonds,
uotes, mortgages and such like. has
escaped taxation. With a very few
exceptions the great fortunes In this
country are invested in such securi.
ties. There is, OF course. in the aegrc-
gate. Il somewhat wider distribution
o; the stocks and bonds of some u.
our great corporations. but 1t seems
probable that these smaller holdings
are In a fairer degree represented in
the tax returns. The delinquency APP
pears to be largely located in u
treat cities, Recent investigations by
students OF political science. and re-
cent tables prepared by State tax Off.
Gals. have disclosed nm appalling con-
ditton OF things. me eV'l seems 10
have been progressive an'i'' IN some
of our great centers oil population ana