The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-12-20
why NOT EXEMPT
The FARMERS TOO?
JUDGE meouowN ASKS peril.
NgNT QUESTION or THE
TAX REFoRMeRs.


communication from that very able
jurist Judge Lewis McQuown regard.
ing the campaign which Ia being wag
I'll for change in the taxation laws
OF Kentucky Judg, McQuown writes:
The anicable but persistent Mr.
l,ooinsor. Of. louisville. has been ac-
cushioned TO attribute every III which
befalls Kentucky. to her failure to
adopt his system of taxation. Il IL
not astonishing. therefore that We
are told by him in communication
To the CoIrier-Journal. that our poc-
showing In the recent census ID d.
rectly attributable to that cause.
Ills argument Ia that II Kentucky
" ould adopt his system. under which
capital should not be taxed, when In.
vested either in commercial business,
Tor stocks and bonds that he would
nave a larger population and greater
prosperity.
No more vicious system could be
conceived OF. II would create a priv.
ilege and protected class. rhe farm
ana its products and its homes and
property OF the poorer classes would
De taxed at higher rate titan al
present to carry on the State govern
wealthy class would be exempt. Why
ment. while the capital of this
should we. II indeed we could. rur-
cnase the residence here Of the capt
talist vith the addition, II may De. ol
q few thousand other people. at such
Il cost
"ijut this result OF the census has no
relation to the alleged cause. Our
system OF taxation las deterr, d no
nan from coming TO kentucky. eltnc.
with or without capital. The state
mi nj 10 the contrary is bald asser-
ton without evidence 20 support it.
Capital and property arr. taxed 10
heavier in Kentucky as rule than
in tie ether states. The simple rea-
son why more capitalists do not come
TO Kentucky to invest In enterprises
here Is that ventures elsewhere seem
more rrnmising The taxation here
would not, and ii does not, either re-
:ard or embarass any business that
has subsistence in il, or capital behind
II. Every commercial clcub in the
State has had frequent communities
tIOns from capitalists VINO propose to
establish Dusiress enterprises IN
Kentucky TBut in the majority Of
these case4 the condition OF the com
ing is basee upon large investment
OF local capita. ard it is upon the
failure Of this class to come that the
statement is persistently made BY Mr.
Robinson that business enterprises
are barred from Kentucky.
"8ut Oklahoma and Texas, neither
ol which has Mr.. Robinsons system
OF taxation have increased in pol:u!a-
ton bevond any other states. Other
states in the east have scarcely neld
their twr. The increase in the first
named states and the stagnation in
poDulation in the last. ARE not tire re-
suit OF systems OF taxation. but OF
other local and natural causes. The
failure 70 adopt Nr. Robinson's sys-
tern did not keep capital OF people
out Of Texas or Oklahoma. nor would
its adoption Rave brought them into
Vermont or New Hampshire. II not
why has IL kept them out OF Ken
tuckv-
Tho fact and truth Is that league
has been formed by the capitalist
nf this country whose sole purpose
4 is to change the system OF taxa
ton, in all tire states, 20 that capt.
go, 'ays,ion This crusade ia car.
- -. 49,, A. Roh;nson and others
~ v n,aer i've snecious nre.
49, ean,,aI Win come and hiring
''.N',n . 9TH =, A. Iax exemptior
~ ps,,rad I'm, sunnose that these
;,a',s,s a,a s,ccess,uI in Ali the
' ,a,nsas ,nav nom 40 be-then pro-
$3.50, III, no AFFORDED eyerywhere.
ars No ,rs,,x of nonulation or CAM.
~ nm .1 ,o,,nw n un,o indiana.
~, V,rs,nia and tennessee adopt
W., ~" 80, sys,an and Kentucky should
wy AZ - .,ha, noss,nIa advantage
a'eu ~ aar,vs from the changey
..rhS ,arr,ar who raises cattle sheen
-. - corn tohacco wheat oats
"a ~ ,as aI, tho can,taI which he
a'u mas, I ;o.as,.d in his business
r., ~ ,ar,, uhich rsnresen,a his
aaa,,a1 ,osa,har with nrodncts of
s ~, 49, Arc a. ba taxed lie NAV
ns 49, w., ,ho,sand dollars an invest.
ns'' en aa| NJ poh,nsnn.s svs.
.u n", uI oani,,lis, n,ax come