The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-11
HUTQ;RATS Do NOT PAY.
THEIR PROPORTION OF PUBLIC
EXPENSES
A. 1t In In Jacksonville, 1t Probably II
in Many Other CItie~-The Great
est CauHe for High Taxation
tDixie)

There can be no excuse found for
the taxing power except necessity
maintained government, so that socie-
ty may be protected and advanced.
Taxes must bear on all alike to escape
the charge Of imposition. n."-Henry
George
In striking violation Of every Just
idea and plan Of taxation is the assess
ment system Of Jacksonville.
Taxation is unequal here. Men in
humble cottages and in moderate sur
roundings are assessed sixty per cent
of the real value of the property they
possess, while scores Of the wealthy
pay taxes on from ten to twenty per
cent -=4~~~@13>
There -aEsszaur1dreds Of people own
ing their homes which are nicely. and
in many cases handsomely furnished.
who do not pay |one cent of personal
taxes
There are rig men in jacksonville
occupying AND owning magnifcently
furnished residences. who own dia-
monds. watches. horses and automo
biles, who DO not pay one cent of per-
sonal tax. T
The total real valuation of all prop
erty In Jacksonville, Including real and
personalsis as far as l am able to learn
and according to several who are con-
sidereds conservative. approximately
two hundred million dollars.
For this s206.000,O00 worth Of prop
erty, the assessed valuation is a little
in excess of s30,000.O00
The cause of the trouble-the rea-
son that Jacksonville. with a boasted
population of $4,000 has the reputation
all over the country OF excessive tax
Ievies-is because the rich man and
| the corporations do not pay taxes In
proportion to the man who merely
owns his home. and who is classed
among the bread winners.
To show the inequality of assess
ments 1 made comparisons by taking in
well known people, and corporations.
and here are some notable examples:
l find that James P. Taliaferro pays
for an assessment of $4,000 for his
home on Church street The home
could hardly be bought for $4,000. I
find that Mr.. Taliaferro is assessed for
$4,000 for his Commodore's Point
property, and the portion-the small
portion of it-owner by D. G. Amber,
is assessed for $4,000 Mr. Ablor says
man for 100000. and that it is worth
$3.50. 900.
Ex-senator Taliaferro is million
aire. His home is luxuriously furnish
ed. He has valuable paintings. silver
ware. statuary and importations of
great value. including diamonds. His
automobile alone cost him $4,000 Yet.
the eX-senator's assessment for per-
i Sona1 only one thouSand dol
lars
| On the other hand, J. II. Blodgett is
well-to-do negro. He is said to be
worth $4,000. and his realty is assess
| ed at S36,600, and his personal tax is
assessed at the same figure as that of
ex-senator Taliaferro.
| J. r. Parrot. with a handsomely fur
nished home is assessed at $4,000 for
this residence costing $4,000. to say,
nothing Of the value of the spacious
grounds that run from Church to Ash
ley streets. Mr.. PARROTS assessment
for personal taxes is only $1,000.
Sylvanus Hart, a negro, has a nice
home that cost him about $4,000, and
this is assessed at $500. Hart pays
personal taxes on an assessment OF
is3.40O-more than three times as much
as either Taliaferro or J. Parrott.
W. F. Coachman. another millionaire.
has his mansion assessed at $780, and
all his personal property, including
household furniture, diamonds, auto
mobiles, racing boats, and other ex-
pensive 1uxuries, is assessed at two
thousand dollars.
| Dennis Taylor. negro, pays on an as
,sessment of $500 for Bridge street
property worth about $4,000.
p ;f-
enormous collection of diamonds gen
orally accepted as necessitating a cost
of s250,000, is assessed for $4,000
while Neal Finkelstien on West Bay
street with a stock of about $4,000
ipays on an assessment of $4,000.
| The S. 3. Hubbard Company, claim
ing TO be the largest establishment OF
its kind south of st. Louis with a stock
of about s225,00O. pays on an assess
ment of $4,000.
| The Metropolis office with three.
story building within few feet Of the
city hall and a building which the own
ers have refused s65.000 for is on the
. assessment books for $4,000. The
personal property of this newspaper il
assessed at $4,000. This property con
sists of the following: Press and ster-
eotyping outfit, $4,000: seven linotype
machines at $4,000 each. $4,000; safes
office fixtures, $4,000: white paper:
and other materials, s5,000-total o
$50, 900 which is assessed a t $4,000 TIL.
Times Union, with eight machines anC
other valuable personal property, il
: assessed at $4,000. Its operating ma
chinery costs about $4,000 more thar
that employed in the Metropolis. Th
Times Union building on the corner o
J.. Cedar and Adams street has only beel
occupied few months and has not ye
been assessed.
the present system. The Seaboard Al
Line has property from Hogan street t
Bridge and from Bay street TO tn
channel of the river. It has also val
q Iuable river front property in the east
ern section of the city. 1 have aske
several leading citizens as to the rea
value of the property owned by tn
Seaboard in this city. The lowest esti
: mate given was s10,000,00o, and tn
highest SIS. 900, 900. yet the assessmen
is only s1.121 900 or about one-tenth o
1.-The actual valuation.
| While those who live in the lap o
luxury are paying from ten to twenty
five per cent on the valuation of prop
who are struggling for livelihoo
d pay from fifty to sixty per cent.
Lawyers with few books and fewe