New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
StQLwart Advocate
of EQuable Taxation

must be- cured such excess is n heavy
and an unfair demand uuon our respective
mowers and resources u discourasss in
dustry by lcssening any possible fair re
ward taerefrom.
We should be taxed at the lowest pos
sble amount required by financial eNl-
sencies The improper abstraction from
our resources 10y an inflated tax means
the end Of progress and the retardation
Of advancement. II discoUragss building,
IL produces o stationary or backward
STAGE. Any city that is not advancing
is slipping backward. because other cities
will pass it An improper tax will mol
or course. accelerate the coming or out
side capital to build factories and TO start
industries II keeps away that which 10
without and keeps dormant that when
is within. OF sends 1t elsewhere for IN
vestment The iudicious use OF taxes
collected will cause more varied interests
10 come to Il CITY and every ones bust
ness generally will increase. and a better
standard of prosperity and comfort VIII
prevail
Where an unusual tax burden Is placed
ruon the manufacture he must transfer
il to tie consumer. II Dee cannot 20 shirt
il because Of competition. or otherwise
then il must come from his profit. Every
one properly expects 10 receive ana j.
entitled 10 A fair rate Of income on cap
ital invested n he can make a reasons
HE proff with a reasonable tax rate ne
may well be unable 10 continue II WIN
an unreasonable tax rate cutting d nov
in the bottom Of his money pocket
Taxes should he payable at the umeS
when Il is most convenient for the Tax
payers To- pas. The mortsageor usually
nrefers TO pay his interest semi-annually
instead OF annually II is financially
easier FOR him 10 pay II IN TWO inst"i
noents We are striving in Kingston 1"
have the taxes divided into Two pay
rents and II our proposed charter
amendments should be passed We VII :"
hav, il. cities borrow money rom others
and spend H. They give the lenders GER
tain binding obligations called bonds' BY
the terms and conditions thereof larse
,-r cent of All moneys that VIII be pau
TO cities Tor years 20 come IL Dleusen 10
these lenders Cities can only oorro" To
the extent Of 20 per cent of their respee-
tive assessed valuation Most cities have
reached that limit.
in many cases the assessments IN cities
are lacked up in order 10 put the CITY
i'm q position 10 legally borrow more mones
When we borrow we must issue 10 tho
lenders more Of these obligations or
bonds. pledging them large part OF taxes
10 be paid. for many Years TO come. Be
sides paving them back the whole prni-
cipal i'm time. We must pay tncm SLvF
interest. or more, each month on every
ego co of bonds. Nearly every city tries
10 hug that 70 per cent mark because In@
law allows it 10 do 20.
The general personal property AK Is an
unwleldy instrument as II is now en-
forced The people generally do not be-
lieve ia il. and not believing In II theN
hav. no hesitancy ia escaping a. II ~
4 very unequal law because II T. not en-
forced equally, and because D; cannot 10
enforced with uniformity unless Official
"suoopers" are hired. \ law may BE-
equal in theory. but unequal IN practice.
because il cannot DC put into operation
with equal pressure 10 all. II rs Ger
I
tainlv unjust and discriminating 10 tax q
manufacturer for personal property I"
! toe extent of the value Of his machnc''
faat not only grinds ont an income for
him. bus also for many workmei' when
there viii reside ~ tne same ,i.y NAM
persons owning personal property ot
more value than the MACHINERY ana
which is not taxed.
The manufacturer may have issued
bonds to purchase that MACHINERY or may
nave been compelled 10 mortgage II &"
procure the purchase money. and II b,
| should be taxed. as the law now says
he should. no deduction would be allowed
| for the debt against IL. With the state
business tax and the federal income tax.
with the mortgage tax and other special
taxes the general personal property taN
should he repealed and abolished II
might be modified. however 10y proS d
ing small annual ;aN OF onc-haif gcr
cent against All personal property vol
: uI.tsrilT registered oy tho ownc. wlta
J Continued on second page, fri column.