The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-08-01
OUR CRAZY TAX SYSTEM.

OUR CRAZY TAX SYSTEM.
Step over here in the shade a minute and let
me tell you something. A very ridiculous thing
happened today. It's ~scandalous. t all hap
pened because a friend OF mine wanted to buy
a home. The following names are not genuine,
but for the sake of brevity, / will use the names
of Smith, Brown and Jones.
Smith wanted to build a home and pay $4,000
for it. He didn't have the money. Brown had
that much idle money laying in the bank. Smith
borrowed the $4,000 from Brown and turned it
built the house.
Now what has happened?
The tax assessor wants Smith to pay taxes on
a $4,000 home.
The tax assessor wants Brown to pay taxes
on $4,000 worth of notes.
The tax assessor wants Jones and his associ-
ates who received the money for building the
house to pay taxes on $4,000 money in the
bank
All this has happened because Smith was a
good citizen wanted to build a home and make
a fireside for his loved ones; wanted to help de-
attractive piece of architecture; wanted to give
labor employment in erecting the structure.
A a result Of all this public-spiritedness on
the part of Smith. three tax levys are made on
$4,000 where only one was made before-grant-
ing, OF coure, that all parties concerned render
GU GAclI tdAdUlc 1UeIlS CONSCIOUSLY. ~
There is nothing crazier than our crazy-horse
system of taxation.
There is nothing more unjust, no fiscal system
more unSOund.
There is just one system of taxation that is
sensible, open and above board, and universally
just because it can't be lodged or juggled.
That's the Single Tax on land-values.-The
Pitchfork.
I'm every locality we nave a contemplate set
of cowardly partisan politicians who cry 'trea-
son, sedition, anarchy and pro-German' against
men who differ with them politically. The
claims of 'Americanism and loyalty put forth
by these narrow biggots are nothing more than
false faces worn by traitors. Such charges con-
vey to the German agents the information that
the country is 'swarning with kaiser worship
pers, and is more dangerous propaganda than
open opposition. In many cases our courts are
being imposed upon by low-browed politicians
who are taking advantage of the spirit of loyalty
in this land to wreak vengeance on those whom
they cannot meet honestly upon a political issue.
The man who aids Germany now is a traitor who
merits death, and the man who is yelling 'sedi-
ton to land party politics, above all others is
aiding our enemies. Newton D. Baker, Secre-
tary of War. s
When Brinton took the law into his own
hands and proceeded to administer a richly
merited castigation to one Mann, editor of the
Bismarck Tribune, he seems to have employed
the only argument which is in any wise efec-
tive with the class of defamers and character
a~ssassins to which the latter appears to be-
long. Brinton's method is most heartily COM
mended to friend Bloom, of the Devils Lake
Journal.
The ghoulish glee evinced by a number of lily
informed soidisant newspapers over the alleged
arrest of one "Calliope, of Home Lumber Co.
fame, up in Bottineau. county'-some Of whom
seek to convey the inference that he is in som
way connected with Townley-seems to have
been a trifle premature inasmuch as up to date
no arrest Of any person of that or any similar
name has been made in this county.
When the u~nspeakable Wilhelm learns that
Rex Lampman, late editor Of the North Dakota
Leader, has enlisted in the marines that ill
starred despot may be depended upon to throw
up both hands in disrnay and join his now
doomed followers in the cry of "Karnerud r.
and this cruel war will be over.
The long-delayed housekeeping at the state
capitol, whereby the anti-administration en-
ployees are said to be being made to walk the
plank" provokes a howl Of bitter anguish from
the antileague papers. By all means turn the
rascals QUIT"
The Willow City Eagle defines it's political
position in its last issue in no uncertain tones.
Editor Michael, of the old guard, serves notice
on the would-be d~isruptors of the G.. %. p. that
he will have none Of them.
Alloyal man needs no label.