Year: 1859

guish or remove, if / could. 1t serves
to accomplish what mlgdt not otherwise
be obtained, an economical and almost ne
cesSarily an honest administration Of the
government. All other things being equal
taxation should be as equal as possible.
Each person or property holder should,
as a general thing, be taxed in proper
tion to his substance or ability. But this
rule IS not always inhexible, and should
not be. What is fair in an old estab-
lIshed government, is not always so in a
new and struggling community. Open
ing up, developing and enriching new
country, through much sribuIaton and toll
is, in one sense, and to some extent,
burden of government. tits true, that
the man who labors and improves his
own land, may be recompensed for ell
that be does, but still be serves, ii some
degree, both the government and the
community, in the very work that he does
himself. Further, he adds to the value
of every acre of public land there is in
or near his neighborhood. If that land
is held for mere speculation, is it not clear
that the owner looks to the labor of 9th
| ers for the gains that are to follow, the
enhanced value of his estate In re-
gard to this subject, wish to be explicit
and plain. 1t is a fact very well known
that hundreds of thousands of acres of
the best land in Nebraska are held by
individuals who have never broken a sin
gle foot of sod with spade or pIow. These
lands being unimproved, pay only at pres
ent small amount of tax. The man
who lives on and improves his property,
in town or country, has generally a rea-
sonable amount Of personal property.
For the purpose of making the burdens
as light as possible, where they should be
be light, / recommend that real estate
shall be made the chief basis Of revenue.
think it would be well if there was
special exception, to limited extent, from
all taxation made in favor of the differ
ent kinds and varieties of stock and cat
tie. As for instance, a certain number
of sheep, swine, oxen, horses, COWS, &c.
The object being mainly to encourage
the taxpayers of the Territory to rear
and keep stock, especially such stock as
is valuable, and of the most improved de-
sCriptiOn Of beed.


Although / favor the plan Of making
real estate the chief basis Of revenue,
the Legislature will not understand me as
recommending any material change as TO
the taxable items, or articles mentioned
in the I'd Section of the Act of Nov. 1st,
1859.


While our climate is, in many respects,
all that could be desired, and our soil so
richly productive, it is not to be denied
that the want of timber on the prairies is
a great drawback, Notwithstanding the
fair supply TO be found on the Missouri,
and the inland streams of Nebraska. If
it is possible, in any practicable way, to
encourage the planting and growth Of
timber, it seems to me that it should be
done. But very few years are re-
quired TO grow, to a profitable size, from
small beginnings, such trees as cotton
wood, walnut, black locust, ash, maple,
and hickory. recommend to your con-
sideration a plan Of indirect bounty, by
which, / believe, great good could be
accomplished. If every settler could be
induced to plant and start into successful
growth, on his own land, few acres of
the trees l have named, I feel satisfied
it would in the end be decided and gen.
eral gain, to- exempt a portion of bis
land, for a specified period. from pay
ment of any Territorial or other tax. l
make the suggestion, in the hope that the
idea may meet with your appreciation,
leaving the details entirely to your judg-
ment and discretion.


invite your friendly consideration to
the subject of homestead law. The pas
sage Of a bill which would exempt from
execution and sale sufficient real estate
for a home for every family, would be no
more than an act of justice and humanity
and would no doubt meet with very general
favor amongst the people.


How much in value Of amount should
be held sacred for so worthy purpose, is
Of course for you to determine. l need
hardly say that whatever is reserved by
Jaw should strictly and in good faith be set
apart thata home for the otherwise home
less would always be made sure. The COM
mon objection to such law is that it is
unjust to creditors. This objection is at
once removed, when it is remembered
that the exemption can be made to oper-
ate only against debts contracted subse-
quent 10 the passage and publication of
the law. The creditor then knows what
property he can and what property be
cannot look TO, in case he gives the cred
it, and the debtor afterwards makes de-
fault.


1t is a matter Of bitter experience that
the people Of this Territory have been
made to pass through The delusive days of
high times and paper prices, and the con-
sequent dark and gloomy night Of low
times and no prices. We have had our
full share of the financial spasms, which
for two years have afflicted the great bo-
/ dy Of the American people. They are
gradually disappearing, but they will new
er altogether disappear until the produc-
ing causes are removed. The chief and
manifest cause. so far as new States and
Territories are concerned, mot the only
One) Is the enormous and overwhelming
rate Of interest which is exacted for the
loan of money for a common credit, in ma
ny cases, for the necessities Of life, or
the brief extension and fOrbearance Of