CHAPTER IV.

THE COLLAR-BUTTON SYSTEM.

Why so called.—Bill of 1884.—Abstract of a listing bill’s iniquities.—Judge Arnoux’ argument.—Contrast between the system of taxingeverything and that of taxing a few articles of general use.—City andcountry contrasted.—To tax personal property would not relieve realestate, and so on.—The Sun on enforcing a bad law.—Letter of avictim.

Those who believe that the only just system of taxationis one that seeks to lay the burdens of government uponevery form of property, visible and invisible, have suc-ceeded in fixing upon some of the States legislation look-ing to this end. Such legislation is usually called a “ list-ing bill.” It has been called the “ collar-button system,”because one of its warmest advocates said that he wouldtax everything, down to the cheapest collar-button. Sucha bill was before the New York legislature in 1884, andwas bitterly opposed by some of the most intelligent menin the State. Judge William Henry Arnoux and Mr. William II . Parsons appeared in opposition to this bill,April 10, 1884, before the Senate ’s Committee on Taxa-tion. This bill was, and all bills of this character are, sub-stantially like the following, which was introduced in 1892.