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WHO PAYS YOUR TAXES?

very early date, and has at one time or another been in voguein nearly every civilized nation. It has, however, been aban-doned in all countries except the United States . ... Itis characteristic of this system, that the more you perfect it theworse you make it.’

“Eastern States—New York and Connecticut especially—are seeking to attract owners of capital or personal property tothose States by placing little or no taxation on personal prop-erty. New York laws and decisions are such that none buttrustees of widows and orphans need pay personal propertytaxes.

“Professor Ely further says: ‘From the time of Turgot and Adam Smith to the present, political economists have notceased to warn the people to be careful not to drive aw’ay cap-ital by taxing it. . . . The result [of taxing capital and

thus driving it away] will be that the farmer will find a poorerhome market for his produce, on account of diminishedwealth in the State, while his lands will fall in value.’ Thesame writer, referring to a message of the Hon. Abram S. Hewitt , ex-mayor of New York , to the Board of Aldermen,says: ‘ It advocates exemption of personal property from alltaxation, in order to build up the business of New York . It isplainly stated therein that all attempts to enforce the systemof personal property taxation, thoroughly, in New York , havebeen practically abandoned.’

“Shall States drive away capital by excessive, unequal, orunjust taxation? Does Nevada desire to attract capital to herborders and her storehouses of treasure ? Then let her legis-lature appoint a committee of educated, intelligent men; givethem time and necessary expenses to visit other States andexamine their laws. Also to examine the pamphlets and mon-ographs ; reports to legislatures of New York , Connecticut ,and other States ; and those mentioned in the pamphlet ongeneral property taxation by Professor Edwin R. A. Seligman,

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