The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-27
WORCESTER.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1929.


- &sS Go
AUCTION Dlaies.-In the Legislature of this
State the Senate have, by large majority,
referred to the next Legislature the bill (pass-,
ed by the House,) for laying a duty on sales
at auction. This is. understood to be tania-
mount to a rejection Of the bill. Considering.
the large majority by which the bill passed the
House, there is reason to regret this Disagree
ment between the two branches Of the Lecis.
lature. Were the subject Of the bin merely
oflocal ortemporary Importance, the disagree
ment would be hardly worth moments refiec-
ton. But; connected asst is with the revenue
system ofthe Commonwealth, and coming home
to the feelings and interest of every citizen, il
cannot bcsexpected il. Will be passed over as
an everyday occurrence. tits in VAIN to sup.
pose that, with the adjournment of the Lesis-
latnre, the people win cease to feel any IN
terest ia the question of improving the finances
1 OF the State, and of drawing some portion Of
! its revenue from those sources which. in manv
other States, yield so abundant supply.
To say that the progress of the bill in fI,e
two Houses Of the Legislature. has not been
"atcned with some sclcitude, would be an
idle aftectation of Indifference to a most in,er--
esting subject. To endeayour to conceal III.
TACT OF much dissatisfaction at the decision Of
the Senate, and of regret that there is tb;,
disagreement between the two Honses. wouIs
be worse than useless. A full and fair Olsen,
/ SION OF the subject, before the people, ma
/ perhaps, satisfy them that the bin is unwis,
and IN this way, whatever dissatisfaction
felt may be removed. The acts of the Legi
iature are for the benefit Of the people, and
is certainly an object to satisfy them Of Il,
wisdom Of all its measures The members :,
each House are the agents of the people; and
/ they ought never to fear an inquiry into The
manner in which the duties Of the agency ara
discharged.
We do not coudemn the decision Of the Sem
ate. That it is against the opinion we had
formed, and. contrary to our expectations. Wa
freely admit: But we have not so clear n
view OF the whole ground-so settled conyic--
ton OF the insuficiencyof every reason which
may exist against the passage Of the bill--as.
to warrant us in impeaching the decision of tha
senate. To do so, at once, would be equally
dsrespectful to that branch OF the royern-.
ment, and unjust to its members. But, ON the
other hand, we are not bound 10 yield implicit
confidence to the decision Of the Senate, since
II is contrary to an equally deliberate decision
OF large majority of the House. 1t is not un-
reasonable, therefore, to wait for the reasons,
, which influenced the former body, before the
people abandon their own opinions on the sub y
Jecf, and JOIN in condemning the measures Of
their immediate Representatives.
Ofcourse, we shall not, at this time, at
tempt to show that the House OF Represents
tives was right, and the Senate wrong Tbs
labouring oar is on the other side. we barely
state several facts connected with the subject.
In many, perhaps most, other States, much
revenue is derived from specifck tazatiOn.--
That ofthe United States, it is web known. ii
acholly obtained in this manner.
Among the objects ofsuch taxation, sales at
auction stand prominent.
The amount of duties on such sales accru-
ing to the State Of New-York, from the city
alone, during the last year, exceeds $l5O,0o0-
In the State Of Rhode-Island, the duties
heretofore payable Ito che Town. reasnriesl
on such sales, was one half Of one per cent
At the recent Session Of the Legislature, thar
ely has. been decreased to one fourth, and a
te duty Of one per cent. added ;--making
the whole duty, now payable, one and ons
fourth per cent.
Two years ago, large proportion Of the
merchants in Boston, petiioned the Legisla-
turc to impose duty on sales At auction