The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-01-11

instead of realizing the expectations of
their authors, by contributing to the de-
mands upon the Treasury, the sum Of
$500 900, have added only $500. 95
10 the income OF The State.
Al D. ccinber session, 1913. the highly
qualified officer then having charged OF
the Treasury, III The spirit OF fidelity and
trsnkness manifested hy his predecessor.
declared To the Legislature lIa, AN in>
crease of The rate of taXn'ion then exist
ing was absolutely necessary for the re-
dcmplInn of the faith Of .ht Safe, aud the
restoration of public credit, These pru,
dent almnnllIoni were again disregardtd.
The most lallariuus ca cuIal!"us and es.
Inmates as 10 the probable receipts of the
Treasury for the year just closed, were
relied upon. j" guard against further
errors Of that character, and 10 demon.
sIra!e The necessity thai exists for decisive,
energetic measures, il may nor I've out ut
place 10 present some few uscrr aimed
facts. Illustrative of the errors of these
last legislative calculations.
wilhslanding the experience of the
past, the Com nitlee Of Ways and Means,
the proper organ Of the House of Dele-
gales on the subject, al the last session,
estimated the probable receipts under ex.
ising revenue laws, for the year 1911,
exclusive Of the direct taxes due for ISL |
and '42, al S49O,000. The entire amour,
actually paid in WAS 1922 ,l452U.
the several revenue laws passed al
December session, 1871, imposing taxes
"ls incomes, on brokers, silver plate.
watches and ground rents, added TO the
ialeresI eXpt cted from the Baltimore and
Snsqnehan"a Raj! Road, aud the Susoue-
hanna and lille Water Canal Compan,
les, would, II Na~ confidently said, add Ia
The resources OF the past year Sl45,0O0
From these sources the whole income re
ccived is but S32,732 80.
These deialclllons IN the revenue are
TO be imputed in great degree to the
palptble msntEcirncy Of the whole taxes
levied, even II punctually paid. As long
as our tax laws have ,hls obvious aspect,
we may expect large portion Of the pub
lie dues will he Withheld, in the belief
that the alIemp; to pay the public ,ebI
will, Il. no distant day, be abandoned.
When the direct lax was levied, the
property OF the States was estimated a,
three hundred millions of dollars. II
this estimate lad been correct, the rate Of
tax then imposed would have been suffi-
clenl. When the actual value of the pro-
perry was ascertained 10 be less than two
hundred millions, there was no alterna-
tive for those who intended to pay the
interest on the public BIT by taxation,
hui 10 increase The rate Of the levy from
twenty 10 thirty cents on tie hundred
dollars, thus iu secure M income from
The asceriaimeG value Of the property of
the Safe, equal TO that intended TO be col
lecled upon its estimated value. Instead
"l SO doing, the Legislature undertook tn
rely uron other sources of revenue, tfar
should at all time. be regarded only a.
the means 10 supply those deficiencies in
the regular annna income from the tl,,
rect tax. necessarily arising from delays o!
payment, insolvencIes. and other causes
unforeseen and inevitable.
Another fatal error was committed in
failing 10 enforce The laws against the first
delnqnenls. F"rbearance and indul-
gence towards those. ergendered in the
public mind doub, as to the existence
"f fixed and steady purpose 10 maintain
invlolate The public faith. IN this state oil
things Others were encouraged TO follow
the example Of The deInquenls; and now.
instead Of three We have seven counties
within whose boundaries the tax laws are
no, all enforced