American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-02

by his predecessor, declared to the Legislature
that an increase Of the rate of taxation then
existing was absolutely necessary for the re-
demption of the faith of the State, and the res
toration of public credit. These prudent ad-
monitons were again disregarded The most
fallacious calculations and estimates as to the
probable receipts of the Treasury for the year
Just closed, were relied upon. To guard against
further errors of that character, and to demon
strate the necessity that exists for decisive, ell
ergetic measures, it may not be out of place to
present some few ascertaned facts, illustrative
of the errors of these last legislative calcula-
tons.
Notwithstanding the experience of the past,
the Committee of Ways and Means, the proper
organ of the House of Delegates on the sub
ject, at the last session, estimated the probable
receipts under existing revenue laws, for the
year 1914, exclusive of the direct taxes due for
lS4l and '42, at $3.50, 006: The entire amount
actually paid in was S272, 1920.
The several revenue laws passed at Decem-
Der session, lS4l, imposing taxes on incomes,
on brokers, silver plate, watches and ground
rents, added to the interest expected from the
Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail Road and
the Susquehanna and Tide Water Canal Com
panies, would, it was confidently said, add to
the re sources ofthe past year Sl45, 900. From
these sources the whole income received is but
S32, 1926.
These defalcations in the revenue are to be
imputed in a great degree to the palpabe in
suiiiciency of the whole taxes levied, even if
punctualy paid. Aslong as our tax laws have
this obvious aspect, we may expect a large
portion Of the public dues will be withheld, in
the belief that the attempt TO pay the public
debt will, at no distant day, be abandoned
When the direct tax was levied, the proper
ty OF the State was estimated at three hundred
millions Of dollars. If this estimate had been
correct, the rate of tax then imposed would
have been sufficient. When the actual value
of the property was asccrtaned to be less than
two hundred millions, there was no alternative
for those who intended to pay the interest on
the public debt by taxation, but to increase the
rate of the levy from twenty to thirty cents on
the hundred dollars, thus to secure an income
from the ascertained value of the property of
the State, equal to that intended to be collect
ed upon its estimated value. Instead of so do
ing, the Legislature undertook to rely upon
other sources of revenue, that should at all
times be regarded only as the means to supply
those deficiencies in the regular annual income
from the direct tax, necessarily arising from
delays of payment, nsolvencies and other
causes unforeseen and inevitable.
Another fatal error was committed in failing
to enforce the laws against the first deln9ucnts,
Forbearanoe and Indulgence towards those, en-
gendered in the public mind a doubt as TO the
existence ola fixed and steady purpose to main
tain inviolate the public faith. In this state OF
things Others were encouraged to follow the
example ofthe delinguents; and now, instead Of
three we have seven counties within whose
boundaries the Ia TX laws are not all enforced.
Repeated refusals of the Legislature to au-
thorise an exchange of the Bank Stocks of the
State, for evidences of interest in arrear, have
had deleterious influence. The stocks can,
it is confidently believed, be exchanged readily
fora amount ofcoupons and certificates ofinter-
est, largely beyond their value in money. When
SO favorable an opportunities presented to real
ize fora portion of the public property more than
its value, without an apparent effort to profit
by it, it would be strange if very many persons
did not entertain doubts, and misgivngs, as to
the intention of the State to redeem the faith
which she had pledged for the ultimate dis
charge of the public debt. Communities, like
individuals, may by imprudence, or erroneous
calculations, become involved in pecunary en-
barrassments, without mourning dishonor; but
it is not readily perceived how either the one,
or the other, having no intention TO defraud,
can withhold property from suffering creditors,
willing to take it in liquidation of their just
claims, at higher price than it will command
in market.
The laws of last session, empowering the
Governor, in certain contingencies, to COM
mission officers for the enforcement of the tax
laws, have been found altogether incapable of
correcting the evil they were intended to RENEE
dy. No one nthe defauting counties, it appears,
IN ba cd. of ho,
the collector of the tax levied to pay the interest
on our internal improvement debt. These laws,
themselves, contain provisions calculated to
Illustrate the principal design Of their enact
n,ent. In the power conferred upon the Trea-
snrer TO appoint agents with authority to re-
ceive voluntary payments of taxes, there is an
inducement to every citizen of the delinquent
counties, to decline the acceptance of COM
mission constituting him collector. The col
lector, when qualified as such, would be sub
ject to law requiring him, under certain Pc
nalties, to enforce the payment Of the public
dues; while the agent of the Treasurer is only
to accept such contributions to the Treasury
as are voluntarily rendered. 1t will readily be
perceived, therefore, that it would be difficult
to find one willing, or DESTROYS, to undertake
the execution of obnoxious laws, when the Lee
gislature itself seemed TO anticipate refusal
to do SO, and had actually provided an alterna
tive, which appeared to be applicable to sEch
contingency. These antagonist provisions be-
ing embodied in the same law, have, il issbe-
lieved, contributed to the results just advertsd
to. No one can be prevailed upon to accept a
as collector in the delaulting coun.
ties, and the Treasurer has appointed agents
in those counties under the Authority of the
law. Front that officer the Senate and House
will be informed of the amount received from
his agents. When that information is commu-
nicated, an opportunity will be afforded 1.-TWO
nodes of collection having been tested, } to Sc
ect that which is most easy of execution, and
pest calculated to consummate the purposes of
he revenue laws. Whatever may be the de-
'lslon OF the Legislature on this point, the
'ame mode of collection should undoubtedly
O ndnnfad fhrni,nho.,A La =.