American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-24
antertcan Aepubllran,
AND BALTIMORE CLIPPER.
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. "a, 1916.

STATE TAXES. We regret to see an article
il the last Frederick Examiner, On the subject
of the state taxes, which is calculated to On
cite prejudice against the city Of Baltimore
1t would seem to be the design of the article to
make tho impression, that the citizens Of Balti-
more desire to escape the payment Of their just
proportion Of the state taxes. In no part OF
the state are the taxes more cheertully or
promptly PAID nor can any county boast OF
more solcitude to preserve the credit OF the
state than is felt in this city. Some writers IN
Baltimore papers have taken exception to
schemes Of taxation recommended by Governor
Pratt, as calculated to bear uncqually and OPP
prcssvely on our citizens; but we have seen no
intimation in any of our papers, that Baltimore
should no. pay her fair and equitable portion
of the public taxes. 1t may be very true, that
'tno law imposes one cent on the hundred dol
lars on her (Baltimor's) assessed property,
more than what is imposed upon every hundred
dollars of property throughout tho state;" but
it is equally true, that the proposed tax on
notes bonds, &c. would operate almost excu-
sively upon the city of Baltimore. The writer's
to whom we have referred do not complain
that the assessment on the hundred dollars of
property in this city is more than it is else
wherein the contrary, they contend, that
the direct is the most equitable tax, and there
fore should be increased To such increase
there can be no objection, if the Intention be,
to make every one contribute in the language
Of the constitution, "to the support Of govern
ment in proportion to his worth in real and
personal property" From 4 tax which will
produce tins result the citizens of Baltimore
will never shrink. The editors Of the Exami-
ner urge an extraordinary reason why Balti-
more should not be spared, viz: that she gave
a large majority against the wing party at the
late election of Governor. This is a new ca-
ture in political warfare Is we'll as financial
operations; but it never can he adopted as the
policy Of any party. In warfare between ma
tons, it may be iustiiiable TO ''quartcr on the
enemy" but it will not d. to apply this prin-
cPle in our political squab1les.
The editors of the Examiner are also mis-
taken in surprising, that commercial men "pay
not much tax on real estate, on any other tax
except their license" They are taxed the
same as others on their real estate; pay for
their license; for their stock in trade; and on
their notes, bonds sc. In fact there Is little
or nothing connected with their business which
is not taxed. They are made 10 smart more
than any other portion of the community, and
yet complain the least. We think that the
editors have done injustice to our citizens; per-
haps for the want Of knowledge Of the opera
tons of the tax laws in our city 1t is bad po-
Icy to excite sectional prejudicesi for it is undc-
nable, that, to paralyze Baltimore, would be
to ruin the state. Baltimore is the heart whose
pulsatons carry health and vigor to the whole
membcrs