Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-02-02
Taxes,

This subject has been suggested to our attention
by subscriber, "a heavy taxpayer by the Way
who refers to the address of the Mayor of Boston,
to the Common Council, in which the "lathers ;"
OF that city admonshed that the rate of taxation
there is ruinous, and that to save the city from de-
population, it will be necessary to introduce the
most rigid economy into every department of the
municipal government. Yet it seems that the
whole amount of tax, for city purposes is only Sc
on the 1000. And this is considered absolutely
alarming by the worthy Mayor! Well, now, we
don't mean to say that the structures, and recomS
mendatloas Of this functionary are not in every
particular just and correct. However this NAV be
1t is probably ofour business Our only OBJ
Ject is TO institute comparisons Boston, the
Weathlest and one of the oldest cities of the Union
ground TO the earth by tax of six mills on the
dollar; and Southport, away out here in the far
northwest: city of hardly ten years growth, and
the outlet and mart of a district of country whose
settlement and improvement date no farther back
standing mp under tax of more than ten times this
amount,-about cts, on the dollar, as the figures
we have on hand show. Now, we don't make this
statement in boasIml spirit We would much
prefer to be able to state that our taxes were ten
times less than those of Boston. rather than ten
times more and we really believe that were the
people OF this locality, and other localities through
out the State 10 take the subject duly and fully into
consideration, and introduce such reforms as opob,
TO be introduced, they could very easily be made so
The amount of tax collected from the people Of
Southport, for the past year, was for State purpo
ses S0lS,l2; for county, 81 l67,O5 town $1,000:
School $500. Making an aggregate of S3,1S6 II.
and about IL per cent on an assessment of slS3..
2SO 90 The district school, harbor and corpora.
ton tax added make :he whole per centace collect.
ed the assessed value of property in the VILLAGE
and town, about Z. Harbor tax rs per cent.
School 3.4S and Corporation o.63
1t will be observed, however, that about two
thirds OF the tax, or the erection of schoolhouses
and improvement of our harbor,) is of temporary
character.
But setting these aside, there is no good reason
why our taxes for state, county, and town purpo
ses, should be so onerous-and we think we can
see many ways in which the burdens o. the neonle
tor these purposes, could be very materially redu
ced
In the first place, the expenditures of the Legis
Iature need curtalment; and the constituent power
should hold every representative 10 a strict account
Tor every vote he gives in the appropriation of State
moneys.
Al 'ne present session, useless officers bave been
employed, in opposition TO the nlain Ie,,sr o,l
sp''' OF 'he Constitutions in addition 10 this mem.
oeFs oil one branch of the Assembly have voted
themselves at the expense OF the State some 3o or
~ newspapers each, and we observe too tb,, ,be
hostages OF members of the Legislature are 70 10
paid from the State Treasury Should the so.s;oa