The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-16
THE NEW TAX BILL.

- distinguished.
an salaries, with the exception Of those at
tached to the Offices Of Governor and Judge
are to be taxed the fourth part Of one pei
cent, THAT is Is cents for every hundred dol
lars) II they exceed $40, per annum. II they
exceed $3.50, so cents for every $l0O above
that sum. II they exceed $500, rs cents fo'
every 800 above that sum. lfabove $iooo
81 for every 500 over. The Governor who
receives salary of 5000 pays no tax on his
income the Judges of the Court Of Appeals
who receive 5000, are likewise exempti but
the youth lust commencing business, with 9
salary of $500, pays tax on his hard earned
wages of$375! II he be more meritorious
than usual, and get $1,000, he is made to pay
for his superior qualifications, for in that case
he 10 mulcted to the tune of $40. We would
respectfully enquire whether this tax is equal
and uniform, that is TO say, whether it is con
sttulional! We should like to know, ALSO
why the salaries Of the Governor and Judges
should not be as well liable to taxation as
those Of any other person, public officer or
otherwise.
The taxes upon licenses, however. form tne
principal feature in this extraordinary hnan-
cial scheme. The money from Licenses can
be had directly, without the tedious delay me-
cessarily occasoned by the arrangement oftne
Commissioners books. The merchant or the
boarding house keeper, can be called on d.
rectly, and if he refuse, no license Will be
granted him. Hence the prominence given to
this method of raising the wind. Every Keep
er of house of public entertainment is to pay
thirty dollars for SO much ofihe yearly value
thereof as does not exceed two hundred dollars,
and ten per cent. for all over that value. A
tavern, then, which receives from its guests
and boarders 900 per annum. pays $l0O0
a sum, which we suspect, will pretty fairly
swallow up all the profits. Houses OF private
entertainment and boarding houses fare still
worse. Their yearly value, where it does not
exceed fifty dollars, is taxed five dollars, and
seven and half per centum for all over that
amount; a tax which will most assuredly,
break up the larger portion of those excellent
boarding houses which abound in our city,
and many of which are kept by widowed la
dies of estimable character, who have resorted
to it as the only means Of supporting large and
helpless families.
Every broker, be his business large or
small, is required to pay for his license $500.
This enormous tax is justified by no conside-
ration of policy, far less ofjustice. In the pre-
sent condition of the currency, Brokers' estab-
lishments are indispensable. So far from in
creasing the revenue derived from this source,
the tax will only drive them off entirely, and
thus defeat the object Of the Legislature.
The merchant must first pay thirty dollars
for license, and then he is taxed according to
his capital. lift do not exceed FIVE hundred
dollars, he only pays ten dollars when it gets
on to $50, 600, he pays $l2S; when it gets to
5000, he pays $3.50. But let him beware
how he goes beyond that point for he is
charged SIS for every ten thousand over it,
Other States encourage the introduction OF
large capital our Legislators render it, in a
manner, penal.
Even merchants engaged in selling agricul-
tural products are subjected to an enormous
tax, as If the object were to prevent all compe.
tition in disposing of the farmers products,
.ad thereby, of course, to leave him as much
rs possible; in the power of monopolies and
combinations. Instead of offering encourage.
ment to every man who will open store for
the purchase of his grain, or his tobacco, or his
his hay, they make all such pay twenty dollars
for license, and afterwards tax them one per
cent on all sales.
There is no mercy in legislative breasts for
auctioneers, the men who. Of all others, cause
the briskest circulation Of money, and, there
fore, add most to business. tbs evidently de-
signed to drive them away from the State if it
be possible. II the town have not more than
three thousand inhabitants, why. inasmuch as
towns Of that size very frequently contain a
layers, it would not be prudent to "lay it on
heavy" The auctioneer in such town is
therefore, let off with thirty-two dollars. But
If the town has more than three thousand in
habitanis, then, for every thousand over that
amount, the auctioneer is to pay fifteen dollars
until il gets to two hundred and City, and there
tits to stop. A difference is made in favor Of
auctioneers of real estate, why, we are not in
formed. We presume, however, ii may be that
their services are oftener required IN the country
among the constituency. The above applies
to auctioneers commencing business. Itis lie.
nifty and compassion compared to what is deal,
out to those who have been engaged in it for
a year. In that case besides this specific tax,
he pays in proportion to his sales. If he sell
FIVE thousand dollars worth, he pays thirty five
dollars, and rising for every Eve thousand, at
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, be pays
five hundred dollars tax on amount sold, in ad.
diiion TO his specific tax of $3.50! The coun.
try merchants 60 to New York TO supply them
selves with goods because the great auction
sering establishments there render them the
best places for doing so. The only way the
Virginia towns can get this trade, is by en-
the auctioneeripg trade, as we'll as
he wholesale trade. Our Legislators are aim-