The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-01

The GAS TAx.-The time for the annual
report of the operations of the gas works is
near at hand and we wish to call the public
attention, in advance, to some questions with
regard to the gas tax. The exhibit of the last
year showed that the private consumers Of gas
paid the entire expenses ofthe works, including
all the public lights and some extraordinary
expenses, and dividend besides. So that, in
the first year, when the works began with
few private consumers, that portion of our cit
liens were saddled with the entire expense of
the works, and no man who did not burn the
gas in his house or store, was taxed far
thing for that invaluable blessing, the street
lights. Last year we called public attention,
AID The attention of the City Council TO the in:
Justice of imposing the burthen of the gas tax
entirely on private consumers of gas; but no
step was taken to do them justice by making
the public lamps charge TO the city at large.
We do not know why this was not DONE
Surely it would have required no great time,
no great amount of information, TO assess
tax to support the public lamps; and there was
no good reason for postponing measure which
was proper in itself and demanded by the clear
est principles of justice.
Startling as was the last years report to
many of our citizens, by the large revenue it
exhibited, as having been paid by private con-
sumers, the forthcoming report will occasion
still greater surprise. The amount that it will
show TO have been paid by them, we are sure
will appear enormous; and during all these
two years which these patient citizens have
sustained the entire burthen, no man who does
not burn the ges in his house or store has paid
q cent towards the common Blessing of the
public lamps. The man who takes the light
in his own house, moi only pays for what he
burns, but he pays for the light in the Streets
that his neighbor, who may not burn it in bis
house, enjoys without charge!
tits plain that if the gas tax on private con-
sumers alone meets the entire expenditure of
the works, that tax is too high. For il the
public lamp, be charged to the city at large,
as they should be, the revenue of the works
will be SO very heavy as greatly to exceed the
current expenses Of the works, the interest on
the capital, and reasonable sinking fund. A
reduction in the charge per thousand feet would
then be the inevitable consequence; and thus
justice would be done TO the private consul
mers.
We hope the private consumers will stand
mp for their rights, and see that they have Jus.
lice done them. Every body should be taxed
for the public lamps. No city is more pro.
fusely supplied with light in the streets, that
we know OF, unless it be Philadelphia. II is
extended to the city limits in all directions;
and there is no city where the people, in all
sections of the corporation, can be more justly
taxed for the benefit of public lamps. Ii is, of
all the taxes that can be imposed, among those
which may be most reasonably imposed on in
dividnals, irrespective Of property; and that is
the way il should be imposed. We hope the
subject will command the attention it deserves,
and that the Cou neil may, instead of keeping
up the present burthen on private consumers,
pursue the more enlightened policy of inviting
an increase Of the number, by reducing the
rate of gas to them, as we feel satisfied they
can.