The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-01-24


600 10 S30O,OOO, and gives to each pos
SCISSOR f,cn shares, FIVE in addition, and
so OH in proportion.
The Minnesota Pioneer says two speci'
mems Of the American ostrich, male and
female, were recently killed near Fort des
Moines, Iowa. They are described as be.
ing four feet and a half long, and FIVE in
height, with bills six inches long, straight
and very sharp. They resemble in most
points the ostrich Of Africa. One thous.
and dollars has been offered for them.
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Town TAxEs.-Upon this subject we
have long since had word or two to say
TO the good people Of our town. and az
there can be no more suitable opportunity
OF doing SO than the present moment, jus:
after the nsta!!:nen! OF TIC newly cIcc:ad
town officers, and before the "Ordinance
to raise supplies for tie year 1855" has
been promu'ga,ed,we shall say them now.
The subject Of I6Wn Tares is one in
which many Of our readers are deeply in
terestcd, and one, The burden of which, nee
citizens would like to see as equally borne
as possible. The rich should bear the bur-
den in proportion to the advantages they de.
rire from The incorporation, and the poor
should not be made to pay more than their
just proportion. This, all must admit, is
the end to be aimed at in levying taxes,
hut ho,o is it 10 be obtained! Not, surely,
by taxing ONLY, or extrnvogantly, the ne.
cessaries Of life, as inst ancc the house and
servants Of man. Thee necessary ar,i
cles Of life ererl resident must have, how.
ever limited his means /; but they do not
constitute all, nor the hulfof tho in,orc at
OF our citizens which are benefited hy the
incorporation, and upon rhich The tarcs
raised are expended. 1t is not right then,
that these items should, as they have been
doing, pay the bulk fthe tarcs.
1t is true, every man should pay some
thing for having his family protected, and
his house and lot guarded against fire and
injury hy the town guard, and this he
does do with us, 10 solne extent, by con.
tributing his personal services as his quo
ia towards the town guard and he should
pay something, too, for having the value of
his property increased by the improve.
ments made, in the appearance and con.
veniences Of the town, by the town Coun.
| Gil. But how is the bulk of the money raj.
sed by toscn fares expended! For the pro
lection Of the families, or the improve.
mcnt of the real estates Of the residents !
Not directly, exclusively, or to any rery
great eriem. But upon keeping up the
streets, keeping them clean, and preserv.
ing order in the town. Now, wRo does all
this benefit The owner of real estate
more than any other class? Not so-but
while it benefits all classes, it benefits
most those who are most Interested in liav'
ing the roads to and from town, and the
streets, kept in good travelling condition
the merchants first, and after them, all who
use them in following their business, and
for their convenience and pleasure.
There are owners of real estate in ouI
town who have families TO support by
their daily labors, who never use you
streets or your roads, and who care very
little about their condition, foot path be
ing all they use or desire fcr themselves
and yet, under our former tax bills, they
were obliged 10 pay more taxes, or al
much, as The merchant, the physician, o.
the public carrier, who is making his thou
sands year, and is directly interested il
having the avenues to market kept in goot
order. This ought not to be the case
Tax high, if necessary, the convenience
and lururies Of life, but spare as much a.
even'handcd justice will admit, the poo
mans necessaries.
We suggest, therefore, for the conside
ration of all, and particularly for the Coun
Gil, that all classes should he made to pa,
in proportion to the advantages they d G
rive from the expenditure Of the monie!
raised by taxution. Let tax of SO man
per cent he levied, (ifit can be done unde
the act Of incorporaton.) upon tn
amount of sales mado by the mcrchantt
and lay tax upon all rehicles and horse.
(whlc! belong to residents,) using ou
streets in their accustomed employment,
aud lessen in proper proportion the Ia
upon real estate, and we shall advance on
step further towards attaining this end, an
towards equal taxation.
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