San Andreas independent., 1857-06-13
The Inequality of Taxation.


and takes occasion to pitch into the mining
counties for not paying taxes on their mlnlEg
claims. The editor complains that they having
a less population, pay more taxes than we do
This Is true; but he should remember that
taxes arc levied equally all over the State A
man who lives in the mines and owns taxable
property, pays just as much taxes on it. for
State purposes, as though he lived in a COW
county-hence, it follows that if the COW coun-
ties pay the most taxes in proportion to their
population, it is simply because they have more
taxable property than We of the mines. Does
the AHa wish those who own the property to
shift the burthen of government on those who
have nothing? Somebody has written or said,
that after all, there are but two political par
ties In any government, to-wit the rich, and
the poor. The rich are always trying to better
their condition by aggressions on the poor, as
in this instance, by trying to make them pay
the expenses of the government. The poor are
always trying, as in this instance, to avoid the
exactious of the rich. In fight of this kind,
il is plain to be seen where the Alta belongs
III.
We answer that the mines belong to Uncle
Sam, and not to u.s. and that we should not be
taxed Tor that which we do no own; besides,
we are taxed for whatever improvements we may
have on the mining claims, just any of the
Improvements of squatter, on the public do
main of Uncle Sam are taxed in COW county.
whilst the land is exempt, because the x fee is
not in the occupant. Again, mining claim is
of no certain " value-it may be worth thous-
ands of dollars, it may not be worth the work
ing the value can only be ascertained by
working out the claim. We are excused from
paying taxes on a mining claim for the same
reason that you excused from paying taxes
on growing crops-because the value cannot be
ascertaned until after the harvest. We are
taxed on all the gold we dig from our Claims
you are taxed on the money for which you sell
your grain. But, says the -4Aa we are not as
numerously represented in the Legislature as
the mining counties. This is simply because
you have not so much population. You admit
this. Then why not come out boldly and drop
this sickly whining, and come out squarely for
the doctrine you indirectly advocate, viz: a
property qualification for voters. Notwith-
standing our majority" in both branches of
the Legislature of which you so much COM
plain, we contend that the legislation of the
State has been, for the most part, for the ben
eft of the cow counties. The miners have re-
ceived no benefit from that eight or ten millions
of water-lot property which was so generously
voted to San Francisco, the foremost of the
COW counties. She has not paid the State that
little debt of some two or three hundred thou
sand dollars, which she owes nor will she ever
pay it, Notwithstanding the magnificent dona-
ton of the State to her, and part of which, be
it remembered, belonged to the miners. Nearly
all of the special legislation of the State has
been for the benefit of the residents of the COW
counties. Estellc, Palmer, Cook 4 Co., Horace
w. Carpenter, and the whole host of them, all
belong to the cotc counties. We have never
known man from the mining counties to get
rich by reason of Legislative enactments, and
God grant VIC may never know of such a case
But to answer the article explicitly, on the
main issue, in which it directly attacks the In
dependent, is now our purpose. The 1ua leaves
the beaten path to circumvent us on false
issue, when it copies extract from paper
introducing it as follows
And yet we clip such boasting as this from
the San Andreas Independent, published in one
of the richest mining districts in the State
Surely common sense of justice to their fellow
citizens should urge them then, if they are
possessed of so much wealth, to give their
share towards defraying the expenses of the
government"
The editorial from which the Alta made the
extract, was in answer to silly article signed
g RECORD" published in the Bulletin, which
very subimely threatened to refuse us aid in
opening the Big Tree road, unless the miners
co-operated with a few Land Spectators in the
Immigrant Aid Association swindIe. In our
article of the 3oth May, we held the glass up to
RECORD" on this issue. The Alta. old woman
like, wipes her spectacles takes look at the
Big Tree Road article, and sees the State debt
and then lampoons the miners, just like the
filial, good, old, soft soul, Mrs. Partinpton
pitches into her hopeful, yet always obstreper-
Gus son, Isaac.
In conclusion, the INDEPENDENT will pursue the
even tenor of its way, striking always for the
interests of the mines and the miners, and in
SO doing "will nothing extenuate nor aught
set down in malice"
SELFIsHyEss kEsUKED.-Mr. c. p. Kimball
of the Noisy Carriers Publishing Company No.
l22, Long Wharf, San Francisco, states that
the sel6shness of the Agent Of the Boston Jour
nal has forced him TO discontinue its circulation
IN California, and substitute the Boston Tran
SCRIPT paper fully equal and by many Boston
Sans thought to be superior to the Journal