The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-04-08


Revenue BaII.
A revenue bill has been under discussion for
several days past, in the Senate, which was IN
PRODUCED by Mr.. johnson, of Sacramento. We
have not seen the BILL and know nothing Of It's
contents except what we have gathered from the
reports efthe debates, while il was under con-
sideraton in the Senate. A motion was made
to strike out clause which exempted mining
claims and growing crops from taxation; but
the Senate by large vote refused to strike out
the clause. The ayes and nays upon this mo-
ton were not given IN the Sacramento papers.
We have at different times taken occasion to
speak against the policy Of imposing State tax
upon mining claims. Independent Of the ques-
ton as to whether or not the State has the right
to levy such tax, we believe the measure 10
be unjust and impracticable. There are some
rich mining claims that could well afford to pay
tax. but the miners as class are poor, and
not one in twenty of those who have claims Of
their own, can make more than ordinary wages.
The State might with the same propriety tax q
man for the privilege Of working by the day
for wages as tax miner for the privilege Of
digging for gold. Should the siamp-tax bill
which passed the Assembly become law, we
are confident that sufficient revenue can be
collected to carry on the State government
without imposing additional burdens on the in
dustrious classes. a.fi
During the discussion on the motion to strike
out the clause exempting mining claims, Mr.
Vaudeville said
If this amendment is adopted, and If the prn-
ciple prevails that mining claims are TO be tax
ed, then you levy two taxes upon the gold that
Is In the mining claims; for in the first place
miners now are obliged to pay tax upon eve
ry single dollar in their possession, and under
this law they would not only be compelled to
pay q tax upon the gold itself, but also upon
The supposed value Of the gold in their claims.
Now, sir. II should go into an. agricultural
county. and 60 among the laborlng men who
are working for wages and propose to tax that
which they are TO receive, provided they keep
on working. for the next FIVE years, gentlemen
would call ii most absurd idea to tax that
which 1t is supposed would be theirs, If they
lived and labored, and were industrious hereaf-
ter No one would favor, for moment. such
an absurd idea. And yet, sir, there would be
just as much justice in such a proposition as
tnere ID IN Jnlb one 10 TAX Bolu tnht IL supposed
TO be now In mining claims. / believe In their
paying taxes upon their improvements; do not
propose to deduce or alter that, but think il
would be most unjust to tax them for what, II
they are industrious, they may get in the future.
Now, some gentlemen say that the miners
have rich claims, and that they take out thou
sands upon thousands Of dollars, and they ask
in triumph why they should not be taxed But
II is known that the great mass of the miners
are poor mcn---that there Is not one in hum
dred that owns one of these rich claims. Gen.
tlemcn tell me that these miners, poor as they
are, industrious and hard working as they are.
do not pay taxes. Why, sir, the miners are tax
ed upon everything. There is not mouthful
of food which they put into their mouths that
they are not taxed upon. They are taxed and
re taxed, and your San Francisco merchants are
the men--men who never toll and sweat for it,
arc the men who derive the benefit from these
poor men. Your poll tax, and your road tar,
and your team tax, and oil kinds Of taxes are
levied upon them, You compel them to pay
taxes upon their gold which is in the bankers
offices. do not believe In this system of taxa
ton that grinds the face Of the poor man. whose
hands are daily hardened with the bodily toll
that gives his little ones bread. Let property
itself pay the taxes but not this Industrious and
poor class Of men, upon whom the burden Of
this tax would fall. r h5.