San Andreas independent., 1858-01-23
County Revenue


celve the condemnation of the present
Legislature, and we insist upon its change.
We can speak for Calaveras county,
and presume that all other mining coun-
ties of the State are in the same posi-
tion we are. Most, if not every one of
them, are greatly in debt, with thousands
of dollars in county scrip in circulation,
as worthless to the bona fde owners as
the bills of exchange on Adams & Co.
1t is not medium of trade except with
brokers and unscrupulous oficers-worth-
less for payment of taxes, unless in the
ordinary transaction of business, and
perfectly inadequate to the expenses of
the original receipts. Yet every dollar
of it must be redeemed by the county
that issues it. Under such circumstan-
ees, we hold-upon the principle that
{" charity begins at home that the
legislature is acting wrong when it at
tempts to lessen the revenue of the coun-
ties, even though that system be adopted
for the express purpose of paying an
enormous State debt.
There is no doubt but that each county
of the State should be released of that
burthen as expeditiously as possible =
such feeling is praiseworthy, and such
is unequivocally the expression of senti-
ment In our county. We ask that there
may be no equivocation in regard to that
matter; and, as county, we will never,
by any vote of ours, allow the State to be
charged with the meanness of repudia-
ation
Yet this is no argument in favor of the
present disproportionatc revenue act
This is no reason for an alteration of the
revenue law, disabling the counties, in
ereasing their Indebtedness, and laying
the foundation for bankruptcy or repudi-
alton
Under the revenue law as it now stands,
the State receives:
On each $loO taxable property, 10 per ct.
On all licenses collected, ,......... so per ct.
On nett proceeds of poll tax,.... 60 per ct.
On nett proceeds f. NJ. License, so per ct.
On license to passenger brokers, 100 per CT
TN stamp duties, ......... .......... 100 per CT
On tax on sales consigned goods, 100 per ct.
The last item, however, does not affect
The mining counties, but arc more especi-
ally the result of business transactions in
the counties of San Francisco, Sacra-
mento, San Joaquin and Yuba.
Now, what have the mining counties
for their revenue, with which to support
their officers and courts? Forsooth, such
property tax as they can, in conscience,
after the State has received her 20 rer
cent, assess, and one-half of the proceeds
from sales of licenses, and one-half of the
nett proceeds of the sales of foreign mi
ners' license, and 40 per cent. of nett
proceeds of poll tax.
The revenue accruing to the State
under the law, if properly collected and
disbursed, would soon place. the State out
of debt. We think the trainers of the
present revenue law saw plain enough
the object to be attained, but did not dis
cover the manner of attaining it. That
people is best governed whose rulers, in
stead of seeking to make the revenue
reach the demands of the law givers and
extravagant or unscrupulous officials,
study the exact necessities for revenue,
and exact an honest compliance of all
the laws, while they render the duties
they are required to discharge in speedy,
economical manner, without fear or favor.
How much of the public money, paid
IN by mining counties of this State, is
diverted from its Legitimate channel to
fill the pockets of some, or save from
starving those who should starve, simply
because they can play political points very
hne, and achieve present political VIC
tory in the Senate Chamber or on the
floor of the House, at the sacrifice of
everything but the interests of few po-
htlcal friends! What has caused the
necessity for the change of the law of
1898! Look at the extravagant allow
ance, appropriations, pcrqrisites and ex-
penditures Of past legislatures Look at
the bills for stationery, Clerks bills and
Sargcant-at-Arms' bills, of past Leaisla-
lures,
We look forward to brighter DAYS. and
earnestly seek, in the future, a time when
the extravaganza and recklessness of leo.
islators will be no excuse for unnardona
BILE injustice to the counties of the State
when the recklcssness of politicians viii