The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-24
The Tax Questionable Duty Of the
Legislature.

The most important subject before the
present legislature is that of devising means
to pay our annual quota of the twenty mill
ions dollars laid upon the people OF the
United States as war tax, and of so hus-
banding the resources of the State that a
call for our quota of still larger sum,
which will inevitably come, may find us in
a condition to meet that also, without gem
eral sequestration of property and financial
ruin to the people of the State.
Whether the amount called for shall be
raised by direct tax, or by the creation of
State loan from the moneys arising from
the sale of School Lands, or by hypothecat>
ing State bonds in the pubic market, we
shall not dicuss at the present time but we
do urge upon the legislature the immediate
adoption of the most stringent measures to
reduce the amount of our local taxation,
that the General Government may command
all our resources, even as it has right to
call for our lives, in the suppression of the
rebellion, and the re.esta blishment of its
rightful authority.
From an excellent article 10 the St. An.
thony Meas of this week, we quote:
But the question arises, how can Minnesota,
in her poor estate, pay her proportion of the
Federal taxation proposed 1t will press us
sore, we grant, but it must be done. And it
becomes our State aud municipal law makers
and tax imposers to aid us in our patriotism
by every means in their power. Apply the
knife of retrenchment with severity to our
State and County and Town expenses. Put
aside. for more prOpitious times, every i'm
prOvement involving expense, however desir'
able, that can bear delay. In fine. lessen by
decided. appreciate amount, the burden of
the salvation of the Government, which is Of
paramount and vital Importance. 1t is not the
Federal tax, of itself, that alarms us as Mime.
sotions; it is that, superadded to half score
Of other taxes, that makes the crushing bur.
den. Will our Legislature now in session bear
this in mind, and devise every possible me-
thOd for home relief? Our proportion of the
Federal tax must be met, even if we have to
cut down the civil list of the State and the ex-
penses of our municipal governments, to moi
ETY. of their present amount. Let all legisla-
ton have bearing upon this economy and let
our legislators set the example of retrench.
ment by short and active session.
The people expect their representatives
will have just appreciation of the strait
ened circumstances of their constituents,
and of the sacrifices they are compelled to
make. When many of the articles that
have entered into the daily consumption Of
the people, and have always been considered
among the necessaries of life, like tea, coffee
and sugar, have been almost banished, on
account of their high cost. from thousands
of homes in the State, it becomes our legis.
ators to consider well whether they are JUS
titled in continuing any office, net legiti
mately connected with the State Govern.
ment, under the provisions of the Constitu.
ton, or of authorizing any expense not ab
solutely necessary, in any of the departs
ments. We feel convinced that saving of
from two to five thousand dollars can be
made in the civil list, without any detri-
ment to the public service, and we hope our
legislators will have the courage to make it.
The Office of Commissioner of Statistics is
superauous Office at the present, and the
support of unnecessary Offices at the pub
lie expense, is an inexcusable, and will
soon be regarded an insufferable, wrong
upon the people. Our Representatives can
more easily face the hangers on to the
treasury than an impoverished and disap
pointed constituency.