Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-25
uNIusT nEvIoEs FoR TAXATION.


Many of our representatives in congress and
elsewhere seem indisposed to meet the ques-
ton of taxation in proper manner. Some of
them act as il they would dodge it altogether,
while others study to invent conlrivances for
shielding properly from it as much as possible.
There must be heavy taxation to preserve the
credit of the government, and keep tine inan.
cial affairs of the country in sound condi-
tion-a matter in which all property is deeply
interested. Therefore property should be
ready and eager to bear whatever taxation
may be necessary to carry The country safely
through Its present very expensive troubles.
The necessity exists. We can not escape it.
1t presses upon us iuexorably, and should be
met faithfully without shrinking or whining.
We believe the people generally are quite
ready to meet ii noby, aud that in this matter,
as in SO many others connected with this war
against treason, they are considerably ahead
of the government.
We do not believe, however that the peo-
pie will be satisfied with any system of taxa.
ton contriyes all possible devices to shift the
burden from property TO something else. 1t
may be very English to propose such sys-
TEN, but it is not equal and just. In our leg
islature, one gentleman proposes to have "a
stamp tax on all bills of exchange, accept
ances, notes. bank checks, policies of insur-
ance, and letter and note paper" That is to
say, he woull tax the use of these things,
though some persons who have but little prop
erty may be obliged to use letter and note pa
per, for instance, to a much greater extent
than others who have large estates. Various
devices involving the same principle have been
suggested in congress. One member proposes
to tax railway travel so that every person
shall be compelled to pay given sum for
each mile he or she may travel on a railroad.
The tax may be collected Of the road, but of
course, the fare would be increased to the eX-
tent Of the tax. Another proposes TO tax tele-
graphic messages and thus compel that class
of citizens who are obliged 10 use the telegraph
more than others to pay heavier taxes, with
out any regard to their ability to pay. Still
another congressman would levy duty on
every copy OF every newspaper that Is pub
lished in tie country, and thus raise the price
of newspapers to those who use them
Newspaper establishments, like railroad
and most other property, are taxed now, and
would continue to be taxed under the adj
ditional burden proposed, which would be
tax NOT on property in such establishments,
but on the use OF newspapers by those who
read them. Our government may turn out to be
as much novice and bungler at the business
of taxation as at the business Of war.
In no case will the whole burden of taxation
fall on property or its equivalent. There
are difficulties that interfere with all attempts
to devise system that shall levy taxes With
strict and successful regard to equality and
justice. 1t is not necessary to add TO these
difficulties deliberate purpose to make taxa.
ton unequal. At any rate it seems quite
enough to levy as heavy duties as the case
will bear on tea, coffee, sugar, and other
imported articles, which all the people use
daily, in order to raise revenue. After author
izing the custom house to take our money
from us on principle that gets much from
the man of moderate means as from the
wealthesl in the community, is it well to at
tempt to carry the same principle into all other
not. If the people make no objection to the
custom house, where they are taxed, not ac
cording TO what they have, but according to
their use of imported articles indispensable to
daily comfort, do they not submit TO quite
enough OF this inequality d? Experience of
taxation will bring reflection, and after the
American people have some experience of
heavy taxation, they will form opinions on
this subject which then representatives will
understand.
In Great Britain it has been the study of the
government to find something to tax besides
property and. in taxing property, to devise
reasons for exempting as mnch as possible the
estates of the arstocracy There, grocers
shop in London has been compelled to pay
vastly heavier tax than great and sumptu
Gus ducal palace, with its magnificent sur
roundings OF parks and gardens; and all pos
sible variations OF the stamp tax have been
contrived. But Great Britain has been ruled
by an arrogant and selfish aristocracy, whose
power, however, has been waning for the last
fifty years They have become ashamed of
some of their unjust devices and discrimina
tions, aud we should take notice of the fact be-
fore adopting any of their methods If we
must adopt English notions and ways. let us
choose only what is good, and carefully avoid,
above all things, the peculiarites of the Brit.
ish system Of taxation.
Government AnnuIties.
AS an inevitable result OF the war, which we