The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-08-09
Refrenchmcnt and Reform-A
Letter from an old Farmer.

Retrenchmcnt and RefOrm-A
Letter from an old Farmer.
One Of the oldest citizens of North
western Ohio sends us the following com
munication 4
EDIToR PLAIN DEALER - While tho
war continued the people bore every bur-
then imposed upon them bravcly. Now
that the war is over they are anxious to
reduce the expenses Of the Government
in every particular. 1t is noteworthy
that tho Union State Convention did not
pass any resolution to this effect. Why!
because it had too many Federal officers
in it, such as Appraisers, Collectors, Com
missioners, Desectivos, Revenue Clerks,
Postmasters, &c., 60. We farmers want
retrenchmcnt, aud my idea how rctrcneh
ment can be effected is as follows: Let
our Township Assessors and County
Tr,asurers do the work Of the Revenue
Assessors at the time they assess the prop
erty for State tax, and return the same to
tho Auditor of the County, who can
place both State and general Government
tax on the duplicate, and the County
Treasurer can collect both at the same
time. This would do away with the mon
ster corps of oficA-holders eating out tho
peoples substance. There is another
way to reduce our taxation. That is tax
Government bonds. Why not tax oil
capital? Every dollar that capitalists
put in Government bonds is that much
less capital to raise tax upon, and it is an
additional burthcn upon the farmers and
mechanics who have not. money to put
into Government bonds. What patriot
ism is there now in putting money in
1905? The war is over, and every
man who now invests in them does SO to
dodge out Of paying taxes. In my
ty this year, over 100000 has been TAX
en- off the duplicate and put into untaxa-
bic securities by men who, Of all others,
should bear the burthen, of taxation.
Who 10 it that does. not pay a State tax?
Who is it that does not pay a county tax?
Who is itthat does not pay Road tax p.
Who is it that does not pay Poor tax p
Who is it that does not pay a School tax?
1t surely is not the nan who has a small
farm, or the day laborer'o or mechanic p
They can't put their property out
Of sight Of the Tax Collector. The man
who escapes all the taxation named is the
man with his thousands Of government
bonds. We poor mel pay for the very
schooling Of the man who puts al! his
money into government bonds. We poor
men pay tax on cur labor, our horses. our
cows, even OIL our dogs, besides an indi-
rect tax on everything we eat, drink and
wear. Now, for one, | am opposed to
this policy Of granting special privileges
to capitalists, aud thus making q monied
aIistocracy TO rule over the poorer class.
Put the money hat is invested in gov!
ernpeut securities on the duplicate, and
!, i: will reduce the taxation Of the people
Of Ohio greatly. Why, sir, the tax or
my farm is now nearly rent. l estimate
it worth $4,000. Or that | have to pay
say two per cent, $120, 90. My neigh
Dor, who has $4,000 in bonds, pays Mt
taxation whatever, and we have to b,
taxed to pay him his interest of six pc
cent in gold! 1t being at a premium o
nearly fifty cents makes a big item, DO
sides the six per cent. 1t is exempt from
taxation about q per cent, and my
neighbor makes about nine per cent gu
of his money. He gets 5000 a year or
his $4,000. | have $4,000 IN land, anC
l pay $4,000 a year, he realizing oil
the benefits of State, County, Road ant
School tax, the same as | do. l say lie
tho people take this in hand, aud instca,
of pledsing Legislators to give Sambo III
right to vote, pledge them to vote 70
taxing the rich as well as the poor. Yo'
will oblisc me and my noighbors by civ
Ing to the public my humble suggestion.
, j.. B.
! Sandusky county, o., July 20, 1865.