Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-07-11
Who Steals the Money, the Peo-
pie Pay for Taxes !?

Taxes in the United States have become
such a burthen that all classes of citizens are
crying out against their tB,position-w which
latter is quite the correct word to use in this
connection. But it would be some smitiga-
ton of the evil if the people he'd the assit-
rance that the moneys they are called upon
to pay, IN one way aid another, we're appro-
priated to their legitimate purpose, and used
to liquidate the great debt the nation has in
CURED in crashing the rebellion, the extinc-
ton of which Indebtedness is the first wish
Of every good citizen, and to which much
wished for consumation they are willing to
make any sacrifice. Unfortunately, however
they have not that assurance. On the con-
trary they are gradually ayaking to the un-
avoidable conclusion that the taxes are be-
ing, and for some time have been diverted
from the legitimate purpose for which, they
were and are collected and instead of going
into the Treasury of the United States, as
they should, they are going into the pockets
of the cormorants engaged In collection, as
they should not. OF this there is ffiostlyihdil-
bitable evidence, particularly in the return of
the gross revenue from taxation on watches.
The law imposes tax of one dollar on each
gold watch owned and used by an individual,
valued at less than one hundreds dollars Now
there can, be gold watch in the country that
this tax will not reach. The impost lis on the
watch, not on the owner, and whether it be
carried by man; or woman or minor child it
must be paid /; if not by those carrying it,
then by the husband or father The reve-
nue. from this source, 1t is very evident, has
been the subject Of greater Speculation at the
hands of officials upon whom deyolves the
duty of receiving the moneys and making the
returns. Attention was first directed to the
subject by the paucity of the revenue appa-
the published returns. Naturally, inquiry
was instituted. An Investigation revealed
the fact that the return Of gold watches for
the entire United States was less than the
number actually returned in the City of Bos-
ton alone. The Tribune, in considering this
fact, endeavors to explain it away on the by
pothesis of clerical errors But that dodge
Is altogether too transparent to satisfy the
people. To accept this explanation VIII be
to accept the existarce of moreclerical errors
than could possibly have been made For
instance Connecticut, by the published re-
turn, has not single gold watch owned and
kept for private pse, within its limits. Who
believes so preposterous a statement? Not
any body. But TO come nearer home. Let
us look 20 the record Of New Jersey. Our
own State is credited with just -Four Gold
Watches. Not one more. Now is not this
| an absurdity and a swindle on the face of it?
Why, weknow two men in Jersey City alone,
one of whom returned four and the other
two gold watches, and paid the taxes there
on. This is an excess of fifty per cent from
two persons IN dorsey City only, over the en-
tire return of the State Now, it is a mat.
ter Of some interest to the people to know
how much they have been swindled out OF,
and who swindled them. We therefore pro-
pose that list be put up in some convenient
place in this city, where may be found the
names of all citizens who returned gold
watches and the amount of taxes paid there
on, whether one dollar or mere. This will
test the question as to the amount of the
swindle, and the direction inwhich the funds
have been diverted may subsequently be as
certained by an investigation on the part of
the Government. There has evidently been
a gigantic fraud perpetrated some where by
some body. If no other piaee can be found,
our friends who have made any return of
gold watches cap leave word at the Stand
ard Office 4, Ne should be very glad to pub
hsh the account, and all who feel an interest
in knowing where the taxes paid go should
give this matter their attention--J C.
Standard