The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-09-20
gEO0K-'EM-SNEEvY!
Effort to EEtnb,ig Taxpayers
Let the People Read.

The Harrisburg Telegraph makes a
"big blow" ab0utareduction Ofthe State
debt 1t claims that $1.794,644 have
been paid in one year without collect
ing one single dollar from the farmer
and mechanicin the shape of tax on his
Real Estate. 1t neglects to state how
ever, in what other shape the tax has
been levied and collected. Geary,
Kemble and Hartranft have not paid
that amount from their private pocl
cts, and there is not the remOteSt prOba-
bility that the shoddy thieves advan-
ced the money. 1t is not true, hOWev-
ever, that not dollar Of this amount
was collected as tax upon real estate.
In 1866 an act was passed remitting the
that it has been discontinued. There is
abundant evidence, however, that the
taxes upon the people-the ''mechanic
and farmer" included have been
more than doubled during the past
year.
These same partieS-WhO now an
nounce this reduction of the State debt
lately sent acquisitions to the various
county authorities for amounts Of mon
ey aggregating Judging from the a
mounts claimed from BerkS, York,
Fayette, Allegheny, Indiana and West
moreland) fully two million dollars
(32, ,000.D This, they said, was to
be paid in lieu Of the real estate tax for
1866 and 1867. The additional sum thus
demanded amounts, for each Of those
years, to nearly the total of the origi-
nal levy, and the whole sum for both
years will have to be paid during the
present year. TO do this new tax levy
will have to be made. The State Off
cials can we'll pay off 81 ,794 ,6H Of the
state debt out OF the 50 900 in the
Treasury, when they have 50 good q
prospect of getting $2,OOO,000, before
| the year is out, by means OF an extra
tax levy. By that time, however, the
people will have learned, to their cost
how State debts are reduced under
Radical officials. Those who paid real
estate tax from 1865 to the present time
know that there has been no reduction
| in their taxes. When they come to
pay during this year, the extra levy
for 1866 and 1867, they will discover, al
so, that their taxes have been more than
doubled over 1864 and 1865.
Not only are the people required to
pay in extra taxes the whole sum thus
denominated production Of the State
! debt" but they are required to make
up, in the same way, about three hund-
red thousand dollars for increased sal
aries authorized by the late corrupt
Legislature; about one million dollars
for sums squandered in contracts and
donations to political favOritcs by the
same body, and about half a million
dollars lost to the State on the twenty,
thee million loan, by paying six pel
cent. interest on untaXed bonds to take
up taxed bonds Of the State bearing five
per cent. interest.
1t is entirely too late in the day to set
up claim of good management in fl
nances for Radical officials-State OF
Federal. The people have a constan
refutation Of the claim in the vast bur
den Of taxation under which they are
wearily plodding, and, whilst comfort:
are abridged and all luxuries are de
barred the majority of the work. ing
classes, it will require something more
tangible than words to convince then
that the Radical State administration
is a success. When the people feel re
LeUed, they WU not need to be tOld th0
their burdens hare been Hghte,aed.-
tJjOt & Union.