The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-07
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
The Voice Of Industry--Lsttsr from Donald
Mckay, the Great Ship Builder, in favor
Of Equal Taxation.

BOSTON, july ., lobo'
DEAR sIRs--As you well know, the bill for the
relief Of the ship building interest, by draw
back on dutiRble articles entering into the con-
struction Of new ships, has been brought up in
congress, tabled, and the matter virtually ended,
and the hope Of renewing our commercial ma
rine and bringing it up to Its former standard,
| ID about abandoned. Under the present unfair
| system Of taxation the prices Of material and
labor for ship -building and other mechanical in-
| dustrics cannot be reduced until fair play is Civ
| en- by an equality Of taxation on all property,
and particularly in taxing government bonds,
and 1t Is delusion to expect general revival Of
| business until this is done,
The enterprise Of the United States in com
merce, heretofore so largely prevailing and
known the world over, is f'st fading away. Ma
ny Of our former large ship owners, and some Of
them were my customers tell me they prefer TO
| invest their money in government securities
which are exempt from taxation, and thus re-
| ceiye better rate Of interest for the year
| through than from nm investment Of on equal
| amount in commercial property subject to taxa
| ton. The people are constantly fattering them
| selves that some miraculous change for the bot
! ter will take place in the mechanical industries
| but cannot show how or when it will take place
| My opinion is, It will occur when an equality in
| taxation takes place. Tax government bonds as
other properly, and "bettCr times" would soon
follow. Judging from my intimate knowledge
Of the voice OF the mechanical classes in my EN-
| poy, and employed in this vicinity, men Of sta
biity and intelligence, both home and foreign
| born republicans and democrats, nre 4 unit on
| the subject Of having equal taxation, and say
they determined, at the next election, to sup
| port the party platform equalizing justly the
| burden Of taxation The editors Of somo Of our
papers, ! noticed were surprised recently at the
mention in congress Of the taxing Of the interest
on bonds, saying that it was against tho will Of
tho people" II these editors would visit my
premises and the immediate vicinity, | would be
happy to introduce them in several hours to over
1000 wOrkmen mechanics and laborers, and,
with the exception Of about one in a hundred,
they are determined to vote Cor the party. at the
next election, that adopts taxation Of bonds
equally with other property, and the party do
ing this will receive the support of the oppressed
| working classes Of the country. Ia my opinion
the cry Of party" is fast dying out, and it i7 q
| common remark now made for each one, ut The
next election, to look out for his interest Give
the people at large fair play, and business will
| soon revive. DONALD MCKAY.
Mr.. Donald Mckay is the greatest ship.
builder Of the country. lie is no politician,
| and has never taken an active part with any
political party. lie looks at the question
from purely business point Of view. We
commend it, therefore, especially to the pub.
lie attention. What he says applies with
equal power to oil other business euterpri.
SEES. They are all injured by this iniquitous
exemption from taxation Of government
bonds. Houses are not built any more than
ships, because the capitalist prefers to have
property that is exempt from taxation
Carpenters, mcsons and laborcrs are all
most iujurousy effected by this dscrimina.