Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-28
WHAT HINDERs IMMIGRATION


calls attention to a very important
matter in connection with the
efforts to induce immigration 10
this State. That paper says:
In view of the earnest efforts being
made both in Knoxville, and over the
entire State, to induce immigrants to
locate in Tennessee, it may be well
Tor US all to examine if any drawback
exists to the many advantages our State
offers to the immigrant. Passing over,
with mere mention, the un>republican
form Of government existing in the
State, by which four-fifths of the white
citizens are DISTINGUISHED, while they
are compelled to assume their share of
the burdens of the government, we ask
the attention of our readers of both
political parties, to an instance where
the exorbltant taxes, imposed by the
State, county and the corporation upon
industry, has assumed the form of gri(V.
Gus and bigoted persecution Cf intelli.
enee and enterprise. We refer to the case
of the Photographers of Knoxville. They
are all hard working mechanic-artis IS
doing, with the help of apprentices, the
labor of their business. To become
proficient in the art of taking likenesses,
they have to pass long apprenticeship,
like any other mechanic. They furnish
to the public, not articles of luxury, but
of ordinary, every day use. For the
privilege OF working at their trade, the
State charges them 500 per year for a
license, the county collects $50 annually,
and the city $50 more This, together
with the revenue stamp on every likeness
printed, and the revenue license amounts
to an exorbitant sum each year. The
photographers cannot collect this tax by
charging more heavily for their pie
lures, for the people will not pay the
high price which alone can cover the
expense of the work; as consequence,
this branch of industry languishes, and
with few exceptions the galleries are
closed. One photographer in this city,
whose gallery cost over 5000, cleared
in 1865, over all expenses, excepting
taxes, 1900. Out of this amount he
paid 1912 for the taxes levied on his
business, leaving, as a net result for a
year s skilled labor, with the advantage
of an investment of $1,000 capital, the
Insignificant sum of 1888, or ST. per
week, scarcely more than the day labor
er obtains by the use Of pick and shovel
We commend the above facts to the at
tention of our industrial associations.
Doubtless all the avenues of business are
clogged by the grievous taxes levied and
collected, and we must present to the ats |
tention of the immigrant the advantages
of light taxation, OF we fail to secure his |
capital and labor to aid US in building
up the waste places"
The Press and Herald is correct
in its suspicion that all the ave-
nues Of business in this State are
clogged by the grievous taxes lev
led and collected. And this is the
great stumbling block to immi-
grafton. Say what you please as
to the disturbed condition of af-
fairs in Tennessee, that is not the
only thing that keeps immigrants
away. Make the State as quiet as
Massachusetts, render life and
property as secure as in the most
"lOyal' New England State, and
there is still a very serious draw
back which will deter men from in
vesting their capital in this State.
When it is known, as it will be to
every man who takes the trouble
to inquire, that the taxes have been
increased about tive-fold since the
war. In about three and q half
years the BrownlOw administration
collected taxes from the people
amounting to as great q sum as was
collected from the people in ten
years preceding the war. In the
ten years preceding the war large
proportion of the taxes col
lected was appropriated to sustain
common schools and the charities
Of the State. The taxes collected
since the war have gone, with an
incOnsiderable exception, to meet
the most extravagant administra
ton we have ever had in this State
Are these facts calculated to invite
men to come to Tennessee to seek
homes? If we expect to induce
men Of enterprise and means to
come here, we must hold out the
inducement of cheap lands and low
taxes, as we'll as good government.
We have commissioner who de-
votes his whole time to the work
Of inducing men to immigrate
hither, but he cannot hold the same
inducement that is held out by
other States, Of low taxes 1t is
we'll calculated to frighten men
away from this State when they are
informed that taxes are now about
five-fold greater than they were
in 1860, a year of comparative
ease and plenty. The State au-
thorities should go work at
once to lop off every use
less expenditure until the
expenses of the State government
are brought down to reasonable
figure. Instead of creating offices
for the benefit of partisans, as has
been the practice, a number OF
these should be abolished The
first step in this direction is to dis
band the militia, for which there is
absolutely no use, as has been tes-
tilted by reputable citizens OF both
parties from the counties in which
the militia have been quartered
Their evidence is that the militia
are not needed to preserve the
peace or to enforce the laws. Then
let them be disbanded and this
heavy expense cut off. When this
is done, let other unnecessary eX
penditures be Topped off, and if thi'
process be vigorously followed up
q rnafnrinl rndnntinn IN the taxn.