The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-09-24
"POOr Men Pay No Taxes

We often hear the above expression
from members Of the Radical party
when it is intimatcd that the poor
men-those who depend upon their
daily labor for the support of their
families--are suffering from the
burden Of taxation. "Why," say
they, how can they be suffering,
when they don't own cents worth
Of taxable property. neither DO they
have an income tax to pay. Poor
men pay no taxes. 1t is only an
electionceriug dodge Of Democrats
to get their votes" We arc sorry
to say that there are many laboring
mon who believe this talk. They
are not called upon by tho regular
tax collector, and directly they pay
no tax. But let US see whether in.
directly, they do not pay something.
Perhaps he buys, on IN average.
10 pound Of coffee per week; on this
he pays tax Of 5 cents per pound
or -, 60 per year.
He may use II pounds Of tea per
year; on this he pays . tar Of S3, 90.
He would Of coulse need sngar to
swceten his tea, and for other pur-
poses, probably 81 pounds per year;
on this he pays tax Of $500.
He may use gallon Of molasses
per month, on which there would be
u tax Of 96 cents per year.
He might need pair Of common
woolen blankets, for tho inclement
season; he would have to pay tax
If $40.
Say he would want 20 yards Of
cheap carpeting; it would cost him
SIG 90 tax; if of . hetter quality
ingram for instance, SIS. 90 tax; if
for = nill better quality, venetian,
only q tax of $1,000. But he
wouldn't want the two last, As only
tho rich can afford it, aud would
have to pay double tax on account
Of his poverty.
He would want some clothing, q
summer and winter suit, and he
must pay tax If $3 to get them.
His wife would want two calico
dresses on which there would be
tax Of $1,25.
He might have the habit Of using
tobacco. which would require . tax
Of $7,3 SO per year to indulge in it,
or he might like his /" bitters. but
tax Of so cents gallon would be
required Of him. Say he INDUCES
pretty freely in his - nips," at the
rate Of one gallon pr month, and
tho tax would be $6 per year. But
probably our Radical friends may
object to our having these two lat
ter items placed in their tax list. Is
they "haye no bad habits. Well
that may be so, but $50, 600, 900
arc annually paid on these items by
tho people Of this country.
We might extend this list much
further, but let Us add up these
items enumerated, and W. find a
total tax Of $38,97, exclusive Of
the liquor tax. Poor men pay this,
not to the tax collector, bat to cve-
ry one Of whom he buys. He is
paying his taxes every day he buys
q spool Of thread, 4 bunch Of match
er or pound Of salt. Most Of the
above items were exempt when
Democrats controlled this country;
but now tho manufacturers must be
protested, and the bondholders
must have . big iateress, and their
bonds must be paid in gold. al
though the law only require their
payment in currency. Yes, tho
poor man pays tax on all he eats,
drinks, wears or uses. just think
Of it, poor man who earns = dol
lar . day, or 1912 per year, pays
as much tar as tho bondholdcr who
has $4,000 invested in govern
mont securities, and draws an in
terest Of $1,000 in gold. or 81. $40
in currency.
sthis right? is it honest? is it
just Why does tho laboring man.