Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-05-31
For the Spectator.
To the TAXPAYERS of Staunt0n.

GENTLEMEN The election of Thursday is
over, and we desire no elimination or re-crimi-'
nation but while the election is over the pol
icies and principles involved in that election
are not over, and may not be in our generation,
and as the much deplorcd social irritation, and
unfrlendly demonstrations are past, the issues
involved are very grave to the tax payers, and
invite, as 1t deserves, your earnest consldera-
ton. The real and only issue in the canvass
was a large increase in the debt of the town,
and whether those who were in favor of the in
creased debt or those who opposed it should be
elected. And the only object of the gentlemen
aoho organized the CoWt-hous meeting s0as to
defeat those a0ho had been, and are STILL opposed
to an increase of the tom debt; and they have
succeeded in electing some that have not one
dollar worth ofreal property to tax, but wheth-
er they will accomplish their purpose time
alone will tell 1t won't do, taxpayers, to say,
when the tax gatherer comes around, that your
hands were tied-tbat you voted under pledges
No amount of ridicule can change facts, or
turn US aside from what we believe to be the
interest of the town, 10 which we have deep
interest. The facts, in this case, go to show
that we are correct In our assertions What are
the facts? The present debt of the town, now
due, In round numbers, $27, ESQ., Valley Rail-
road subscription, 100000; proposed increase
OF debt for steam fire engine, Sc, $4,000;
purchase of sslot for c. & O. r. r. work shops
$4,000; and additional Valley Railroad sub
scription 1921 900, making u total of SlT0,650
This is the amount of debt, then, proposed to
be sadded on the taxpayers OF poor little
Staunton.
New, let US sec what our taxes will be on the
| real and personal property ofthe town, in order
to carry this debt The interest on Slfo,ebD,
at per cent per annum, is $40. $40. present
amount necessary to pay the current expenses
Of the town $4,000; add So 900 for seheel nuf-
poses, and $4,000 for State taxes aud YOU have
$3l ,239, to be raised annually by tax on the
real and personal property Of staunton, You
will remember, too, that the head tax IL fedue=
ed to fifty cents, and the license tax il prohibit.
! ed by the constitution of Va, which tax has
heretofore paid two thirds of the entire tax Of
the town. So the sum OF SSl, 2sq must bc
| levied on the real and personal property. The
present assessed yaluel of the real estate is
| 1907, lbs, and put down the personal property
at $500, 900 "a very large estimate and you
have l,26T, Us, upon which to be taxed, and
in order to raise annually the S3l ,2Sa We
must pay tax of y per cent on the dollar. -
| 10 itustrate-on a house worth $4,000 you
now pay $50 tax; you then will pay $4,000.
| These are iacts-facts that will make the
taxpayer groan. We ask you not 10 let bit
ter spirit of hatred, and the false and mali
| ca0us cry OF n2qger ana hGditdt, Chacb EdS
raised an tbis can0aSs to cOrer ap lke real issue
before the people, cause you to shut your eyes
! to what is going on about you in the impoy-
ished condition of our town, and the burdens
of debt under which our people groan Ask
the Sheriff how many executions are in his
hands now for collection. Do you feel like en-
teripg upon this untried sea of debt and taxa
ton? There may be a bright, deusive, prom
Use, which never will be realized, held out to
induce you to submit. Stop and consider be-
fore you consent to be bound by these biting
chains of taxation.
In conclusion, we will state that we still ad-
here to, and no amount of abuse and slang can
drive us one inch from the position heretofore
taken, and when the people understand our po-
sition they will appreciate our motives, and we
do not mean to have our hands tied and quiet
ly submit to the gentlemen who organized the
Court house meeting And whenever they
came before the people to carry into effect the
objects that prompted that meeting, we will
fight them at every step. Taxpayers, we ask
you to investigate these facts and figures for
yourselves, and see who is who and what is
at the bottom of this whole affair.
INDEPENDENT TICKET