The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-05-11

The ExTRAoRDISARY INCREASE OF Ex-
/ PENDITUREs-
VALUE OF PROPERTY REDUCED
| TWO-THIRDS-TAXA MORE
THAN QUADRUPLED.
Mr.. PRESIDENT:
| 1t was ardently hoped that the substitute
would have been adopted with but little
opposition. The three-tenths of one per
cent taxation doubtless is sufficient for all
purposes of an equitable revenue. 1t Is
with bitter and keen regrets that / hear
Republican Senators on this floor contend
ing for continuation of the present enor
nous rates of taxation; rates, which are
/ grinding the honest Taxpayers to dust; re-
ducing the valuation of all kinds of proper
! ~ and driving capital from the State TO
seek Investments where SO large and ex-
/ travagant proportion OF its net proceeds
will not be wrenched by relentless taxation
| to enrich greedy otfice-holders.
1t becomes Senators, as wise legislators, to
10 all in their power TO stop this crying
evil, which like a mantle of death envelops
| the land, by aiding in the enactment of
such a system of revenue laws as Will sup
port the Government on economical prin-
ciples, and at the same time. give protection
to the persons and the property of the State,
and invite capital and immigration within
our borders. Such a system would meet
the appreciation of every citizen OF the
State, and produce results. of which this
legislature would, indeed, be justly proud.
Mr.. President: / had expected that the
groans of tax-burdened people, coming up
from every portion of our State, would have,
at least, met with sufficient sympathy, even
on the Republican side of this chamber, as
TO have caused an attempt at alienation.
But, alas for the poor Taxpayer such is
not the case, if the spirit eyinced, by the
Senators from the End and 18th Districts,
(Senators Gibbs and Warner is to be taken
! ac a fn6Rx RI the sentiments of RqnnhIi-
can Senators. | do hope that Senators will
not insist ON the continuation of one-half
of one per cent, but will agree to the
amendment OF three-tenths of one per cent
For l verify believe that a reduction of the
present ruinous rates of taxation, will, in a
very short period of time, by the increase
value of property, pay into the State Trea-
sury more revenue, than the present sy stem.
Why, sir, do l come TO this conclusion =?
Because, all property is valuable. in the
ratio of its produetiveness. or capacity to
Weld. An investment of $1,000 which will
yield $1,000 per annum Is good. But when
the State, County, Municipal and School
Taxes, on the $4,000 amounts to from $500
to $780, which Is TO be taken from the ST.
600. leaving a net proceed of but from $500
to 500 on the $4,000 invested, then the in
vestment becomes bad. Capital, at once
becomes dissatisfied and deserts such in
vestments. Not that the yield or product
is unsat' sfactory, but that so large an
amount is absorbed by burdensome taxa
ton If such unwise legislation does not
drive all the capital out of the State it di-
minishes the value of property, Just in the
ratio that it increases taxation. The pro-
ductiveness remaining e same, the increase
of taxation diminishes the value-and the
diminution of taxation increases the value
of property. There are republicans that
attemps to ridieule Conservative Senators
bv calling us economists. when we insist ON
a reduction of the impositions from our
people and our State. / would answer such
with the assurance, that the honest hard
working people of our State, will in the
coming election. make them repent for thu
high handed injustice perpetrated in lavish
xpenditures-iarge appropriations = and
extravagant salaries, made by this Legisla-
ture. They seem to forget that the land.
the realty, which is made liable by the act
of 1870, for its own and the tax on person.
atty, is the only truly permanent property
of the State--physically the State itself
As the people politically, the State, all
Legislation should Keep steadily in view the
great objects of government, the security of
its citizens and the protection of its pro-
perty, and not its confiscation. And do
insist that legislation which diminishes the
value of property, contiscates it TO the eX-
tent of that diminution.
| sincerely hope that Senators will pause
and consider well. before they take action
on this important subject. Taxation, like
death. is no respector of persons, it knocks
alike at the rich mans and the poor mans
door. None can escape its relentless grasp.
Hence the great interest, on this subject,
| that pervades every class of society, in all
the walks of life. But if it is a subject of
vast Importance to every citizen in every
position of society, TO the legislator it is
paramount, and should have his honest and
! earnest attention. Not only the welfare and
prosperity of the State is at stake; but
"mark WELL" there is a tribunal before
which we must all, soon, very soon appear
| the Great Tribunal of the People, and
| then Senators who have never known what
retrenchment and economy mean. will be
| held to a strict accountability for their
votes on this substitute.
! 1t is boosted here that the credit of the
| State must be sustained. Go regret that
such Senators forget that the people have
rights that must OF only be respected, but
must be guarded and protected. And
while the State government must have its
necessary expenses promptly paid, the
people, the great producers OF the revenue
of the State, must not be sacrificed. Mr..
President, it does appear to me, that in this
/ case of high taxation, the contest is between
the taxpayer or producer and the office
| holder or consumer. Yea, verify. between
labor on the one hand, and the Otfice-hOlder
| on the other. But there are Senators who
insist that the expenses OF the government,
| be they what they may, must be borne and
| that the one-half of one per cent. is abso-
lutely necessary to support the government.
/ viii Senators give me their attention for
/
This subject? In this day of Republican
rule, would ask to whom are the greatly
increased expenses of the government paid
To the officers of the Republican govern
ment. By whom are they paid? By the
honest taxpayers of the laud-the produ-
cers-the laborers. Are not the taxes
honestly applied Grant that they are.
| insist that they are extravagant, and great.
er than are absolutely necessary. For
-before the war there were in the State of
j of
$2.5OO each, making in the aggregate $25.-
OOO, and ten District Attorneys at $1,000
each, making $4,000, in all amounting to
$4,000. Now we have fifteen Circuit
| Judges at salary of $500, making the
| sum Of $52500. fifteen District Attorneys at
! a salary of $500, making 1880, and
twenty ChancellOrs at $500. making $70,-
900. in all footing up the enormous sum of
l-$l60000. And this comes directly out OF
the pockets of the people.
Remember that when the State was rich
it paid for these branches of the Judiciary
but $4,000. Now it is poor, destitute, i'm
pOverished,an is taxed 100000 TO support
officers, many of whom have been but re-
Gently created, at greatly increased salaries.
i 1t may be said that the Chancellors perform
many of the duties of the former Probate
Judges. But large proportion of this
| probate service Is now performed
bv the Chancery Clerk and much of both
the Circuit and Chancery practice has been
BY recent enactment transferred TO the ju-
risdictiOn of the Justices OF the Peace.
Again, the expenses of the State Printing
fo- the year 1861, was SSO2S; tor 1866, it was
only $3.50; but for the year 1870. it foots
up the startling sum of $52976.
Think of this enormous increase in the
few instances named, and tell me, Senators,
are You prepared to vote for continuation
of such rates of taxes to support such
excessive expenditures of the peoples
money.
Again. the legislative department for the
year 1870, cost the people the sum Of $24I, :
l91 60 when in 1861 il was but $4,000.
: The estimated cost for assessing the pro-