Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-03-08
High Taxes, From Another andPOipt.

okAuu EuNnL.
Complaint Of high taxes IL chronic.
1t is well that it is. 1t prevents ex-
travagance and corruption. Therefore
It Is a healthy complaint-one that
We would not be pleased to be rid OF.
But, like all other good things. there
may be too much Of il. Complain,rs.
from habit, are apt to become habituai
grumblers. So it is the matter oi
complaint about taxes. And while
we recognize that the groaniug Of the
over-taXed people always Is the surest
and speediest cause of relief we he
lleve that there are many considera-
tons that are entirely overlooked by
Taxpayers, when they come 10 weep
over their burdens. Let us look. a
moment, at a few Of them, for IL h
always a relief TO find out that we are
not as badly of, a. we thought we
were. "
We make the broad proposition that
there are many reasons why taxes are
n should be higher than thew were
In days gone by-And vet that the tax
payer Is no more burdened. In brief
the reasons for this are-that bis abili-
" to pay is greater T; and that he now,
IN many cases pays in the shane, Of
taxes, what was formerly taken from
his pocket in some other shape. Let
US look at the matter
First, wages are better and prices
higher than formerly. Fifty cents in
former years was a good price for
wheat, and 34i cents good wages, for
q days labor Of a harvest hand. Other
prices and wages stood ct proportion
aEn hmnEGa Wn~aa - -.E..l -
expenses, a1d IL prices and wages are
raised, expenses are increased, and an
increase Of taxes necessitated. And
yet the proportion Of taxes to the tax
payers income is no greater than
formerly.
Secondly, as TO money drawn from
our pockets as taxes, that was for
merly paid out in some other way, to
secure the same ends: We have an
extensive school system to support.
This has necessitated a great increase
OftakatiOn. Formerly, men Of means,
paid for the education Of their chill
dren a good round sum to support
select schools. Yet how few remem-
Der this when they come 10 pay their
school taxes. The man Of means too,
has now to pay extra to educate the
children Of the poor but he gets his
return in 8 better condition Of society
and a comparative exemption from the
crime that ignorance is the mother Of.
Men were formerly called upon to
subscribe stock TO build, and pay toll
for the use, Of pixies. Now they are
td1ed for the same purposes. But
when they come to pay their increas-
ed taxes, how few think Of the other
burdens the taxes relieve them Of.
These instances are enough to show
the correctness Of our position, that
an increase of taxes is not necessarily
an increase Of burdens. and that such
an increase is often only . shifting Of
burdens from one shoulder TO the
other.
Again, thirdly, q still more potent
reason, why taxes should be higher
than in days Of the past, is found in
the fact that people are not content to
live a. they used to live; and it is an
evidence of good sense that they are
not. The way in which our fathers
trOd, may do well enough to talk
about, but nobOdy chooses TO follow it.
Man Is a progressive being-he was
made by his Creator, capable of de
velopment; and he who stands still,
while the world moves, % finds
himself alone andin darkness. Many
laborer now lives in q style that
would bnce have been esteemed luxu-
rious, by kings. Everybody seeks
new comforts, new con~veniences, new
appliances for the promotion Of hap
piness. 'Tis the progression, growing
out Of these desires, that builds state
ly cities where the wilderness was,
and forces all the elements OF nature
TO contribute 70 the wants of man.
But, as the wants of the individual
increase, the wants Of the public in
crease-as the desire for cOnveniences
and improvements obtain with the
individual, just at the same rate, in
crease the demand for public con-
and improvements. So
that the progression of society must
inevitably bring an increase OF taxes.
Thus, q farmer wants better roads,
better bridges, better houses, better
clothing, better schools, better church.
Is ; and he pays more for them-and
for such as he gets through the State
or county, he must pay a tax. But
he finds, IS all classes do Except in
VI OOAAABAAOA VI CANAANIAaAgNs /
that his income grows with his ex-
penses. Progression brings not only
q desire for improvement, but the
means to crafty il. Science, and in
yentioB enable man to accomplish in
q day, what was formerly impossible,
required his efforts for weeks,
months or years. By the aid Of ma
chinery, one man will accomplish the
work of many. Thus his ability to
meet them, keeps pace with his new
wants, and an increase Of income ac-
an increase Of taxes; and
we find that men have many more
c~Onveniences and comforts than for
pay higher taxes, and yet die
than they did in those good
old days when all q man had wasn't
eat up by taxes"
Be careful, therefore In your grumb-
ling. Watch carefully against cor
and extravaganza, but don't
think that parsimony begets wealth
Or progression pOverty.-BeHyoHtdine
R~ensthlfo1u /