The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-27


THE militia tax as IL now exists is a relic of
the days when every able-bodied white male
citizen between certain ages was expected to
turn out twice year to learn the rudiments
of the art of war; and under our present mill
tia system it is unjust, annoying, and en-
tirely inadequate for the purposes intended
in its creation. The old-fashioned "train-
ings, as everybody that recollects them is
well aware, were the merest burlesques, and
citizens who had any self-respect refused to
turn out with old muskets, blunderbusses,
and broomsticks for the purpose of making
asses of themselves. Those who did not turn
out were liable to q fine, which was never i'm
posed, and which finally, when regular vo-
lunteer companies began to be formed was
entirely neglected. This fine was afterwards
imposed in the shape of q tax upon
those liable to militia duty who
did not join the volunteer companies as active
members, or who were not exempt on account
of service under the United States. After
the close of the war persons interested in the
reorganization of the various military COM
panies succeeded in having this tax enforced
for the benefit of their respective organiza-
tions, and the amount obtained was supposed
to be divided equitably between the different
regiments and companies for the purpose of
providing them with arms and equipments
and paying their current expenses. The
Legislature finally reduced the tax to one
dollar per annum, and collector was ap-
pointed to extort it from the unwilling
victims. How the tax is collected, and what
an unmitigated nuisance it is, the male oiti-
Lens of Philadelphia are we'll aware; how it
fails to support our militia organization, and
how its collection is managed so that the COL
lectori is enabled to make large pecuniary profits
by means of the irresponsible power placed in
his hands, we demonstrated in q former arti-
Gle. That the tax as at present imposed ought
to be abolished admits of no question, but it
is nevertheless true that militia system of
some sort ought to be supported by the pub
lie. That our present system is the best that
could be devised is at least doubtful, but that
it is the best possible under existing circum-
stances is very probable. That the public
should be obliged to pay for expensive uni
forms and other paraphernalia ought not to
be expected, and if our volunteer soldiers
wish to indulge in such luxuries they should
pay for them out of their own pockets. The
public, however, should pay the reasonable
expenses of the militia, but the whole burden
should not fall upon the comparatively few
m who liable to militia duty, bat who do
not choose to attach themselves
to sny of the military Or
ganizations. If the militia is of any use at
all, the entire community is benefited by it.,
and all the taxables should be compelled to
contribute to its support. Any tax authorized
for the support of the militia should also be
imposed and collected in regular manner,
and it's proper distribution ensured by legal
enaetments that will prevent the misappro-
priation of any portion of it. A small addi-
tion to the annual tax rate Of this city would
amply provide for the proper support of our
militia organizations, and the burden imposed
upon each individual taxpayer would be so
small as to be almost imperceptible, while its
collection would not be attended with the an
noyances incident to the present system. The
militia tax is almost as much a nuisance as
the income tax, and the Legislature should
seriously consider the propriety of the change
we have suggested 1t is not right that
portion of the community, and that portion
being in great measure composed of pool
men to whom the tax is a real burden, should
be compelled to support a military establish
ment that benefits all if it benefits any; an(
we appeal to our representatives at Harris
burg to do justice in the matter.