The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-02-15
which win Won Choose !:

which will yOu Choose
Auditor Musgrove's plan for solving
the financial problem which Radical
profigacy and misrule have created, is
to raise the State tax from forty to ninety
cents on the hundred dollars and to re-
duce the county tax in the same degree
to prevent an increase Of burthen on the
people.
But this does not compass the object
demanded by the necessities of the tax
payers-which is a reduction of the bur
then. His plan is practically to shift
the load from one shoulder to another ;
and is no relief at all. Besides, it is
impracticable. The Legislature may in
crease the State tax as he recommends,
but what assurance has he that the coun-
ty governments will make the proportions
al reduction, or any reduction whatever?
One county in the hands Of bona fde
citizens and taxpayers who are more IN
terested in advancing the public welfare
than in devising schemes of plumber, may
perform its part, while another, which
NAV be in the control Of adventures who
are intent only upon enriching them
selves, may find pretext for continuing
the excessive levies that have been en-
forced for the past two years.
The scheme won't work. There is nc
consistency, nor uniformity, in it. There
is nothing certain about it except higher
taxation and additional harrassment and
oppression to an already impoverished
people.
The method which we propose for re-
moving the difficulty is to reduce the ex-
penses Of the State and county govern
ments fifty per cent introduce economy
into all their branches dispense with the
swarms of sinecurists that infest the Cap
itol, and diminish the number of Judicial
i officers one-third. When this is accom-.
plished, another step should be taken,
and can be taken, with perfect safety to
the credit of the State, viz: A reduction
of tares so that industry aciH be unshackled
once more, and the process Of eOnfscation
achich Is noaC going on, arrested. This
plan if adopted, will soon result in can
ceiling the outstanding warrants and
making the State issues equal to curren
cy The scheme is not new one
Once before our State warrants were al
heavy discount. The lawmakers and
financiers of that day, who we're the
Browns, McNutts, Premises, Matthews
and Guions, did not dream of increasing
taxes in order "to bring the State home.
They cut down expenditures and at a
moderate rate of taxation, they soon sue
ceeded in making Auditors warrants
worth as much as gold. During most OF
the decade of 1851 and 1861, there was
no discount on the paper of the State.
There was no speculation in her war
rants, by INSCRIPTIONS ax-gatherers. =
The wisdom of the lawmakers had de-
priyed them of the opportunity to specu-
late if they had so desired. Why not
try the old plan which has worked SC
well and the benefits of which, are
even now Il pleasant memory to thou,
sands of the taxpayers of the State
Why should the office holders roll in lux
ury and enjoy princely salaries for mad
equate service while the industrial class
es are grooming under the weight of in
supportable burthens? Let the watch
word be, down with the system of ine-
quality and favoritism, and up with the
banner Of low taxes, economical govern
ment, and equal rights to all