The Placer herald., 1873-10-25
SHALL III CONTINUE!

has come to cur hands, but from lack o
room we have been delayed from dtl,
noticing it. The report in detail shows the
same tendency 10 extravaganza in our State
that of late years has disgraced our nation;
; dsposng Of the taxes ground from the poor
man by liberal donations to unworthy sub
jects, and unrcasonably large salaries to
government supes and officials; thus build
ing up an umprinciped shoddy arstocracy
which, if not checked threatens to ride the
laboring masses into irredeemable poverty.
The contingent expenses of the Legislature
Lave increased at such an alarming rate that
the amount expended OF the 10Th session
The cost of maintaining the National Guard
which, i'll great measure, is luxury more
than necessity, has increased nearly
double in the last year. " hat apology can
be offered in justification for this extravagant
increase in a time when the State and ma
ton is blessed with profound peace, we do
not know. 1t costs us now ten and
half millions Of dollars annually TO run our
State Government; and when we consi Ter
that the population is only $50 900, in
cluding all classes, ages and sex, the rate
per capita is alarming. The Controller
makes the astounding assertion that "Cal
fornia is laboring under heavier burdens of
taxation than any other State in the Union,
without exception" II Ohio, the total levy
for all purposes, for 1872, a year of un-
usually large expenditures, the rate per
head was what was justly considered large,
So 70, while in California The tax per head
including each man, woman, child and Dig
ger Indian, is S19, 90. Our State is il
debt to-day over three and a half millions
Of dollars, and with this debt and this ex-
travagant rMe of expenditures going on
the direful result can too we'll be surmised
to need comment. And who pays this
bill of expense each year, the iich No
Were it so we had not so much reason to
complain; and were i so the great strug le
which the masses have maintained for re
lief from these burdens would have re-
manned unlougllt to-day. And had they
not just cause to fight, knowing as they
did, and as this report confirms, that the
whole load of taxation rested on their
shoulders, while the moneycd men and
rich corporations were comparatively eX-
empt The readers Of the HERALD do not
require to he told in this article to what ex-
tent the railroad corporations pay taxes in
proportion to the value Of their property;
but there are other corporations which es-
cape their just proportion of taxation that
we may mention. Of corporatcd Life In
surance Companies alone there are thirty
five doing business in this Stat, To show
10 what extent they pay their proportion Of
taxes we give from the Controllers Re
port one example; he says: "rhe capita.
stock of the Home, Fire and Marne In
surance companies is $4,000, Geo. The
Home and Foreign Companies are assessed
on property of the value of STS7, 500
Thus showing that these corporations es
cape taxes on nearly nine tenths Of Tie
value Of their property Then again, the
Spring Valley Water Company, with a
'capital stock of $4,000 900, the market
value of Which is over Sc 600, ,050, declar-
ing dividend of $40, GOO month, pay
taxes on only 1915, $50. The San Fran
cisco Gas Company, with capital stock of
Sc 900 GOO, declaring dividend last month
of $50 900, is assessed at $3.50, 600. These
examples are enough TO set even the most
sluggish mind to thinking, should it be there
is one who has not realized our true condi-
ton before
1t is here set forth, from the most reliable
statistics, in undeniable terms, that the
wealthest men of our State, and we might
say our nation, pay comparatively no taxes,
the lack Of which not only doubles the rate
on those who do have to pay, but the law
compels full payment, at said increased rate
on every dollars worth of property the poor
man, or man of moderate circumstances
NAV possess. Under such circumstances,
Notwithstanding all our natural advantages
and boasted prosperity, it is no wonder that
many of our people have become discouraged.
From year to year the tolling masses plod
on; prospects always bright before them,
but when the year has gone and the taxes,
State county, poll, district or municipa' /,
have been paid, dry goods and grocery bills
settled, few things laid in for winter, and