, 1874-05-16
DIRECT TAXATION.

To hs Editor q The Ch1eaGo ITattne:
S1B: There is no system OF taxation 80 1na
and fair az the direct plsn. Then every MAE
and interest understand what is expected ol
them, The necessity OF repeal Ct the land
tax is becoming more apparent every day, and,
il not accomplished, will deprive thousands d
their homesteads, and 90 reduce the value oi
real estate that no person will be found @lnE
to invest in it. And the reason 1s very ap-
parent, from tho fact that no industry pays n
small percentage On tho investment 80 agFi' :
culture. Now, let US compare the burden o.
taxation borne by tho agriculturists in England
With those in this country, and you Will ind oufa
ts tenfo1d greater, from tho fact that there Is
yery little tax raised OF tie land IN ENGLAND
Almost her entire revenue, immense as 1t IS IL
raised OF of tho Iuxurios and wealth OF the natloa
One hundred and seventy mlllious are collected
oil Of the Two articles, ardent spirits and tobac-
co: but the stamp revenue, or TAI on aA CON-
morcinl paper ia one Of hor greatest SOURCES OF
revenue. all transfers Of values, whether notes,
bondy, or mortgages, must be stamped; ahu. as
It il based on percentage, and as no art1cle -
good in law unless stamped, 1t Ii not esadea-
Al property passing from one geneIat1on 70
smother has to pay succession duty. Now, tn'2
49, es-a hard al first glance; but, 1t nQdt DO M
derstou. sbat. while It is felt by the poor man,
the rich mnu hap to pay in proportion to nls
wealth; aud even very small fractional pal-
centage on all bonds, mortgages, a1d other e7l-
donces of indebtedness, in this country (Thera
morteagiug and credit are so fashionable anu
caoeyal), would raise very large revenue;
and besides, it Is carving ont tue great pfluci-
pIe OF the Patrons OF HusbandIg, to discourage
the credit synten.
Legitimate taxation ia burden that VIII
always be cheerfully borne By an 1ntoli-
geat people but mono but nation OF soE1s or
oondsmen or1eht to submit to system OF taxn~
t,on that ia so oppressive that it absozbs au tho
legitimate earnings Of both the property aud the
jndnstry 1eauired to develop it. In now macy
localities in the West has the tar on the assessed
vaine OF the ta1abIo properly amounted TO OK
IL mar cent aud read Of one place i'll Illinois
I th;nk it vas knukzkee-thot the levy for ta1c5
80 roar amounted to l3 Dcr ceut. NON, it will
ha are1ed that the people voted those taxes on
thcTnsaIyes. and thew should submit to it cheer
| S-.iir prt dsnv thu right OF INV man to yo:o
.uta. ~ ~ no oronerty for q arecial purpoao,
| whcn he L,ture1f IS not taxpayer, and conse-
nnart]y bears no par. Of the burdoil ana, IN
n,ne cases mt Of ten those arc the parties that
rntaa +hasa to1ea I know Of ono township
.ha,a - VA necesyaSy to natu1alizo fve roter1
~ 5a- bafore the election to obtain tie neccs-
sarv ms;o,,ty. and it wks one OF the leading Re
nnh,icans Of the county that engineered tao
rfbe nroiect. though have often heard PIN do
claln asainst tue Democrats for dong 20 d1od9
og;a Na,o York
~ pnt ~ rome back to the injustice OF the land
t.x uonld refer 10 the Genernl Government
Sr,rtiro arch iu,unepse tracts OF land 70 rail-
rraad cofnnan1es. with the extraordinary provision
st thesa iands arc not to be taxed till tho title
! na.xos tn third parties by Which means tbs
! pr-.ha.ar by holding bach small pa-. Of .ee
| pn-rcnaaa-monev. might ovade :a@gtion, and liis
| nneichbor. who purchases from the Government,