Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-11-03
Exorb.iant Taxation.

In IL e world so heavily taxed as we OF
the United States. We are taxed Ma
tional, State, county and municipal.
The revenue thus raised is almost be-
yond computation; 1t is in the aggre-
gate fabulous sum. What becomes
of all this money? Land is taxed, the
farmers product is taxed, personal
property is taxed, jewelry, books and
household toys all taxed. The goods
are taxed and the merchant is COM
PEELED to pay license tax for selling
them. Everything from needle TO
an anchor, from pound of butter to
ship load of wheat is taxed in one
shape or another. Taxes are as inevi-
table death, and the coming of the
tax gatherer a deal more certain than
seed time and harvest. Once more,
what becomes of all the money? DO
people ever ask this question? Or do
they complain until the ravenOus col
lector has forced the last cent from
them and then give the subject no
more thought until ogre like he comes
again? 1t is time the people of the
United States demanded to know how
and for wnat the tax money Is eX-
pended. Other great nations are
governed, their laws enforced, their
officers paid, and their citizens pro-
tected as securely and completely as
ours, yet their people are taxed but a
fraction of the heavy sum imposed on
of the United States. 1t is high
time the citizens of the great Republic
looked into the matter. If others live
without the heavy burden of taxation
why not we. We are taxed to power
ty-to death-and we cannot show
even semblauce of value received for
the money. California towns are the
especial victims of this taxation curse.
San Francisco pays more taxes in pro-
portion to her taxable property than
any European city that can be named.
The same CALLING system of taxa
tion prevails in every town in the State.
1t hangs over them like blight. The
city of Los Angeles has borne a heavy
taxation cross. Not only has her pri-
vate property been taxed in every con-
ceivable shape, but her land--broad
acres of rich and valuable soil-has
been sold to increase her revenue. 1t
is said that the government OF the
city has been directed by one little
coterie Tor the past twenty years.
This being the case, it is time for a
change. An English colonial city
with the revenue Los Angeles has paid
during the last ten years would have
paved streets, tagged sidewalks and
public buildings and public parks oi'
the finest order and amplest accommo-
dations. What has Los Angeles ?
Drainage that would disgrace "a Hot
tentot village; streets that become
seas Of fathomless mud after six hours
rain; sidewalks that rat would break
his nook an IL NO otee r.4 pied n moonlight
Promenade oNer them; public BALD
ings that are remarkable only for
their venerable shabbiness and i'm
mense cost of const ructiOn, and parks
that are as innocent of tree, shrub or
flower as on the day when the conti-
nent was heaved from beneath the
ocean depths. What has become of
the revenue? The people have paid
their heavy taxes, yet they cannot sec
what has been done with the money.
Is it not about time an account of
stewardship was demanded: There
has been gross mismanagement, if not
dishonest conduct in the management
of our city, and the question to be de-
cided at the next municipal election
is, Shall these unfaithful stewards
these officers who were placed in
power by the manipulations of a self.
ish ring-be retained in their places,
or will the people break the shackles
which these private corporations have
riveted on them and elect q Mayor
and Councilmen who will carefully
and judiciciously eXpend the revenue
in improving and beautifying the
city, even though in so doing they
should run counter TO the will, wishes
and private interests OF the ring whose
"exciusive franchise" claims are re-
tarding the development and blight
ing the prosperity of city and commu-