The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-03-19
Tax BILL.


Tax BILL.
We ara Indebted to Maj. Koiner Of the
House Of Delegates, for copy Of the tax
bill, reported by Mr.. Stuart from the COM
mirtee of finance. It is quite voluminous
covering 120 pages Of printed matter 1t is
estimated by the author Of The bill that it
will increase the revenae.' Of The State be-
tween 100000 and s4O0, 900, but according
to our understanding of its provisions. and
the effect such system of taxation would
have, it will utterly bankruptthe State, and
drive from the Commonwealth, her active,
crative energies. We are aware that it is
very difficult to get up good tax bill. It
requires the highest craftsmanship to so ad-
just the draft upon the various resources Of
people as to equaliEe its operation, aud to
prevent unhealthy discrimination. This is
especially so where the advolorem prin-
oiple has 10 be departed from and specific
pie of political economy that property should
pay the greater portion Of taxation, yet
| where people have argued themselves up
1 to the belief that property Is already paying
as much as 1t can bear, it is difficult to con-
vince them that true economy consists in
meeting the obligations Of the State By a
small increase.
| Mr.. Stuart has committed the grave mis-
take, in arranging his bill. Of imposing the
increase he proposes upon the poor. Waiv-
ing the point Of constitutional right involved
which VIC think is clearly violated in spirit,
the policy Of attempting to discriminate in
favor OF property and against enterprise,
will stagnate the business energies OF the
State and result in the suspension of two
thirds of the active enterprises Of the towns.
| 1t is proposed that the tax shall remain at
| so cents on the 500 Of real and personal
| pro perty, but that specific tax shall be
levied and per cent. on merchants, CON-
mission merchants, distillers, &C., running
through the whole catalogue of trade. Say
for Instance that, heretofore, merchant do
ing commission business in Staunton, OPP
Grating on capital Of $40 900, paid $50
Under this bill Of Mr. Stuart, he will have
to pay in addition, 3 specific tax of $50;
tax of IS for the sale Of tobacco; $50 for
storage, $Se on commission, and if he turns
his money over three times, and ruos his OPP
erations up to $780, year, he has to pay
S2OS more. 1t is not an unusual thing for
one commission merchant to handle 4 900
barrels OF -four year. This would require
the use of 100000. The profits to the mer-
chant would not 90 over $500, on 10 cts
barrel. The agg, egate State tax, to say
nothing Of city tax, which would about du.
plicate what he pays to the State, would ex-
haust the profits Of his operations We on
ly u,entlcu this as an instance Of the dis
elimination that is made against this class
of industry. Should the merchant continue
business, and struggle pay the tax, who
must it eventually coa,e off? The consumer
or the working classes, of course The far
ner can regulate his prices by the demand
for his products, aud the whole of the in
creased taxation as proposed in Mr. Stuart's
bill would have to come off THE laboring or
poor classes of citizens. We have not the
space this week to gosinto an elaborate dis.
cussion of the bill. It is unjust and de-
structive in its tendency, and violates the
plainest principle Of political economy The
discrimination against enterprise aud the
shielding Of capital could not fail to pro.
duce the most harmful results, and particu-
larIy would it operate against class of psr-
sons who have done more for the prosperity
of Staunton, and consequently the county of
Augusta, because Of the market shere affor-
ded, than any other agencies. We must
merely couteut ourself to-day with protest,
in the name Of the great mass of the peo-
pie, and of business enterprises, against the
enactment of SUCH a fatal bill We have
no idea that the legislature will sustain it, (
aud we have no doubt substitute will be
presented that will more nearly meet the
emergencies Of the times and conform to
the principles Of justice aud equality. and
thus carry out the spirit of the organic law
Of the State.