The daily gazette., 1875-12-30
From the Baltimore Sun.
The Curse Of Excessive Taxation.

ments is not the only measure of prac-
tical reform essential to that end.
There must be a limit everywhere and
to every form of government cxtrava-
gauce, whether in matters of federal,
State or municipal expenditures, and q
corresponding reduction in the burden
of taxes which now weighs like an
incubus upon the energies OF the peo-
Pile, Sensible men, 1t is true, who ad-
vocate currency reform, insist as
means to that end-upon the principle
that the greater includes the less
upon the necessity of retrenchment
and economy in public expenditures.
But entirely irrespective OF the curren-
cy question, it is very certain that the |
enormous burden of taxation Is itself |
terrible hindrance to any revival OF
business, and operates in every direc-
ton as q restraint upon enterprise.
Too large proportion of the earnings
alike of capital and of labor are alb.
sorbed by the tax gatherer. The in
crease in the amount of taxes required
by government and paid by the people
has been SO gradual that perhaps many
persons are unconscious how great the
increase has been. Upon this subj ject,
the New Y York Daily Bulletin publishes
some figures that are absolutely start
| ling, in the shape of comparative
table showing the increase OF taxation
in some of the principal cities and
States In the Union, compared with
the increase of population, since 1860.
Thus in the State of New York the in-
crease of taxation, as shown by the
tax levy in 1860 and in 1875, respective
", has been from 81, ,376, 1874 to $l5,-
727, ,4S2, or t,co hundred and si1ty per
cent, while the increase OF population
in the same period has been only
fuenty eight per cent. In Massachu
sets during the same fifteen years the
increase in taxation has been 277 per
cent; that of population "a per cent,
A comparison of the Ordinary expen-
ditures" of the United States govern
ment, erclutre Of interest on the puoltC
: debt, for the years 1860 and 1874 shows
an increase of expenditures" equal
to 200 per cent. and of population At
! per cent. When we come to the case
OF some OF the larger cities the result!
are even more startling. Thus, tht
= increase in local tdres in New \ ort
city since 1860 is 800 per cent, that o
population So per cent. In Boston cit,
taxes have in the same time increased
! 1874 per cent, population AZ per cent.
: and in Philadelphia the increase o
n taxation has been 317 per cent. s
, compared with an increase OF ~ pc
cent. IN population. In all these stat
= ments the source from which we draw
riyes in full the official figures. Th
III ic vi
the Bulletins table, but as 1t show
favorably, compared with the lncreaS
in Boston, New Iorkand Philadelphi
while at the same time it illustrates
although in less degree, the tendeno
of taxes to increase in a much create
ratio than population, we append II
Figures In 1860 the population
Baltimore was 1874 900, now 1t IS aoo'
3OO, ,OOO-an increase of 63 per cen
The city tax levy at the rate OF Il
cents upon the Sl0U,on Il taxable bas
Iof Sl3S, ,503, 7G5, was $l,3S5, ,O5IGj
1860 as against tax levy of $3.50 f
| municipal purposes in 1870 upon
tnxable basi, OF 30 ,242 ,3l3 which,
all collected, would Yield about !
200 UOO-an increase ot taxation equ
> TO 2O3 per cent
of course in all the foregoing col
parsons the increase or gross recelp
or of the aggregate amounto of the lie
is given. rather than the increase
ne y1tr ~ urd'loit itself, which,
many cases. as in Baltimore for c
ample. where the increase Is so I
cent, would show less striki
result. This fact coupled with
rk. unfavorable exhibit in Massachuset
where the increase in State taNati
., (271 per cent? has been greatest,
the Boston Advertiser to suggest, q
. fnirer standard of comparison wi
,, increase in wealth instead OF popu
ton. The Bulletin. accepting
Advertiser suggestion, accordin:
II shows from the official documents Il
NJ the total valuation Of property
q, Massachusetts on May l, 1861, y
1861 ,547, ,5S3, and on May /, Is
Sol S1. .S31 ,601, ,265, an increase OF liz
r, cent, only as compared with
and increase of taxes, as already stated,
ing. 277 per cent. In the city OF Bosi
ooi oor; the increase in the amount OF asst
able property from 1861 to 1874
1877 per cent. as against an increase
3l6 per cent. in the aggregate OF ta
ton. All this, too, without
reference to the difference betw,
y valuation upon a gold basis and
deprecated currency, or to any OF
- influences which may have augmen
- the mere money value Of property
of all proportion to the actual incre
II of property itself. The result OF
comparisons in the case of Aassac
nss setts and Boston is especially instr
elts. tive. because these are generally C
sidered, and perhaps justly, to be
i,tIe best governed communities in
this country. Certainly there is no OF
city, as we showed last summer, W
sndeavoring to incite our own citiz
4. to timely action by the exampl,
n, what was done in Boston in VII
tax payers and property holders e!
else the direct control over munic
affairs which they do in the latter
In some Of the misgoverned and
pressed States of the South, Ut
negro and carpet bag rule, taxatio
is we'll known, has increased unit
has amounted to practical coniscat
N The figures we have given are Ia