The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-03-18


'Twixt the people and the King.
THE REPUBLICAN INCREASE OF TAX
ALTON.
!. The proposal of the Administrator
to take an additional thirty or forty
millions per annum out Of the pockets
of tax payers does not meet with much
approval from the public. Taxation is
already higher than the country can
stand for any length of time. Business
is depressed values suffering shrink
age labor scarce failures enormous; !;
tradesmen losing meney. Why should
taxation be increased at such a time
as 'this2 What is the money wanted
for? Is it possible that General Grant
who was reelected ''to sustain pros
perity," is failing in that effort? :? Is il
possible that the Administration is
not economical? Let us see. This
money is wanted to pay Grant 81, 900
salary per year more than was ever
paid any previous President and S5O,-
GOO per year in perquisites which any
other President would have been
ashamed to receive; 10 pay for toady-
ism to the King of the Cannibal Is
lands to provide the means for send
ing troops to New Orleans for the pur-
pose of turning out the Governor and
legislature that the people have elected
in order that the State may be further
robbed by merciless gang Of public
plunderers to establish corruption
fund for advancing the scheme of
Ulysses S. Grant to be elected Presi-
dent for third term, and for enabling
his carpet-baggers to maintain their
hold upon the outraged Southern
States; to supply millions to lot of
speculative Rings, ostensibly for the
purpose of effecting internal improve
ments, which are not needed, which
would be of little use if completed,
and which the country could not afford
to undertake in its present condition,
even if it were necessary; to cover
the outlays for new public buildings,
custom-houses, post-ofices, court
houses, and the like all over the coun-
try, on the system of Mulletl, the roof
ing, plumbing and gas-fitting all to be
executed by Boss Shepherd; TO raise
millions upon millions for new rail-
road grants and subsidies, that are to
be rushe d through Congress under the
new rule, which deprives the minori
ty of that power OF resistance which
even the slave power, with all its fury
never diminished to provide great
sums out of which Babcock and Shep-
herd, and the other District of Column
bia scoundreIs may defraud the people
by false measurements, lying vouchers,
and other similar appliances of public
robbery; 10 satisfy the appetite Of
United States Marshal Sharp in Wash
ington, and provide him with S130s
600 a year !; to pay for the swindle in
the fiber-paper on which United States
securities are printed, and to enable
Mr.. Adolph E. Borie and others inter-
estcd in the Ring to get for their pa
per two or three times its market val
ue to furnish Landauiet Williams
with the means of procuring himself
carriages and horses and servants, cut
of the contingent fund of the Depart
ment of Justice; to furnish Secor
Robeson several millions a year TO be
in jobbery, paid out on
fraudulent and illegal claims, or other
wise stolen, under the pretense Of
supporting navy, while in his hands
the navy became worthless and use
less to supply the Indian Ring and
other rings that cluster around the
of the Interior with the
necessary number of millions to be
taken out by them, SO that they grow
rich while the people are growing
poor; to give the Congressman who
vote subsidies an opportunity to fiji
their pockets with plunder.
These are few of the prominent
objects to be attained by an increase
of taxation. 1t cannot be expected
that any intelligent people would be
satisfied with the programme. which
is clear and uBmistakable. Instead OF
this increase, there should be dimin-
ution of the expenses of government
by at least thirty millions. The New
York Tribune shows clearly where
this is done. 1t starts with the Navy
an inviting field for reduc-
tion, and advises a cutting down of
ten millions in that department.. which
would even then be very large cost
for the return made. Public buildings
and river and harbor improvements
might also get along with several mill
ions less. Heavy salaries might be re-
duced with NO injustice to those re-
ceiving them, and an honest and eff
cient system of collecting and admin
isteriug revenues might be insisted
upon. In addition to this. the pros
pect of trade under such a process of
economy would be increased, and the
same rates now imposed would yield
fuller returns, SO that with even COM
parative economy the government ex-
oenditure might be reduced to a point
which would relieve the taxpayers
without diminishing the present eff
;iency of the public services.
IT seems wicked extravaganza in