New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-31

the right Of the Common Council to sell
the right to tax the consumption of food
The Legislature has never delegated such
Q power to them, nor would it be just to
impose such special revenue tax. be-
cause it will fall unequally upon the pub
lie 1--we expected any intelligent consis-
tency from men inspired solely with the
prejudices of politics We would ask one
question Of those who advocate revenue
tax upon food consumption. Il is. what
difference is there in principle between
protective tax on the consumption of man
ufactures and tag on food consumption?
Are not both these taxes unequal? The
laborer who buys every article Of Use in.
creased by the direct or indirect conse.
9uences OF the tariff, pays more in proper.
ton to the support Of the federal govern
inent than does the landlord who owns
the tenement in which the lborer lives.
The mechanic with family of ten pays
more to the support of the city govern.
ment than the dyspectic millionaire whose
family is smaller and whose food costs
consequently less. Mr.. Jefferson said
that the expense OF government should
be borne by property. Some who profess
to be his political disciples contend tina.
the government should be supported by
exactions from the labor Of the people.
Capita! is the concrete Of labor. and,
whether invested in money or land, is an !
ascertaiaed and established value. Labor.
in the process Of crystalization. is subiec. !
to incalculable deductions. Sickness, !
want Of employment. and other unavoitl.
able charges. react upon labor, and the
extent 70 which it should contribute TO
the support Of government can not be as.
certained until the net result shall have
passed into capital. I
The feudal practice Of taxing food by
selling the right to hire out the popular
consumption is an abuse that should be
resisted and repealed. The public mar
kets should be maintained like the public
fire engines OF the public buildings. by a
tax On all property sufficient to build,
and replace the markets: but no |
more should the city make it source of
revenue than when the fire engines shall
have been ordered TO extinguish fire.
there should be presented to the owner of
he burning tenement a bill for the pro-
ection afforded his property. A place to
collect and sell provisions to the public is
10 more to be rsrted out for general reve- d
1ue purposes than is wharf erected as
n easement for coming ashore and going
n board.
We merely pity-nut the private mar.
et men-but the people who find them.
elves driven by their own chosen govern \
leAt into the shambles of the butcher
!onopolists. The private market men !
nd the people should obey the law as it !
IS been enacted and expounded, but they =
lould not abate their demand for the l.
ght Of food without taxation until it
lall have been decided upon by the high :
t. tribunals. Let them demand that the D,
2ep and repair Of the markets shall be s.
rown upon general subjects of taxation, 2,
I'd that food shall be free Of purchase In
~ way, anywhere in the city, and the al
me principles will be established in the =
ase of the markets as in the lease of The
harves. Each is a charge upon the %
oper subjects Of taxation to the extent of
Neither is proper sub.
ct Of taxation for the revenue purposes
the city administration. The food N,
nsumers Of New Orleans will look in an
9 last resort to the Supreme Court for :, IN
LET and justice. He