Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-16
a TWENTY-FIVE CENTS TAX.


The lowest rate Of State tax yet pro-
posed by any member of the present
Legislature is twenty-five cents. As
the object is to relieve the people as
much as possible, let rs see the amount
Of relief that would lie afforded by the
rate named. Let US be practical. The
amount Of reduction would be fifteen
cents on the one hundred dollars. APP
ply this to various grades of tax-pay-
ers, from the lowest upward:
Take the negro who has bought and
fenced in with brush two or three
acres Of raw clay hillside, on which he
strings together a cabin partly of wood
and canvas and bark. The whole rig
is worth less than hundred dollars,
but if he pays taxes on that amount he
saves exactly fifteen cents in the course
Of twelve months-one cent and a
/ quarter per month. How much win
that relieve him? To what extent will
it better his condition? VIII it make
the pot boil faster or his family
more thrifty? However much or
little it might be, one drink less of
Christmas eggnog would relieve his
finances Just as much.
Ascending higher in the scale, let us
take the poor but provident mechanic,
who owns little home assessed at
$1,000. How much relief would a
twenty-five cents State tax afford him?
Exactly one dollar and fifty cents in
the course Of a year-not quite three
cents a week. What additional com
forts dare he venture to indulge, on
this small margin? The loss of half a
days work in the whole year would
counterbalance all the relief thus gen.
erously afforded him by the State at
the cost Of repudiated pledges Of but
two years standing. Is not this sell
ing honor toe cheap? Is there one
mechanic or workingman in the State
who would ask such a pitiful relief az
such a costly sacrifice? No, the bone
aud sinew Of Tennessee are not of
those who would trifle with our credit,
driving capital from our borders. 1t
is men who DO not labor with their
hands that are engaged in these jim
fskian schemes-speculators, polit-
clans, demagogues.
Ascending higher in the scale Of
wealth, let us take the taxpayer as
sessed at $4,000, and learn what sur
cease from sorrow he could extract out
Of a twenty five cents tax. The amount
Of his reduction would be SIS, or about
twenty-nine cents a week, the price Of
two drinks. So much for the $4,000
men. They are in a decided minority,
but both law and morals decree that
they should pay IN proportion to their
less fortunate neighbors, whose aggre-
gate taxes protect their $4,000 in
peace, and whose bodies and lives pro-
| tect It N war.
So Of the man assessed for 500, 900.
Two chances to one, he has another
500. 600 III some untaxable shape, such
as United States bonds or easily-hidden
notes OF hand. Very few men Of such
wealth Keep II all IN a shape that the
assessor can reach. still, he is so IN
fortunate as to own 100000 of visible
property, whether It be a big bonanza
Of East Tennessee ore, broad acres in
Middle Tennessee, or improved proper
ty in Memphis. He may have other
and enormous taxes to pay, county and
municiraE but We are speaking of the
State tax only, as that Is all the direct
relief that the Legislature can extend.
The reduction IN his taxes under tie
proposed rate of twenty five cents
would amount TO exactly Sl5o Men
Of this class are few and far between,
but as they almost universally enjoy
other sources Of income, it does seem
that this relief u $50 would be but
lifting a feathers weighb from the bur
den Of managing their 100000 of visi-
bic property, whether it be in mines or
fields or blocks Of business houses. OF
one thing we are morally certain such
relief would not induce them TO pay
the miner one cent. more wages-tO
rent their acres to a poor Granger or
their stores 10 the struggling merchant
one cent. cheaper.
After thus dispassionately reviewing
the amount OF relief that State tax of
twenty-five cents would afford to all
classes from the lowest to the highest,
and considering on the other hand that
such a rate is calculated, if not design
ed, to prevent the payment of interest
pledged only two years ago by a DEM
oerauo Legislature elected as freely by
the people as the present body, we can
reach but one conclusion: The degree
Of relief offered is frightfully small
compared with the prize we are asked
TO give. It would be paying too much
for our whistle. Tennesseeans cannot,
will not, sell themselves so cheap.
AIEy,NnrP II SrFvEnzs has recnr.