New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-18
same time the average rate of taxation III THESE
cities has increased about IL per cent from Slo w
TO 500 20 on the 81 600.

same time the average rate of taxation ~ 'hcee
cities has increased about IL per cent, from $lV w
to 500 20 on the 81 900.
Iregrct that data at hand do not suffice for more
complete comparison. But in 1870 the wNole sum
raised by State, county, and municipal taxes was
ONLY $3.50 600 600. and the assessed valuation ot all
property was about $4,000, 0OOO00. More Una"
onc-third of that valuation. S5,070,OooOoO, was III
Massachusetts, Ohio, and the II cities name"
not of those States, and more than one-thrd oi 'e
taxes or about S75 900 900 were also paid III the
same States and cities. Now, the vaiuauoh Vi
property in those States and cities has increased to
sc $50, OO0, 900. and the amount OF taxes paid TO
about $135 900, 600 1t would not be safe to inier
that the cost Of government has increased i'll like
ratio elsewhere, but it is perhaps sufficiently
cautious to suppose that the increase elsewhere may
have been about one-haf as great, or % per cent.
If 40 State county, and local government now costs
us about 1868 OOO, 900 annually, besides the III
crease of debt. No increase has here been SHOWN Vi
inferred in State taxation, wmch aiho"h'ou -
SOS 600. 900 in 1870. Bat county ana muhiciPai
government appear to cost anout @%o''ooo,ooo
YEARLY besides adding 10 our Indebtedness apo"t
$3.50 600 900 in five years. II what we eau ioc"l
Government costs in taxes AID debt $3SOOoO,Ooo
yearly let us remember chat the whole revenue vi
tlc British Empire is S376,000OOO.
which cur system of local government confers. To
tha: system and not the State or nation the poor
man must chiefly look for equal justice, and prompt
protecton of his personal rights 1t costs money to
reach Washington, or the State Legislatures or
courts The Door have near them, and closely ne
pendeut upon their ballots their police Justices ana
sherilfs The power of local governments TO pro''c'
the citizen should not be lcsscned but enlarged
Their mower TO tax and to spend does need to be re-
strained. Already, local taxation and debt nave
stranCled the prosperity Of many towns ana couh-
ties In more than one of our larger cities, industry
has been seriously embarrassed by the pressure OF
local taxation and the cost of owning or leasing real
estate Work for thousands of builders and artisans
is now denied in almost every large city, by the
pressure of taxation and, but for that establish
nlents employing thousands of mechanics ana opera
tiyes could have been opened. The steady growth
of municipal burdens is not an accident IL Is the
natural result of system which intIusts 10 the
many who congrcgate in city, and cast the majority
of the votes, unlimited power to impose taxes ana
debts upon tie few who most of the property
II is the pride and glory Of our system that II enables
the many. VINO have little, TO defend their personal
rights without dependence upon the favor or fore-
sight of The few who have much. But 1t Is the as
grace Of that system that II leaves the rev. WHO
have both earned and saved, TO protect themselves
against the many who have only earned, and who
impose burdens reckessly only because they have
uot learned that in the end The many and The poor
hay TO hoar the greater part of all burdens imposed
our sy,+ern projects even the humblest citizen
AGAINST others. But it does not yet protect him
AGAINST his own ignorance of the simplest principles
If ecouo,n;c science. W. II. GRoSVENOE.
ST. Louis, No., Aug. 81, 1875.