New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-13

We trust it is rather the effect OF
conscientious conviction than Of our AZ.
gument upon this subject which has in
duced the property holders to adopt,
among other resolutions, the following:
ReSolced, That we invite the general CO
operation of State and city taxpayers, ire
spective of party, to unite with us III an
effort to abolish the license system, eradi'
cate and prevent all monopolies, reduce
expenses, State, city and parish, to the
lowest standard consistent with an honest
and efficient administration.
The first object OF the property holder
is expressed in the conditional advocacy
Of these interests. Thus:
Provided, That ia no case shall the local
tax exceed one per cent, and the State tax
more than one half of one per cent, on
sixty per cent Of the marketable cash val
uation; to repeal all laws burden-ng real
estate.
Though this resolution is shaded with
some grammatical uncertainty, We con-
strue it to mean that the tax on real
estate shall not exceed one and half per
cent Oh sixty per cent valuation. This
being done, reduction on all other tax
payers shall receive the cooperation of
the real estate owners.
We accept even this modification of
the earlier restriction of tax reform to q
maximum rate upon real estate, to be
prescribed by the real estate holders them
selves. We have had evidences in the
recent report of Mr. J. @. A. Fellows,
that an element is present in the associa-
ton inclined to represent the interests OF
person as well as property. 1t is there
recommended as an amendment to the
constitution, that
Al; taxes known as license taxes, or
taxes on trades, professions or useful call
ings are prohibited.
We have had occasion to point out that
the schedule of the landlords, at one
time, demanded reduction of their own
tax, and demonstrated that the tax on the
license of the tenant to sell goods or
be sufficient to run the government, We
also turned to the works of Edmund
Burke, and showed that his authority,
stereotyped in the landlords programme,
had no bearing in favor of those who re-
sist the tax upon their property, and say
if the government wants more money
than we are willing to pay, let them make
it out of the shopkeepers, market men
and mechanics.
These landlords have worked up a
great principle for which there is no
English example. Il is that in this
united republic representation is based
on persons, and neither on property nor
religious faith. by consequence, if the
landlords that proposed to veto any rate
of taxation above what suited them, and
deVolve the payment of any deficiency
between the wants of government upon
persons and personal industry, these
persons will speak as they have spoken
this time in the report of Mr.. Fellows.
We could not expect those whose sole in
terests in public affairs seem confined to
house rent to have fooled much time in
historical reading or reasoning. Many OF
them, indeed, have not the advantage Of
reading or speaking the American Ian
gusge very readily. We would, however,
remind those who possess this inestimable
advantage, that the whole Democratic
South was united against a protective
tariff on the ground that it made a
poor man with ten children pay more
for the support of government than a
\ rich man with. one child paid. The same
want of uniformity and equality is eviden,
in the direct and indirect taxes imposed
upon consumption and industry by oul
city administration. We sincerely desire
the reduction of taxes on real estate fol
no higher reasons than that we represen,
| both house holders and renters, but W,
wish also the limitation Of taxation upor
all interests. 1t is therefore that we hal
with delight the assurance that even thu
cooperation of so large and influential
body as the landlords of the city will b,
brought to abolish the license system
and vindicate and prevent all monopolies.
The landlord will find his tenant, as ,
voter, far more valuable ally here tina,
he would be in Europe where he nigh
have no right Of suffrage. Unintention
ally, perhaps, the landlords have awaken
ed that slightly slumbering question, til
rights Of persons and the rights of things
Such question might establish that doc
trine Of Thomas Jefferson, SO gratifying
to his truly Democratic disciples, taa
taxation should rest upon property.
| Let, then, the debt of the city an,
State be reduced, and its taxation Gu
down by any legitimate means. The Re
publicans have set the example rs to Il
State debt and taxation. Let Ill taxatid,
be equally and uniformly reduced. Abol
ish all indirect taxation upon consump
] ton and labor, and then we will grass