Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-07-14

l Hard Times-FrOm Whenc
Come Relief.
The National Granger says probabl
no country was ever more afflicted wit
''hard tim.s'' than are our people in th
: South and West at the present momen,
; Every letter brings the same complain
and everybody wears the appearance o
being pressed with debt, except the NOR
ey dealers, and they are sleek and MOI
prosperous han ever was known befor
since Columbus set sail from Spain on III
voyage of discovery.
Real estate has declined throughout tn
entire country, and even in this city tn
t X assessments show decline of nearl
ten millions within the last year. Why
this SO? Why are farmers not IN demand
and real estate on the decline everywh here
whilst the country is q, peace and labo
high? There is but the one old, never
ending answer-all comprehended in
word-tax! tax! tax!
The entire laborlng population are bur
dened aud oppressed by ..tsxation 10 pa,
heavy rates of interest or United States
bonds. State bonds, county bonds, Stat
bonds, city bonds, and different kinds o1
corporation bonds, until nothicg 10 lef
them of their labor wherewith to ador.
their homes or to supply necessities fol
their families.
The total exports of the country arr
now about $645, 600. 900, the total tax+.
|of all kinds about $766. 100000, which Is
$122, 600, 600 more than the entire surplu.
created in our country. In other words
the total surplus of the entire land from
Name to t. xas. and from the Atlantic Il
the Pacific, would only pay ten months o.
the taxes any current Ten months. leaving
the other two months unprovidcd for, OF
else to be paid by foreclosure OF mortgages
on farms, houses, town lots. railroad anC
personal property of the people-every
|dollar of which is needed 10 make up the
deficit of tax money.
1s it any wonder, then. that we have
hard times In the South and Westf Now
look where these taxes concentrate in
New York City, and behold the serious
sls ctacle at this moment MAY "a. 1876
such plethora that they are Offering it
at two per cent per annum- cheaper
than 1t is atany other point in the world
while here it is not TO be had at less
than twelve per cent, on gilledged paper
of short date, and by the people at not
less than from ten TO twenty per cent.
Why is this 50? Because the entire mon.
ey surplus OF the country is concentrating
1T New York. there to lie until the time
comes on-Ju1y 1st-for the distinction
Df usurious interest to the bondholders.
When the distribution is made, then the
money L. ders can hold on to it, form .
corner by making circulation scarce in all
rursl districts, and then deman from our
people other nsuries. as they have been
Icing for over decade of years.
From whence is q remedy to come for
hese evils? 1t can only come from the
people. and can all be accomplished BY q
single law. which is for Congress forth
with TO decree that the rate of interest
hall be uniform throughout the nation.
Ind it never shall exceed three and one.
hird per cent, (which is about the net
gain Of the country per snnum) and
hat any violation of the law directly orl
Indirectly shall forfeit the entire suml
oaned. This would prevent boarding
md speculation by money.sharks in the
or legal tender money OF the
'ation, and at once give life and motion
o every class Of industry or property
hat would or could be made to produce
'ver the legxliz. rate of interest,
1t may be objected by some that Con-
,ress has no Constitutional right to pass
general interest law. under the powers
eguIatinx commerce; If 90, then thu
ought to be amended on this
oint forthwith.
1t ts useless to talk Of paying the na.
ional debt or coming to specie basis un.
u the industries of the country recover
rom the paralysis now bearing 20 heav.
y upon Them. The money speculators|
nd tax.s must be got rid of before the
ountry can prosper, and before hard
mes will cease Let the people look
} this point in al future elections and
ever cesse their endeav0rs until relief
obtalned-otherwise We must become al
alton Of bankrupts.
o Inebriety ON the Increase q
In late number of tho Contemporary
aViaw Horhnsl Cnnnnn. nonnAaAa H.