The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-22
Communicated -
Taxation to Build Railroads.

Taxation h Build Railroads.
Editors NJ o. Democrat-I ask the
favor, through your columns, to give ex-
preston to- my earnest protest, and W
warn my fellow citizens against the bill!
recently passed through the House OF
OF this State, authoriz-
ing the City Council to lay tax upon
the property Of this city to aid In the
construction Of q railroad.
This bill - all the more objectionable
because It is proposed, for the purpose
nprarian or communistic measure OF
submitting it to q vote OF the people In
Unfortunately, the greater part OF whom
own no taxable property.
What motives could have induced tho
House TO pass this bill, to increase the
burdens OF an already overburdened
Deople. passes my cOmprehenslOn-tO
impose additional taxes on the property
of this city, now utterly unable to meet
it's present obligations, when II IS notO-
rious and fndisputable that the present
taxes already exceed the rental OF FL
the property; when out OF the W,Wy
taxpayers more than lS,UU are PuDiits,ng;u ~.
delipGuents, utterly unable TO pay their
present taxes when thousands OF tene-
mepts. stores and warehouses are runoc-
ctipied; when taxation through exagge-
rated assessments has reached confisca-
ton. and when all trade and business Is
DESTROYED or paralyzed by the ABSORB
tion and expulsion OF capital by the
present public exactions?
Surely powerful arguments and the
most cOgent reasons must nave Deen
employed to induce the House to com.
nit this outrage against the rights Oh
property, the most sacred OF lnstltu-
n, 4 {o1 ttf roc a q n I'm nut
specially elected to protect. hope, Tor
the credit of the assembled wisdom OF
the State, that something better In the
way OF argument was presented to them
than has been offered to the public
vague platitudes. based on mere aBsump-
ton that our lost property Is in cOnse-
orence of rival lines diverting the pro-
d,lce of the country elsewhere, without
one logical argument to what extent
and degree our prosperity has been
stricken down by this means. The
burden OF proof lies on those who advo-
cate this measure, 80. outrageous In
principle, and to produce good and
valid reasons for this odious exaction.
know Of no process of reasoning by
which the utility OF laying taxgQ1 pro-
perty to build railroads can be- jed
nothing in the nature OF tnlgs,
or from our past experience. at
can warrant the imposition OF this TAX
on the people OF New Orleans; when
It is we'll known that the decline OF our
prosperity WAS almost cO-incident with
the imposition OF the taxes to aid in the
construction of the Jackson and Ope-
lousas railroads. These roads, It, was
predicted, would stimulate the trade. OF
New Orleans into unwonted prosperity
but it is needless to say that no such re-
suit followed. SO with other roads
SO increase Of prosperity to this impover,
ished people has followed their con-
structiOn.
The failure of this company to induce
capitalists to embark their capital III
this road Is strong presumption, almost
amounting to absolute proof, that u u
not likely TO be ren,atg,erattve as an Ut.
uestment, and therefore WiU not cOntri-
butte TO the prosperity Of this people, and
of consequence the imposition of q
tax to aid in its construction will not
| only be wrong against property, but
will be attended with no advantage
commensurate with the amount exact
ed from the people.
ANY one familiar with city affairs
knows the utter ftitility of attempting
| to lay further taxes on this people
| They will not and cannot be paid. but
an immense amount of suffering may bt
inflicted In the effort to collect them.
| In conclusion, am one OF those wht
believe that the owner Of property has
exclusive right to say how it shall be In
vested; and that no Legislative body
however enlightened, has the same
knowledge and interest in regard to the
disposal Of property us those who OWL
it. Therefore any tax Of this kind II
essentially vicious In principle and un
ence have justified these conclusions.
| ARCHIBALD MITCHELL,
President Of the Property Holders
Union. asi.al.