The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-03-29
CORRESPONDENTS.
The People Demand Relief

EDITORS CLARION: L am pleased to see
you come so nobly to the front in advocacy
of the refuudtng scheme proposed by Gen.
Chalmers in the Senate. / have been aston
ished that plan so full of sound sense, and
tending so clearly to the relief of the taxpay
ers, had not been taken hold of at an earlier
date, instead Of hanging fire in the Finance
Committee Of the Senate for so long time.
DO the members of the Legislature think
the people are prepared for a continuation
of high taxes! 1t was for relief that they
rose in their might in November and elect
ed a new class of men to the offices of the
State and counties. What does it amount
to, if the Legislature has reduced few
pages and few salaries of Clerks and
Judges. if the rate Of taxation is continued!
While the Legislature, no doubt, means
we'll il has not yet risen to that position or
evidenced that ability to grapple with the
great measures of reform needed, that its
friends had a right to expect. While there
is individual capacity enough to meet any
emergency. it is swallowed up in diversity
of opinion and argument, which retards and
often defeats the best measures. The people
want relief from high taxes. and nothing
necessities of the people, or come up to their
wishes and determination in the premises.
Now. how il this to be done? Its patent
fact thar State values have decreased SiO,-
100000, since 1874, the date of the last fund
ing bill. The levy for general purposes
cannot be reduced below four mills this year.
All the reductions that have been made
are largely overcome by the decreased value
of property-a decreased value amounting
to 100000 of revenue for 1876, that was
available for current expenditures in 1874.
1t ia calculation that is easily made, and
capable of the stricttst proof, that State
expenditures this year cannot be reduced
to an extent sufficient to allow a less levy
than four mills, and at the same time protect
the value of warrants or the credit of the
State. The income must at least be equal
TO the expenditures, or warrants depreciate
below the value of money payable in a
given time This proportion runs through
the entire State finances, as well as individ-
ual transactions. The value OF the warrant
increases as the certainty of its payment or
redemption is fixed with this view OF sus-
tanning the value of State paper, the levy
for 1876 cannot be less than four mills.
The present levy for bonds and interest
flor 1876 j. now fixed at three mills, and in
what condition do we find ourselves? W.
have either to increase the tax or make a
default of nearly sixty thousand dollars in
January, 1877, in the payment of the bonds
and interest then falling due. The people
are in no condition to stand increased taxa
ton, and yet to protect the bonds and in
terest from protest i'm January, 1877, it will
he necessary to make the levy 334 mills for
1875. This states clearly the dilemma in
which the Legislature is placed. 1t is to be
held responsible for this default, and yet it
grows out of no fault of theirs. They can
not increase taxation. Reduction Is what
the people clamor for, and what they must
and 0uqht to have. This can only be done
bya postponemcnt OF the bonded indebted
ness Gen. Chalmers struck the chord that
leads to relief sure and certai0, and no dis
honor or reputation can justly be charged.
1t is a plain, manly suggestion, and should
be adopted without hesitancy by all those
who believe the people are overwhelmed
with taxation, and that their complaints
are real and Just. There is no dishonor in
stating to your creditors that you cannot
pay all your debts now, but will pay the
whole amount with interest semi-annually,
If but a little time is given.
Now. if Gen. Chalmers plan is adopted,
taxes can be reduced this year to four and
a half mills, against ten mills in 1874, and
seven and a quarter mills in 1875. Here is
practical relief-something that can be seen
and felt by every citizen of the State. I'm
less this is done, a default must be made or
taxes increased; if not increased default is
made, and taxation, still as burdensome as
at present, is placed upon the people. Can
the Legislature subject the people to these
oppressive taxes, and still allow the State
20 become defaulter in the payment of its
debts due in January, 1877? The occasion
and time require thoughtful and manly ac- |
ton. Will the Legislature meet the emer- |
4ency and the necessities of the PEOPLE as
wisdom and pledges alike demand?
GRANGER.