Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-01-20
E0UABLE TAXATION.


quest an appeal published by the bank
ers association against the excessive
taxation to which the bapLr~are sub
jeeted. We do so without giving an
opinion as to the justice of the COM
plant, not having Investigated the sub
ject with sufficient attention to justify |
ourselves in doing so; but we embrace
the opportunity of expressing some
views in relation to special taxation
which we deem seasonabie at this time.
Mostmen's views of taxation amount /
to this; they favor some plan by which
the burdens of it can be shifted off
their own shoulders on those of some
one else; and the popular view, that
which pleases a crowd, is to pick out
some interest or some institution
which seems to handle a good deal of
money, and whose members are few
and therefore in the minority, and
throw the burden there Legislation
of this sort was a great deal talked Of
during our recent elections and some
schemes proposed which were far from
eing approved of by us, though other
and more momentous interests that
were mixed up with these questions,
deferred us from discussing them
then.
We allude to the idea, originating
we believe with Gov. Porter that the
expenses of this State might be de-
frayed by taxes on railroads and priv
ileges without any impost on property
at all. We deemed it most unfortu-
nate that this proposition was made,
and regretted the more to hear it on
account of the great personal esteem
in which we held the gentlemen who
promulgated it here.
We disapprove of the proposition
we say both because we are entirely
skeptieal as to its practicability, and
because even if practicable we deem it
neither just nor expedient.
The one condition on which taxation
can be borne without undue oppression
of individuals is that all from the
highest to the lowest should be taxed
equitably according to their means.
The burden which would crush in
dividals or institutions is lightly felt
when every one bears his portion; but
especially there would be a great ia
justice aud In the end, q great injury to
all interests ifproperty,above all other
institutions, were to be relieved of its
due share of the public burdens at the
expense ofother institutions, and other
interests. .......
1t is mainly for the sake of property
that government exists, and without
government property could not posi-
bly, exist, thus it would be glaringly
unjust that property and it alone
should be exempt from the burdens of
civilized government; indeed it was
the oppressive taxes which the proper
tyholders imposed on the labor, arts
and commerce of the nation while they
themselves were exempt, which more
than any other circumstance brought
on the French revolution.
And when it is proposed to throw
these burdens upon railroads, banks,
merchant privileges, etc., very little
consideration will show that such
transfer would be not only unjust but
impossible.
All these institutions and Occupa-
tions are called into existence by the
profits which acrue to those engaging
in them, and are maintained in exist
ence by the experience of their recess
sity or advantage to the rest of the
community and mainly to the holders
of property if they were not profitable
to the stockholders, bankers and mer-
chants, etc, they would not be
established; if they were not
profitable to property holders
they would simply perish through
lack of custom Throw upon them
therefore the whole burden of State
expenses and one of two things must
happen; either they must retire from
business through their profits being alb
sorbed, or their profits must be in
creased.
IF they cease business, property
must soon feel the necessity of them,
and establish other similar institutions
in their place at largely increased
expeuse-it their profits are increas-
ed, it can only be at the expense of
property which thus eventually pays
the tax imposed upon them.
This question has been more dis
cussed in reference to railroads than
any other institutions; we will there
fore in reference to the railroad inter-
est discuss it rather more in detail
than the others.
Let us premise that we are in favor
of taxing railroads, banks, merchant
privileges and everything else equita-
blv: that is so that all of them, landed
property included, pay an equal per-
centage upon the profits arising from
their capital and labor: charge them
more than this aud, as we have shown,
YOU either destroy them or the tax
falls practically upon yourselves. But
it has been said that if the rail-
road when taxed by Tennessee should
raise its rates for freight and passage
90 a sufficient amount to cover tax,
Tennessee citizens will pay only a small
portion of this incrcasement for that it
will be divided among the people OF
Lentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, North
Carolina, Virginia, etc, among all
who patronized the railroad. Well
that is delightful; the people of Ken
tucky, Mississippi, etc, will in that
way be compelled to pay taxes for the
government expenses of Tennessee.
We will not say word about the
Justice of all this, as justice seems to
be entirely out of date in treating of
paliticai matters; but does not this