The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-24
State and County Taxes.
TERRY. July S, 1873

TERRY, July 5, 1873.
EDS. CLARIoN-Commentin on note oi
mine, i'm which said County taxes have
been run up enormously" you say in your
issue OF the 81 inst, you do not see where
yet my data. Allow me to reply; l get il
from tax receipts. There lies before me at
this instant two tax receipts given to the
same maa for taxes. The first for 1873, as
sessed under Radical rule, shows payment
in 1876, under Democratic rule, of $l50,99
The second, assessed under Democratic rule,
and paid under the same rule in 1877, shows
a payment on less property and of less val
uation. of SlS6.SO. Here is jump upwards
of more than % per cent. in a single year,
and yet you insist that taxes are being con-
stantly reduced The real estate was the
same and the personal property les, and both
depressed in value, and yet the taxes under
the new system of retrenching are greatly
increased. How is that? 1t seems to me
if we 90 on at this rate, it cannot be long
before we get back, under our rule, to the
worst days of Radical rule.
The receipts before me show total pay
ment of taxes for State purposes in 1876 of
S5947, and for county purposes of $9l %.
Nothing like two to one for the county.
The receipt for 1877 shows $44.4S for State
taxes, and S142 % for county taxes, or con-
siderably over three to one for the county.
and the whole taxes increased al least TWEEN
ty per cent, and yet you ask me where
get my data for saying "the county taxes
have been run up enormously"
You say, ''the laws approved February
1-tI cd of
leyying taxes which added to the State,
would exceed fifteen dollars on the thousand
dollars IN valuation, except taxes to pay
interest on county bOnds.' How did it
come then that we had to pay, and did pay,
sixteen dollars on the thousand dollars
worth for county purposes alone? Has a
Democratic Board of Supervisors been levy
ing taxes in violation of law, or has a Dem
ocratic Sheriff been collecting taxes not
authorized by the Board Neither Mr.. J
NJ. Shelton, President Of the Board, when
called on last summer, showed in a commu-
nication to the Kinds County Gazette, that
the Board had authority under the law for
making levy of twenty-one mills on the
dollar, or twenty-one dollars on the thous-
and for all purposes-siXteen of which was
for the county alone.
But as to the county taxes having been
run up enormously, | could very easily give
facts aud figures to show how this has been
done, aud why; but | seek no controversy.
There is no reason to suppose the case above
cited is an exceptional case. | take il, every
mans tax receipt viii show the same re-
suit.
You will allow we as a personal and po-
litieal friend to say. that the introduction of
radical and carpet-bag misrulc 4 thing
whereby Democratic shortcomings may be
palated excused, seems TO me sadly out
of place. Alter the great political cyclone
of 1873 we all thought the atmosphere had
been purified. and that the government had
been translated as it We're to happier CLINE.
a good many people are already wondering
if it is possible that in this happy home we
are like the fox i'm the fable, 10 exchange
one set OF dies already gorged with blood,
sOr another set quite as hungry, and still
more SoTaciouS-
The time is rapidly approaching, if in
deed il is not already upon us, VIXEN the in
telligence OF the country Will demand OF its
servants something more solid than specous
promises. backed by empty declarations
that raxeS have been reduced, when the sim
ple production OF tax receipt, 6XplodeS
che whole bubble. The simple, honest truth
Is. that taxes. both State and county, all
things considered were never so hard to pay
as they are right now. This Is very appar-
cit when you consider the price OF our
great staple now, as compared with former
wears. Cotton has gone down far below the
cost of production. Has there been any
corresponding reduction in salaries and the
fees OF officers? Have You, Messrs. Edit
ors ever taken the time and trouble TO cal
cuIate how much an honest, Woodworking
and frugal tiller of the soil can save in Il
year, after supporting his family on the
most approved principles of economy? II
YOU have not, have.
NV conclusion is. that it will take the saw
ings of not less shan two hundred hands
engaged in cotton growing, to pay the sal
AIRY aud perquisites OF the Governor alone
1 mean the officer, whoever he may be, not
the man.
1t is very unsafe 10 rely on the name of
Democracy to sustain enormous taxes, to
pay enormous salaries when the toiling
millions scarcely know where they are TO
find bread.
The man who makes his bread by the sweat
OF iail face, will not always hew wood and
draw water for over-fed, aud over-paid office
holders, and take his pay in hozanahs to
Democracy. fou and |, Messrs. Editors, are
Democrats. Lie becomes us TO look these
things squarely In this face now. 1t will
have to be done-better do IL of our own
free will than have it forced on us by our
enemies. The people will demand 8 real.
bonatide reduction of taxes, and to make
this probable. they will require reduction
of expenditures, commencing with salaries
and running down to officers who are paid
ia fees. They have struck hard for them
selves, aud they viii think it no hardship
to require their servants TO live as they do.
MessTs. Editors, as l said, seek no con-
fr5yerSy. / have the highest appreciation
OF your honesty and ability, and thought a
mere reference to few facts W0uld show
10 yoH how s.County taxes are run up enor-
monsly.s Yours, truly,
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