Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-04
To Contributors and Correspondence
4iElIPHIS APPEAL
DXEsDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1878.
OPPREssIVE TAxATION-THE
REMEDY.

From one end of the Union to the other
the cry Is. our taxes can and must be light
ened; the existing shackles on industry and
impediments to prosperity can and must be
removed. Everywhere there seems to be a
determination to remove the incubus which
ia paralyziuQ the energies of a tax-ridden
people. Strange to say, that Boston is first
and foremost in the demand for retrench-
ment and reform. The whole country has
been impressed with the belief that the happy
denizens of the "hub" governed their city by
that cool calculating economy so commenda-
bic to a thrifty people, but 1t seems Boston Is
governed more extravagantly tkan any city
in the Union. This fact has aroused the
people and they are clamorous for reform.
The statistics which the reformers have col
lected, to the surprise of the Boston people,
demonstrate that they pay higher price for
their public schools, street lamps, repairing
streets, sewerage, and ere department, than
other cities pay. The howl in Boston against
high taxes. occasioned by extravagant ex-
penses, has produced a ger eral discussion. In
the last number of the Atlantic Monthly,
Mr.. Brooks Adams has an able and exhaust
i've article IN which he sets forth the evils of
Oppressive Taxation, " as illustrated by
the system pursued in Boston. He starts
out with the proposition that too much must
not be expected at first, nor must too much
be asked. But there are signs which indicate
that public opinion is ripe for the correction
Of some Of the grosser of the abuses which
now exist. Under three heads-the taxation
of mortgages, the taxation OF stock OF EfoTeign
companies and the arbitrary method Of assess
ing real estate-Ar. Adams places these
grosser evils Of which he says the public are
getting indignant about. While the facts
presented by Mr.. Adams are of special value
to the people OF Massachusetts, they have, at
the same time, a wider significance. Mr..
Adams, after saying that the first grievance
to be redressed is the taxation of mortgages,
of which railway and other corporate bonds
form part, adds that the arbitrary manner
of assessing real estate is such that the citizen
is fairly at the mercy of the assessor-that
against unjust valuations the former has
practically no redress. He sees no reason
why such a citizen should be denied trial
by jury. He should be placed on the same
footing as a man with a grievance.
Mr.. Adams recognizes the fact
that a release of the taxation
of mortgages would bring about a large de-
felt in the State revenues. To meet this he
proposes three ways: First, the rates may
be raised on the property, which remains
subject to assessment; second, new taxes
may be devised, and third, the government
may retrench. He thinks the true method
is retrenchment, and then he gives a few
examples of how public money is wasted.
One way to retrench is to have biennial ses-
sions of the legislature. Another would be
to have a State militia that would
cost thirty-six dollars and fifty cents
per man per annum. He says New York
has the best militia in the world at a
cost Of twelve dollars and eighty-four cents
per man. In this way Mr.. Adams goes
through the list of State and municipal
affairs, and adduces many interesting facts
facts which may serve elsewhere quite as
well as in Boston. He mikes comparisons
which show the widest difference between
the public expenses and those for like duties
huA sSANlCco III private Duhluess. ne usShcs
a strong case in favor of retrenchment, as
against the levy of additional taxes to meet
the deficit caused by the abolition of the
taxation Of mortgages, and the unjust assess
ment of taxable property. What is right
and expedient there may be right and ex-
pedient here and elsewhere. When the
people of Boston, celebrated for their
readiness to tax themselves for everything
calculated to promote the public good, pro-
pose reform, 1t is about time for all sec
tons OF the country to consider the matter of
economy. Heretofore the people of Boston
have been fanatical upon the subject of their
public schools. But now they insist that
much money can be saved without injury to
the children. Many of the best friends of
the schools censure the extravaRant outlays
in buildings, holding that the influence of
needlessly palatial buildings Is bad on the
pupils. They assert that they may be judi
cious reduction in salaries, and they favor a
great curtailment of the custom OF giving
Nay - tI,n 81.