Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-24
LET Us UNDERSTAND THE Sun
jet.


vuss.
LEE US UNDERSTAND THE SUB
JECT.
There is o good deal of ~demagogery be
ing shouted from the stump and through
the press about the Bullion Tax question.
An effort is being put forth to brighten the
people into the belief that an attempt was
made two years ago, and will be repeated
again this winter, to repeal the Bullion
Tax Statute. This is simply the boldest
kind Of de~magogery, and there is not a
man in the State Of sufficient intelligence
to mount the rostrum or write for a news
paper who does not know that he lies in
his throat when he utters such sentiments.
The proposed bill of two years ago did not
aim OF q repeal of the Bullion Tax law or
anything approximating it. The revenue
derived from the proceeds of the mines
would not have been affected $40, 900 a
year by the enactment of the Compromise
Bill at the then rate of production, and
the loss to the State would be still less at
the present rate Of production. The law
was general not for the bonanzas alone,
as is sought to be established by dishonest
fishers for votes, and related to every mine
IL the State. Both parties had pronounced
in their State Conventions against the out
and out repeal Of the law, but neither had
said . single word against a modification
Of the same. Taking the State platforms
Of the two parties, and q vast majority of
the county platforms, as the sense Of the
whole people Of the State on the subject,
and there was no proof going to show that
the people had. in any public or represent
alive capacity, taken position against a
reasonable and equitable modification Of
the law. And it must be borne in mind
that a member Of the Legislature is a State
offcer, charged with the responsible duty
Of legislating for all the people of the State,
and in duty bound to heed the appeals, Pc
titions and demands Of one section pre-
cisely rs he would another. That is to
say. his sworn duty, as o Legislator, is not
restricted to local or county limits.
his oath Of Office requiring him to
cot for the whole people. If then,
- we have shown, there were no obliga-
lions imposed by the people represented in
their State conventions in opposition to
modification, and it transpired, as was the
case. that q very large proportion of the
taxpayers Of one section of the State petit
toned for modification, as was also the
case, and there were no protests or demon
strations Of disapproval from any source,
who can truthfully say that the member
who voted for the Compromise Bill did so
in open defiance of the expressed public
will either before or after the election ?
The proposed modification amounted to
little then, as we have shown, and would
amount to less now on account Of the Boz
nanzas having been practically exhausted.
The real essence of the compromise con-
sisted in the rebate Of the penalties due
from the Bonanza companies on their un-
paid quarterly tax. How this part Of the
business stands to-day we will show further
on. We have not the exact figures at onr
command, but it is our present r~ecollec-
ton that the total amount Of the back tax
was in round numbers $500, 900, of which
sum sos, 900 was due ON account Of pen
alties, and is still due, as we shall more
fully explain as we proceed. The Legisla-
tnre proposed to throw off the penalties to
get the principal. The Ways and Means
Committees Of the two HOUSES had been
told by Judge Lewis, Of the law firm oil
Levin 4 Deal. with a short 'sand," as the
printers would say when denoting a CO.
partnership that the State could not en-
force its claim in the Supreme Court Of the
United States inside Of three years. II
this were to be the case, land we had the
word Of the peoples attorney for it, the
State rate Of taxation must be increased
from 90 cents on the hundred dollars to
$1.10, and besides the Comptroller must
BE- authorized TO negotiate q loan Of $780,
600 81 . high rate Of interest, running a
term Of years, to meet the immediate wants
q the Treasury. We were also expected to
0RRkVRk18t0 RsVSVVV w ncuQ lawyers 10
Washington to look after the bullion tar
cases. This then was one side 81
the case. The other may be stat
cd sven more briefly, as follows
BY accepting the back tax the necessities
Of the Treasury would be provided fol
without borrowing the s200. 900 mentioned
above: The S25. 900 would not be required
for lawyers; the State tax rate would no
demand raising to 81 10. nor yet main
tanned at 90 cents, but could be safely Gu
down to 40 cents, thus working a saving I.
merchants, ranchers and all other classe
Of taxpayers Of 100000 per annum
This is the. case. and this is the issue oil
which certain d~emagogues are trying h
ride into power in the present campaign
The subtcrfuge is a. shallow as the mer
who are striving 70 gull the people with it