The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-08-07

JACKSON, July 30 1873.
EDITORS OF THE CLARION l am sur
prsed to see that Mr.. HSlbert has coDclud
ed TO criticize the Democratic party, with
out more cause than is contained in his re
cent letter TO the CLARION.
Ii MIR. Halbert was NOT gentleman o
more than ordinary intelligence there
might be some excuse for his cry of higl
taxes. Such "a cry needs excuse when M
remedy for the evils complained Of is offer
ed as am accompaniment.
The specific charge is that "cOunty taxes
/ have been run up enormously meaning
! | infer, that the Democratic party is respon-
| sible for the running up, aud he offers Ia
proof of his assertion the fact that the taxes
of 1877 were higher than those OF 1875
just how much higher he does not state, but
/ will.
The county levy for all purposes, in 1875,
under Radical rule, was 1913 mills, or $l0.75
on $1,000; the State levy for the same year
was 81 mills.or 1925 on $1,000. The county
levy tor ALI purposes in 1867 under Demo-
cratic ruleEwas l6 mills or SIG on $1,000 aud
the state levy was mills or 50 on $1,000.
So that in 1875 the State and county TAX
amounted to $40 on $1,000. But Mr.. Hal
bert while calling attention to this differ
ence and purposely Withholding his "lacts
and figures" which would "show how this
has been done and why fails TO state unin-
tentionally hope, that the State aud coun-
ty leVieS for the years 1872, 1873 and 1874
under Radical rule were respectively S22.-
80, S25 and $50 on $1,000 and that the State
and county levy for 1876 under Democratic
rule amounted to $40 90.
But Mr. HAlbert says that "the introduce
ton of Radical ana carpat-bag misrule rs a
thing whereby Democratic SHORTCOMINGS
may be palliated," seems to him sadly out
OF place and yet he institutes what he con-
SlderS an uniaVOrable comparison for the
Democratic party, and does it too not on "A
statement of the whole truth, but very
small part of it, 1t was the duty of Mr.
Halbert not simply to have said that the
taxes were high but to have shown how
they could have been less. It cannot be said
that the State tax has been Increased in any
year under the Reform Administrations On |
theeontrary, there has been reduction
from 1928 on $1,000 in 1875 to SO so on $1,000 |
In 1878. But the county taxes have been |
run up enormously high, says Mr.. II lbert. |
Since when have they been thus run up and |
why What particular item of the county |
tax do you regard AS being too high admit
ting that they are enormously high? Can
the county meet its lust and honpst obti,ya
lions with smaller levy? Instead OF use.
ess complaints which show a state of
chronic dissatisfaction with everything and
Everybody, let remedy be suggested for
ne alleged evil for until Il remedy has b en-
suggested thinking persons will cling to the
'piuiOn that it is AN evil which honesty re-
luiTes that We should bear, notwithstandinO
mplaints through the press seem TO be-
popular III some quarters. When Mr. Hall
ci l say > IHaC the taxes are too high and | I
Hers something else than his bare assertion !
0 sustain his views, it will be time enough |
D SHOW him and others who think with him {
hat he is mistaken.
1t may be that Mr.. Halbert thinks tho =
emedy for high county taxes is contained
] the following extract from his letter: ar
very unsafe to rely on the name of Dem o
cracy 10 sustain enormous taxes to nav ;
1Ormous salaries when the toiling niIlions D
'arcely Know where they are to find bread.D u
ach language might be applicable to the I!
late Tax III there were any State officers "a
serving enormous salaries, and if it was q
Dc conceded that the State tax is not exres.
We, OF IL might serve as a moderate Dra n
nc 10 hrst-class bread riot; but it can u
I'VE no application to the county tax no IL
use there are, as Mr.. Halbert well knows a.
county officers who are receiving ssenor ~,
Ods salaries" Whether the county tax l. nj
rye or small 1t seems to be necessary. ana at
one mas suggested any practical. wise or ~
nest mode Of relief from any part of n IN
In conclusion it may be added that tbe ar
'hocratlc party can stand a good deal Of
lmor When 1t springs from a desire IN "a
Tue ahd print something; and the hardest
ever undertaken will be to convince tho CO
DPIe OF the State and Kinds countv no. D.
ularly, that in committing the State ana ! ca
lhty governments to the Democratic mar tn
they exchanged zone set of flies aIrdpod, MI
rSed with blood for another sat C,ito ~ a
@'J ""N sun more Voracious." an
DEMOCRAT, CO..