The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-10-18
Facts for NJ. Gary and Mr.. Hoopsr.


Mr. Gary and Mr. Hooper, candidates re.
spectiyely of the Republicans for Governor
and for Mayor, have both thrown the weight
Of their attack upon democratic waste and
extrayagance with the public money! They
ask the taxpayers to put them in control oil
the public purse because the Democrats in.
crease the debt and increase State and mum.
cipal taxation. Now we propose to give them
few facts and we want an answer, not elo.
quence, not appeals to the old flag, nor de-
nuncations OF rebellion, but plain business
talk for taxpaylng business men. They have
pitched the battle on State aud city finance
aud taxation; now we propose to give them
some facts and figures to ponder ON. la the
State of Maryland ths State taxes are lighter
than in any State of this Union, with three
exceptions Island, Connecticut and
Delaware, We omit Tennessee whose rate
Is lower because il has repudated its State
debt and Is thus able 10 make its taxes lower
But Rhode Island, enormously rich in pro.
portion TO population and extent OF territory,
being iull OF factories and mills, has a much
larger proportional taxable basis of property
aud yet its taxes are only three cents on the
hundred dollars less than ours. Connecticut
for the same reasons precisely, has a lower
grade Of taxation; also three cents on the
hundred dollars less than ours. In Delaware
the State income is equal to the expendi.
tnres and there IS no tax. Maryland thus has
the lowest grade Of taxation except the three
mentioned, although she carries a State debt
OF SlO,OOO,6SJ incurred half century ago in
her great works OF internal Improvement;
while Connecticut and Rhode Island have
State debts less than half us great as ours.
Let it be borne in mind, too, that Connect.
cut and Delaware, two of the three States
whose tax is less than ours, are Democratic
States.
Now let us look at the other side of the
picture. The State taxes of Maryland are
Isl cents on the hundred dollars. In Ne.
braska, always Republican, they are $50; in
Nevada, 30; in Illinois, 80; in Kansas, SO;
IN Ohio, 20; in Vermont 80 and so on; all Of
these being good Republican States" sew.
oral OF which never went Democratic during
their whole history Ia those States which
have alternated between Democratic and Re.
publican rule, as New York, New Jersey and
New Hampshire, the taxes are rather lower,
because, when the Democrats come into
power they usually reduce expenses and taxes,
as witness the States of New York and New
Jersey. In New York, in spite Of the re-
dempton OF the State from the Canal ring,
saving to the State about three millions per
year--a reform carried out under Democratic
rule and against Republican resstance-the
State tax is 20 cents, nearly double as much
as ours. In New Jersey, although the rail
roads between Philadelphia and New York
yield vast increase to the State, the tax is
30. But the darkest part of the story is still
to be told. There are several States recently
delivered from Republican control in which
the State taxation is enormous. In Louis.
lana the debt created under carpetb bag rule
now requires State tax of 1870 ceuts-nearly
seven times greater than ours. In Florida
the carpet baggers bequeathed the State a
tax which, after several reductions, is still
Sl.23, more than six times ours. In Georgia
aud Alabama, which have been longer free
from Republican rule, the taxes have been
cut down to 20 cents in Alabama and so cents
in Georgia. Thisis the Republican record as
to State taxation. Now, does it not require
the sublimity Of check for Mr.. Gary TO ask the
taxpayers to take Maryland out Of Dem.
ocratic rule and place !, in the hands of car.
Somnch for State taxation. Now for the
city. 10 Baltimore the CITY tax Is 81 80 on
the hundred dollars. la Cincinnati il is So.
90 $40, in New York city il is 81. 65, in Phil.
adelphia it is $2.2j, in st. Louis it is 81. 80,
The only large city in which the rate of NUM-.
cipal taxation is lower than ours is Boston.
which has Sl.3l, nineteen cents on hundred
dollars less than ours. But this fact is readily
accounted for. Boston has taxable basis
more than double ours and smaller popula.
ton. Moreover, It must be conceded that
the city finances have been admirably man.
aged in Boston and upon pretty much the
same system as in Baltimore. These facts
call for an explanation from Mr.. Hooper aud
Mr.. Gary: Baseless accusation or rhetorical
equivocation won't do. We want plain busl.
ness talk on this subject. Raitimore Ga.
zette.