The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-11-04
ItopKINsvILLn, KY, Oct. 20, 1879:

IfoPKINsvILLE, KY, Oct. ~, 1879:
GESrbEmEN The tax problem.is
n difficult one, to properly handle, yet
at the same time taxes are absolutely
necessary In all well regulated civil
lied governments aud communities; |;
they are one of the necessaries OF or
ganized governments and are in har-
mony with the spirit OF this age. .'
The weight or onerousness of taxes
cannot always be counted by the rate
of per cent. collected, nor in dollars
and cents, but other things must be
taken Into account when considering
this part of the problem. Thus a tax
TO replace public property destroyed
by wanis more onerous to the mdi4
vidual taxpayer than a tax to build
and put in operation some public
work. by which the general public
will be benefited, either by money.
dividends returned or by increased
advantages In come way-for in
stance, such as are afforded by rail-
roads, river and hnrbor improve
ments and public schools. D. s's
A tax to pay the principal and in
terest of bonus held in the communi-
ty bears much lighter on the tax,pay.
| ers than when the bonds are held
abroad. In this case the advantage
lis a double one, The community
gets the benefits Of the public work
for which the bonds are issued, and
idle capital finds profitable employ
ment; the citizen iiIls the double po'
Isition of tax. payer aud bond-holder
In executing public works requiring
Ian expenditure greater than thu
lamount of ready cash In hand, 1t il
lEcustomary to issue interest bearing
bonds with proper provision for thei
] redemption, and with the proceeds
of the sale of these bonds to execute
and put into operation the work righ
away. gi1 sgiH
The bond plan of raising money
| for public use dates Tar back in tn
history of the world. 1t has beel
practiced for hundreds Of years b.
many of the very bes, and most pros
porous governments aud communi
| ties in the world, and is'recommend
ed by the wisest men ofall nations a
the most equable and as bearing NOR
lightly on the individual tax-paye
than any other known plan. 1t j
now in successful operation by tn
Federal Government and by on
State, county aud city government,
and why should we now resort I
. the onerous and unequal plan of di
: rect taxation in establishing our put
/, llic schools? l
Twelve years ago when our count
and town made their subscriptions I
J The r. r., no one proposed 10 rails
the whole amount by direct taxation
but the authorities of both adopte
the bond plan, the town issuing $50
|. 900 in ten year bonds, and the coui
ty 100000, in thirty year bond
/, And few years later when the cit
lcouncil decided to expend $25,0O0
improving our streets the bond pla
was adopted and that amount issue
= in twenty year bonds. No ono The
called for direct taxation, but u
whole cry for direct taxation Is he
Inn until now and shot out again
our system of Public Schools.
Before estimating what we can
IN the future, let US look back in q
near past: In March, 1872, the da
If the passage Of our school law,
The legislature, Christian county HI
outstanding bondsas follows:
N Railroad bonds, a To-. ~. $4,000
., Courthouse bonds q l0c..s.Ft 46,0
y Jailibonds @ l0ca... ...s... .F1ll6,o
I Making then outstanding, n. $262,C
Since then she has paid off
customary In other cities.
lam not prepared to say whctl