The daily gazette., 1879-04-23


ASSAULT ON A TAX CoLLECToR.-It
appears from the police reports that one
William Masten, living in the Ninth
ward, was fined 81 and costs for an as
sault upon Edmund Provost, city tax
collector of the Northern district, while
in the performance of his duty, endeavor-
ing 10 collect the taxes. There may have
been some circumstances connected with
this case that We are not fully acquainted
with but from our acquaintance with
this collector and our knowledge of his
activity and perseverance in his duty to
the city, together with his forbearance
and his frequent appeals in many ways
10 the taxpayers of his city to pay, We
feel confident that he deserves 10 be sus-
tained. There has never been more
prompt, careful and indulsent collector
elected in the district. 1t is not the fault
of the collector that the taxes are heavy.
1t is the duty Of the collectors to collect
the tax.s, and if the citizens do not sup
port them, hundreds of unprincipled
men will, through all manner OF ex xcuses,
refuse or escape payment, and the axes
will be duplicated on such laborers who
acknowledge their indebtedness TO the
laws, order and comforts of the city, and
do pay. A great many men whu own
property Try every way to escape payment
some because they always vote the
Republican ticket others because they
always vote the Democratic ticket 9th
ers because their property does not pay
and the taxes are too high. All these
excuses amount TO nothing. The taxes
must be collected or the City Counc
vi not he able TO conduct the affairs of
tie city properly.
1t is the first duty of the Mayor, the
first officer of the city, to sustain the col
lecto. ia their duy with his police, and
we are pea,ed to see that he has done
SO. lie it he understood that this shfk-
ing OF taxes is to be stopped, and men
will not prove Steaks Or run away from
their plain patriotic duty.
Not few who own houses and have
several children educated free IN The public
schools yet refuse to pay their taxes !; and
many If them have not done 80 Tor last
year ; aud we are assured it is not So
much from inability as it is from Gispo-
sltion to avoid payment. To those p o.
pie the taxes are not 50 high as they may
seem. If they will deduct the cost of
the schooling of their children at priv ate
schools they will see that they get off very
cheaply. Aud this is true, too, with
regard to renters of property. A man
with four children between the ages OF
six and fifteen, at the present rate of tut
tion in private schools, were it not for the
public schools, would be compelled to pay
on an average about $50 year for each
child's schooling, which would be $50.
THIS is all fairness should be considered
as repayng of the taxes. The take.
bear most unequally on the younger peo-
pie aud SUCH as have no use for the pub.
lie schools.
1t will cost this city by the end Of June
the interest of a million and a half OF
dollars for the public schools for one
year or by that time the city will hav,
pad that much money (S90,000) to thu
Board Of Public Education, through tn,
compulsion Of the laws the Board hay,
had passed by the Legislature. So tina
If We intend to keep up the schools all,
the city government the taxes must b,
paid and the collectors must be sust aimed
The Board OF Education exhibits al
uuwarrantable obstinacy i'll refusing t,
r,du e expenses. 1t is follow ng the ex
ample OF the Republican Senate's refusa
to co-oi el ate with the Democratic Hous,
in d reduction of expenditures. Hisl
salaries and standing army and useles
navy are the political stuck-in-trade 0
the h Rtpubhcan party, i'll local polit. cs a
well as Il nlti, nal politics. jim Biaiue all
S-cor ROo~son ale the ruling leading ex
amplars tor the leaders OF The Republi
can party everywhere.