Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-09
A NEW TAX LEVY.


ing taxes without expressing or inconvenien.
cling the people would be very justly voted
the benefactor of his race. The raising Of
money to defray the expenses of government,
and keep the State and national finances in
healthy condition, is one of the most serious
and perplexing problems that now confronts
the political economist. All sorts Of systems
of taxation have been resorted to, and very
few of them have proved satisfactory. Hard
ly two men can be found. who agree in their
views as to the justice and policy of many Of
the ways and means to which resort is made
to meet the public expenses. The popular
sentiment would seem to be in favor of taxing
the luxuries and exempting the necessaries Of
life; but then there will arise differences Of
opinions as to what particular commodities
constitute luxuries and necessaries. This,
however, can, or oug bit to be settled by the
law-making power so as to be satisfactory to
all parties.
The Italian Parliament has taken the bull
by the horns in adopting rather novel poll
cy in this direction, and one that ought to
commend itself to general adoption. II has
decided to tax titles and the privilege Of
wearing decorations. By this bill princes,
dukes, marquises counts and barons are tax
ed according to grade, including the wearing
of crest upon the family coat of arms, and
permission to sport foreign decoration. A
large income to the State is thus levied upon
the vanity of those who luxuriate in titular
distinctions. Why, it may be asked, should
not this plan be adopted in this country !?
Certainly, so far as this distinction goes, an
American Colonel ought to out rank beg
carly Italian Count, live Brigadier top over
Marquis, and Major General, even though
retired from business, or put on peace foot
ing, should be a full match for Duke or a
Prince. In consideration of the sublime graf
i6cation Of being constantly addressed by
these high sounding titles, no American citi-
zen of patriotic impulses could object to pay
ing reasonable annual stipend
Only think what vast sum would be add
ed to the national exchequer Of South Caro-.
lima alone, by reasonable levy upon its in.
Vulnerable Colonels, Majors, Generals and
Judges, to say nothing of the hosts Of Hon.
orables and other minor titles, that every.
where prevail. This system of raising funds
would, in measure, obviate the necessity Of
the whisky and tobacco tax, and enable the
Government to admit quinine, opium, castor
oil and chewing gum, with other prime neces;
sites of life, free of duty. A mere nominal
tax, that would by no means be onerons, on
society, collegiate, baseball, political and
other badges, would create sinking fund
sufficient to meet the interest on the national
debt, finish the Washington monument, build
Darien ship canal, erect home for indi-
gent ex-Cong gressmen who have become dis:
abled in the service Of their country, and
finally pay off the national debt. We feel
confident that the more this subject is medi-
tated upon by those selfsacri6cing patriots
who love their country more than themselves
the more reasonable it will appear, and the
more forcibly it will commend itself to those
who do not happen to carry round with them
any titles of honor, profit or trust. and those
who never expect to be either Judges, Colo
nels or Generals, or to belong to any trav.
cling show, baseball or defeated candidates
club Columbia Ysoman.