The daily gazette., 1880-11-12
RRroRnAroRY PARTIEs.-We con-

country may be made lighter. Ii any
ore will show us any other mode by
which this desideratum may be success
fully reached without the aid OF parties
we should very willingly agree to trial
But there is no method except oy the
union of voters into the shape Oh
party. And this unien Of voters must
be made numerous enough to draw
within its power by means of the ballot
the authority of the municipal, county
or state government. 1t is not possible
to reform thing that you de not con-
troll, although you may offer good in
hueAces.
There are hundreds of municipal
governments, as we'll as many state
geyernments in the country that need to
be reformed for the benefit Of the labor
ing population who are really the tax
payers, although they do not personally
hand over the checks that pass into the
tax receivers Golfers.
Refvrmatory measures have been pro-
posed in New York and in PhIladelphia,
and every good citizen ought to lend his
assistance to the work. What is want
ed is COED, cheap government-that is
the aim of the Democratic party or
should be-that thereby the tax upon
labor may be as light as possible. Ip
fact 1t matters no great deal to the large
property holder whether the tax is high
or low, as some of them would tell you
q few years ago, he adds the tax TO his
rents and hands the list of his proper
ties over to the agent to collect from the
tenants, and the tenants are expected to
pay all the costs of collection as well as
repairs. 1t, therefore, at once becomes
the tenants interest and his duty to look
for the best means to secure low tax,
as low taxes make cheaper rents.
1t is an indlsputable fact as well es-
tablished as anything can be that the
taxes within the last twenty years have
been increased from one hundred 10
two hundred per cent. There is a
well understood and sufficient reason
assigned for the increase of a portion of
the tax of the general government
although it has been greatly too high.
But the present movement is to reform
municipal government which places
taxation direct and immediate upon
person and property.
In New York a movement is on foot
Of this character led by citizens Of
wealth and influence OF both the
great parties. The causes for this move
ment is said TO be found in the fact
that the existing abuses impose upon
industry and real estate burdens greater
than they can bear" alt will be shown
that the ''present per capita cost is 1873
per cent. greater than it was in 1850,
when the cost of living, rents excepted,
was the same as now; that while the
salaries Of city officials then were but
$2,900,000 per annum, they now foot VI
$ll,900,000; in other words, while popu-
lAtion has increased but 80 per cent.
these salaries Gin many cases annexed
to mere sineeures), have increased 45C
per cent"
The increase of salaries during tn,
season of imitation all know was, to som
extent, necessary. Yet salaries have no
been reduced at all in most cases
and in many only to very tri1ing ex
tent. But The matter did not stop will
the increase of salaries. On the con
trary this increase only wetted the ap
petite Of legions of men to get int,
Office, and hence offices that were neve
dreamed Of before the increase of sala
ries, we're manufactured, and part
favorites, drones and imbeciles permit
ted to fill them. This was done by tn
Republican party in all the cities, an
when the Democrats got into power tina
party found itself powerless to reduc
either the salaries or the number of th
offices. They did something at reform
In the National government and al
they succeeded in doing was effecte
after the most determined opposition b.
the Republicans. They tried it in Ney
York and in Philadelphia and Bosto
in so much of the government as the
were allowed to control. But in ever
place where they sought to effect reforl
they were opposed by the Republican
who had held the power and raised I'll
salaries and increased the taxes.
Now, however, the effort for reforl
is being made by the. Republicans an
Democratic citizens united, and
seems to us that everygood citizen wh
feels an interest in a reduction of taz
alton would be willing to lend his il
tuence and aid. The taxes bear hea
lily upon the poor, whether tenant
householder it is the same. I'll
GAZETTE has for years insisted tn
the city government of Wilmingtc
could be run under tax rate of 81 1
This was as earnestly and steadily d
MED until it was proved by the effor
of our own Council.
If the efforts now being made