The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-07
A NEGLECTED REVENUE.


Following up our remarks oil yesterday
with reference to taxing personal property, 1t
occurs to us that the next Legislature might
very prohtably employ portion OF Its time
In deyising some plan by which the great
army of curbstone brokers, money lenders,
cotton operators. etc, may be made 70 pay
their share Of tribute to the government I'M
der whose protection they pursue their iiVell-
hoods. A large proportion OF these men are
non residents In one sense OF the wofa, since
they disappear during April or May, anu 90
not return until early winter, but u is well
known that all their business interests lie
here that It is In New Orleans they pursue
their eallnas and earn their livings. They buy
cotton or grain or general produce on com
missitk. they. operate In the different ex-
changes shaving paper, specializing IN secu-
rites or investing large sums IN legitimate
transactions Many of them have no offices,
no visible assets, no evidences upon which the
government can proceed either In assessing
or collecting tax. Some have mere desk
In the office Of regular merchants and carry
on their business through checks and memo
randa None the less, however, is It Q fact
that they are Indebted to the government the
courts and to the machinery OF our society
for the privilege Of transactlng their affairs,
and It Is well known that many OF this class
engage In operations Of the very largest de-
scrlption, reaping corresponding profits.
Surely, If the merchant, the mechanic, the
dealer and the trader are taxed, these men
ought to be also-and this is especially true
since, while the former are permanent clti-
zene adding to the general prosperity by
their own success and giving employment
and patronage to others, the people We refer
to are, as rule. OF no service to the common
wealth, taking all their gains away and dif-
fusing nothing into circulation. We tax the
humble pedder, the gardener, the butcher,
the shop keeper-all those who dwell here
cast their fortunes with us and contribute to
the progress and development OF the country.
But the persons to whom we allude, who earn
comfortable incomes under the protection OF
our institutions without comforting any bene-
tit In return, are allowed to go scot free,
they bask In the light made by others; they
revel In the civilization and safeguards which
others pay for out OF laboriousiy earned
gains.
IL Will hardly be denied that this arrange
mcnt is conspieuously lmproper one, or
that the Legislature mey well devote itself
to the task of disturbing II In some effectual
and lasting fashion. The Idea that our own
citizens should be taxed upon every eccupa-
ton. however humble In character and
meagre In result, while these free-lances
thrive in total immunity from any and all
responsibility to society f. to say tho least,
preposterous. There ought TO be and there
doubtless Ia some way TO reach this problem.
SO convinced are we of this that 1t shall be
our care az well MS our pleasure to present
sug gestions to the Legislature In eubse-
uuent article suggestions which we hope and
believe will be Of service in the righteous
wnrE