Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-08-04
THOSE vlLLAINOU8 AS8ESSM&NT
Even to Examlner Protests.

laid by the county committee
on the several candidates, on Monday, can
be justified is the highwayman's plea-the
supposed necessities of the subjects of tax
alton. The highwayman never says ''stand
and deliver" to man with an empty purse
in his pocket or a Colts revolver in his
hand. In the same spirit the committee
drew a long bow under the protection OF
that clause in the rules which say that ''in
case of the refusal of the nominee to pay
he shall be dropped from the ticket ;" but
they entirely ignored that other clause in
the same rule which says their rights to
sonable sums as they may think necessary
to defray the expenses printing tickets and
necessary election expenses.
The present assessments are not only
unreason able, but they are unfair and un-
equal. At the outside figure they ought
not exceed uniform rate of ten per cent.
on the salaries or income of the Offices.
But in this case the congressman is assess
ed at 12 per cent, senator and assembly
man at 174 per cent, district attorney ut 3
per cent, if we take the legitimate income
of the office as basis, or 5 per cent. on
what "practice has made it yield; and
IL per cent. on the directors and inspec-
tors. The tax laid upon the representa-
tive offices is simply outrageous, and is vir-
tually offering a premium ON the tempta-
ton to yield to corrupt solicitation.
A uniform rate OF eight per cent. upon the
gross income of the Offices would yield a
sum ample to pay all the committees
debts and "the usual expense of printing
tickets and necessary election expenses.
johnson Helped to do it.
Examiner.
Two years ago when the assessments on
senator and members of Legislature were
almost one-half lower and on congressman
one-thirtl lower, there was much dissatlS-
faction, and it is not surprising that there
is very general complaint at the amounts
the candidates are asked to pay this year.
The assessment on the candidate for dis
trict attorney is out of all proportion
when compared with the assessments on
the same Office in previous years. Mr..
johnson, who two years ago was IN
favor or reducing assessments much lower
than Yesterdays, has suddenly become a
convert to high assessments, and to punish
the successful candidates, who happened
to oppose him, advocated still more unrea-
sonable assessments than those imposed.
He was assessed three hundred dollars
when candidate for district attorney, but
yesterday urged an assessment Ut one
thousand dollars on the candidate for the
same office this year. Money is, Of course,
needed to conduct the campaign, and,
while we advocate reasonable assessments,
we cannot countenaace the impOsitions OF
Yesterday. The members of the county
committee must realize the unfairness OF
the assessments, and ought promptly re-
duce them to fair figures.
Go 1t Alone.
Philadelphia Times.
Mr.. B. Frank Eshleman has been re-
elected chairman of the Lancaster county
Republican committee, and he promptly
bounced the candidates for the highest
figures in shape of assessments. Congress,
man Smith is expected to plank dowr
81, 200, and would-be District Attorney
Davis is struck for $500. When it is con
sidered that Congressman Smith could ge
a much larger majority this year without
Mr.. Eshleman's committee than with it
and that Mr.. Davis isn't likely to crowG
through by any amount of expenditure
wouldn't it be we'll for them to save thei
. cash and let the committee run itself TO
one season? Mr.. Davis should at leas
make it sure that he can remain on th'
ticket long enough to he voted for befor'
he endangers some more of his clients by
paying $500 to political fund.