The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-28
From tie Fsost5rg, Nd, Mining Journal.
A Friend of the Rich.


In an age Of corporate eneroaehnent upon
nopnIar rirhts-of the strength of organiza-
Ton against the weakness Of Reorganization
of wealthy effort for unequal privileges a.
against the equality feebly sought by the labor
ing classes-ali under color aud form of legal
process. the sincerity of a rich man who inrns
reformeg may well be questioned.
Few of us are OF eau be traitors TO our in
terests. Hence. Il IS about as easy for a
lscanlel to pass through the eye Of needle
as for rich man Co become disloyal to the
greed Of his class. He Is hy habits Of caleala.
ton. frequently b. the pride Of wealthy I'm
cage, the force Of association and investment,
the faithful friend Of his own Interests and BY
SO much an enemy to the poor. tie studies %
remain all the while on the upward revolution
OF the wheel Of fortune. needless or careless
Of the philosophie necessity which inveterafeiy
places d heavier mass upon the downward
Side.
What does such an one mean BIZ reform
What is wrong in the constitution Of things
that brings his rugged eloqpenee to plead ioy
redress let us see. 4 few pertinent IN
stances viii suffice
Gov Hamilton suggests a reduction Of tax
collectors ia Allegany county, for instance.
from four To one. Why That the excessive
bonds, given by four officials Of moderate
wealth perhaps. may be consolidated IN one
aegregating 1916. 600, or one which, g. rule
can be gwen only BY man Of great means.
In connection with this matter be rceoH-
lnends that authority BE- giyea him to appoint
a non.paid commission 20 revise our system
Of taxation. II is obvious that none bat
wealthy men could accept the hoHoF, and i i
equally plain they would net iHinre capitalized
interests.
He recommends the abolition Of the Office
Of state tax commissioners With
he special view Of looking up al those bases
Of taxation which corporations well know
how to depreeiate and conceal IN order 20 es-
cape paying their proportion Of the expenses
of government.
Admitting that the Governor m has differ
cnce with the comptroller upon the question
of re- establishing znd maintaining . sinking
fund for the gradual liquidation 0f the state :
debt. as a matter OF constitutional pFspraeig
seems 10 hold the correct view, i i TO BE- said
also that. a. d matter Of financial economy
and 4 continuance Of low rate o. taxation,
the latter practice appears best Tor the lax
payerS II may b. that the fiscal officers have
gone too far 10 make the state system CONFORM
with fhai Of the national government, YET ihe
people have been saved a vast amount q
needless expense. For instance, We arr
nNf NllfS4&lhEEs Tue @ttttANA 49, -
speciic income other than that derived irotl
"a Indirect tax upon consumption. On the
other has,d, the state owns assets which over
balance IT, liabilities, and while i owns these
Il Is practically o9 III debt. Thus i seems
useless to encuaaiser the people wish fhe bur
den az providing a sinking fund when theFe :
no NECESSITY for such q feature
BE thai es il map, however, there I 40 mas p.
taking the tioYeFnors altitude. With hirr
tie sipking fund, With is edition 81 / IA cents
per 500 10 our present rate 81 Isl cents. J. 4
necessity Put this with his Suggestions, BE-
fore referred to, looking to unloading capital
Of its due proportion q taxation and piaeins
Il on the industries II the state, and Wher,
viii the vast majority Of private properties al
ways fally assessed, stand
This Is the quinteSsenee a rgferas ~ pro
posed In this state. CLOSED over hy iargs
humber Of speci0us complaints. unworthy .
COMPARISON with the huge wrongs eoutempla
ted 70 be imposed upon the people, i e vel
designed 10 deceivethn popular mind and HIis
lead the popular Judgment --ssge ef those ex
pedients which every election iaaases th'
people 10 20 10 the polls and cut of then
own aoses.