Frostburg mining journal., 1882-01-21
a FRIEND OF The RIOH.

5bIenBCn oI orSdnizatlon aBhnst ens
weakness of disorganization - Of
wealthy effort for unequal privileges
as against the equality feebly sought
by the laboring classes-all under
colcr and form of legal process, the
sincerity of a rich man who turns
refrmer may well be questioned.
Few of us are or can be traitors to
our interests. Hence, it is about as
easy for "camel to pass through the
eye of needle" as for a rich man to
become disloyal to the greed of his
class. He is by habits of calculation,
frequently by the pride Of wealthy
lineage, the force of association and
investment, the faithful friend of his
own interests, and by SO much an
enemy to the poor. He studies to
remain all the while on the upward
revolution of the wheel Of fortune,
needless or careless of the philosophic
necessity which inveterately places a
heavier mass upon the downward side.
What does such an one mean by
reforms What is wrong in the con-
stitution of things that brings his
rugged eloquence TO plead for re-
dress? Let US see. A few pertinent
instances will suffice:
Gov. Hamilton suggests reduction
Of tax collectors in Allegany county,
for instance. from four to one. Why?
That the excessive bonds, gwen by
four officials Of moderate wealth per-
haps, may be consolidated in one ag.
gregating $3l5,Oo0, or one which, as
rule, can be given only by man of
great means.
In connection with this matter he
recommends that authority be given
him to appoint non-paid commits
sion to revise our system Of taxation.
It is obvious that none but wealthy
men could accept the honor, and it is
equally plain they would not injre
capitalized interests.
He recommends the abolition of the
Office Of State tax commissioner
established with the special view Of
licking up all those bases of taxation
which corporations 60 we'll know how
to depreciate and conceal in order to
escape paying their proportion of the
expenses of government.
Admitting that the governor in his
differences with the comptroller upon
tho question of re-establishing and
maintaining sinking fund for the
gradual liquidation of the States
debt, as a matter of constitutional
propriety, seems to hold the correct
view, it is to be said also that, as a
matter of financial economy and 8
continuance of low rate of taxation,
the latter's practice appears best for
the taxpayers. 1t may be that the
fiscal officers have gone too far to
make the State system conform with
that of the national government, yet
the people have been saved vast
amount of needless expense. For in
stance, if we are not mistaken, the
general government has no specific
income other than that derived from
an indirect tax upon consumption.
On the other hand, the State owns
assets which overbslance its liabilities,
and while it owns these it is prsoti-
cally out Of debt. Thus it seems use-
Ices to cucumber the people with
the burden Of providing a sinking
fund when there is nc necessity for
such feature.
Be that as it may, however, there
is no nistaking the governors atti-
tude. With him. the sinking fund,
with its addition of III cents per
800 to our present rate of l84 cents,
is a nscess;tyl Put this with his sug-
gestions, before referred to, looking
to unloading capital of its due pro-
portion of taxation and placing it on
the Industries Of the State, and where
will the vast majority of private prop
critics. always fully assessed, stand?
This is the quintessence of reform as
proposed in this State. Closed over
by large number of specious com.
plants, unworthy of comparison with
the huge wrongs contemplated to be
imposed upon the people, it is we'll
designed to deceive the popular mind
and mislead the popular Judgment
ono of those expedients which every
election induces the people to go to
the polls and cut off their own noses.
SOMEBODY ls charging Postmaster
johnson, of Cumberland, with using