The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-15
Free Homes or Free Whiskey.

about half of the States. Such would
be the startling effect of the proposi-
ton set forth with his usual direct
ness and power in the letter publish
ed yesterday. 1t need not be added
that such proposal will arouse the
deepest interest in every part OF the
country. For it Is true. as Mr.. Blaine
says, that the State and county taxes
''come upon the property with a
crushing force. The houses, the farms,
the factories, the stores, the shops, all
feel it as heavy burden" Federal
taxes. being indirect, we never feel.
Nobody knows when he pays them,
and in practice nobody cares. But
the home of every workingman, the
home and farm Of every farmer, the
factory or shop, or mill or mine in
which every producer seeks liveli-
hood, all are burdened by the direct
taxation of the States and counties.
and thereby rendered less valuable.
The proposition of Mr.. Blaine is to
tax whiskey rather than hOmesteads,
farms and shops. He proposes to
make the taxes on liquor permanent.
and to provide that the entire reve'
nue. from them shall be permanently
distributed to the States and Terri
tories in proportion to population.
The revenue thus obtained is now
about $86, 100000. In the nature of
things. it will grow with the growth
of the country. 1t costs less to collect
than any other tax levied by the Uni.
ted States or the States. But the ag-
gregate of all State taxes is now only
about $52, 200. 900. and the aggregate
of all State and county taxes only
about $12O,OOO,OOO.
The table published with Mr..
Blaine's letter showed the amounts
which would 60 to each State and
Territory, in division according to
the population in 1880. The census
showed the amount of taxes by the
States in that year, and the revenue
distributed to the States under Mr..
Biaine's plan would exceed the State
taxation in avery State except Lou
isiana, Colorado. Nevada, Oregon and
California. In Louisiana and Colo
RADIO, moreover, the difference is 80
small that the people could and GER
tainly would cut down the expenses
of their State government at once, 40
as to abolish all State taxes. In the
three Pacific States, there would be
some deficit, which, however. could
readily be made up by very moderate
taxes on corporations or in other
modes than by direct taxes on prop
erty. Thus the plan would enable the
people to abolish State taxes at once
in all the States except three, and in
those States also if they wish.
But the surplus still remaining to
the States would in many cases lie
quite large. Inspection Of the census
returns shows that it would be large
enough to abolish all county taxes
also in Alabama, Connecticut, Della
ware, Massachusetts, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont.
Moreover, it would approximate so
closely to the amount now raised by
county taxation in six other States
that the people, if they chose, could
readily cover county as we'll as State
expenditures with the proceeds of the
liquor tax. These States are Arkan-
sas. Florida. Kentucky. Michigan,
Mississippi and Wisconsin. The dis.
tribution of the surplus by the States
among the counties would be a matter
for the States to arrange, and, rs the
county taxes are not always prop0r-
toned to population, would probably
involve some difficulty. but it is man
ifest that the people could abolish
county taxes altogether. If they chose,
in sixteen of the States.
In the other States there would re-
main, after paying all the expenses
of the State governments, II surplus
substantially as follows: Georgia,
1923, 600; Illinois, 80, 900, 600 Indiana,
1867 900; Iowa, S2,015,O0O; Kansas,
1860, 900; Maine. S73, 500; Maryland.
S773. 900; Minnesota, S639 900; Mis-
souri, Sl669, 600; Nebraska, S436, 900 /,
New Hampshire, S2l0, 900; New Jer
sey, S697 900; New York, 81 l.O12.0OO {;
OHIO, Sl.ll5,0OO; Texas. $596.000 {;
Virginia, 1927 800, and West Vir.
ginia, $500, 900. These estimates are
on the basis Of Ia xatiOn as ii was In the
year of census. With such sums in
excess of amounts necessary Tor State
government, the States would be
pushed by public opinion everywhere
to relieve land and property from all
direct taxation for State aud county
purposes. to require the curtailment
nf cnunty expenditures, aud to pro
| vide the balance oF rti VIENNA that may