New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-30
rprE yo,ftS OR FREE THISKEY.

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FREE HOMES OR FREE UHISKER
Mr. Blaine proposes to abolish State taxes IN
all the States except three, and State and county
taxes both in about half of the States. SUCH
wonld be the startling effect of the proposition
set forth with his usual direCtness and power III
the letter published 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 "c0mc upon the property
"with crushing force. The houses the farms,
q the factories, the stores the shops all feel 1t
= as heavy burden" Federal taxes, being
Indirect. we never feel. Nobody knows when
he DAYS 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 n
livelihood. all are buydened by the direct taxa
ton of the States and counties, and thereby
rendered less valuable. The proposition OF N.Y.
Blaine is to tax whskcy rather than home
steads farms and shops. He proposes Ia make
the taxes on liquor permanent, and to provide
that the entire revenue from them snail De per-
mancntly distributed to the States ana lcin-
tories in proportion to population Inc reVe-
nue. thus obtained is now about $SOOOo'oOO.
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 United States
or the Statese But the aggregate OF all state
taxes is now only about $j2,OOOOOO, and the
aggregate of all State and county taxes only
ID nut $500, 100000.
The table published with Mr.. Blaine's letter
showed the amounts which would 90 to each
state and Territory in division according to
the population in 1850. The census showed
the amount of taxes by the States in that year,
and the revenue distributed to the States under
Mr. Blainc's plan would exceed the State taxa
ton III every State except Louisiana, Colorado
Nevada, Oregon and California In Louisiana
and Colorado, moreover, the difference is 80
small that the people could and certainly would
cut down the expenses Of their State govern
ment at once, so aS to abolish all State taxes.
I'm the three Pacific States, there would be some
deficit. which, however, could readily be made
up by very moderate taxes on corporations or III
other modes than by direct taxes Oh property.
Thus the plan would enable the people TO abol-
ish all State taxes at once in all the States except
three. and in those States also if they wish.
would in many cases be quite large. Inspection
of the census returns shows that it would be
large enough to abolish all county taxes also in'
Alabama, Connecticut. Delaware, 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 well ~ State
expenditures with the proceeds of the liquor
tax These States are Arkansas, Florida, Ken
lucky Michigan, Mississippi and Wisconsin.
The distribution of tnc surplus by the States
among the counties would be matter for the
States to arrange and, as the county taxes are
not always prOpOrtOEed to population, would
probably involve some difficulty, but it is mani
fest that the people could abolish county taxes
altogether, if they chose, in sixteen OF the
States.
In the other States there would remain, after
paying all the expenses of the State govern
ments, a surplus substantially "a follows;
Georgia. $523,000; Illinois, %2,090,0 900; In
diana, 1867, 900; Iowa, 100000; Kansas,
$500 O00 Maine, $4,000; Maryland,
$773,OO0; Minnesota, $G39,000; Missouri,
81 600 900 Nebraska, SI36,0O0; Ncw-llamp-
shire, $4,000; Ncw-Jerscy SG97 900; New
York, $1,012,000; Ohio, $l,l15,000; Texas,
$596O00 Virginia, $727,50 and West Vir
ginia, 100000. These estimates are on the
basis of taxation as it was in the year of census
With such sums in excess of amounts necessary
for State government, the States would be
pushed by public opinion everywhere to relieve
land and property from all direct taxation for
State and county purposes, tO require the cur
tamcnt of county expenditures, and to provide
the balance of revenue that may be needed after
application of the surplus from the liquor tax,
not by direct taxes, but by one form or another
of indirect taxation. In short, the plan of Mr..
Blaine would soon come TO this Abolition of
State and county taxes, liquor to bear all tho
cost of State and county government; no tax on
homes or farms, mills or shops, save such as
the people in their cities and towns may impose
upon themselves for local purposes.
1t is not difficult to see that there are objec-
tons to this plan, which it will be time enough
hereafter to consider. But il clearly avoids the
grayest objections to what has been called the
Pennsylvania plan, while having much broad
or effect. 1t will enable the people 20 bring all
their direct taxes upon property within the im-
mediate control of the towns or cities where
| they live Thus it will conduce most power
fully to economy and purity Of local govern