Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-09
THE TAX SYSTEM,
Which Must Not be Disturbed or Agitated

EDITOR TRANSCRIPT Below find one
of series of articles illustrating in an
unique, pleasant and impressive manner,
so far as 1t goes, the magnitude of the
unnecessary tax imposed upon us, which
neither of the dominant parties appear to
be willing to relax. Iwould like to have
you insert this article in your paper and
l would like to ask your readers how
they enjoy this condition of affairs;
whether in justice to themselves and
families, they can afford to bear it, and if
not, whether they intend to do or help do
anything for their own relief? The mat
ter is entirely in the hands of the voters.
They can remain supremely Indifferent,
only working under party lash, or they
can assert their manhood, and work and
vote for the interest of themselves and
their families. Which will they do, or
how long is this thing to continue?
E. H. WELLS.
MARCH al Editor N. Y. Times +
When the American citizen wakens in
the morning his eyes open upon the walls
per cent. He throws off his blankets,
taxed Copper cent, and steps from his bed,
taxed 80 per cent, upon the carpet, taxed
"a per cent. He draws the window cur
tains, taxed 45 per cent, and looks out
through glass, taxed 80 per cent, to see
how the weather is. Throwing off his
nightshirt, taxed 45 per cent, he puts on
his undershirt and stockings, taxed rs
per cent, cotton shirt, taxed As per cent,
and vest. coat and pants, taxed 48 per
cent. Finding button gone he has it
sewed on with needle, taxed 25 per
cent, and spool thread, taxed 60 per
cent. He arranges his hair with combs
and brushes, taxed 80 per cent, and pares
bis finger nails will pocket-knife taxed
5O per cent, or with SCISSORS taxed Is per
cent.
Feeling little out of sorts, he takes
dose of castor-oil, taxed 1O2 per cent
from goblet taxed 10 per cent. He
shaves himself before looking glass
taxed 60 per cent, with razor taxed As
per cent, with lather from soap taxed 81
per cent. He starts his fire in stove
taxed As per cent, with coal taxed 90 per
cent, and puts on the tea-kettle taxed So
per cent. It being Friday, and he a man
of moderate means, he has light break
fast of mackerel taxed 25 per cent, with
rice taxed 1913 per cent, and some salad
on which he uses salt taxed SO per cent.
and sweet oil taxed "a per cent. For the
plates and cups and saucers used on his
breakfast he is taxed IS per cent,
and he pays 45 per cent. tax on his knives
and forks. The sugar he uses in his cof-
fee is taxed AZ per cent, and he pays 48
per cent tax ON the spoon wherewith he
stirs up the sugar in his, coffee. A few
pickles, as relish, are taxed 50 per cent,
and he adds to them vinegar taxed 26 per
cent. and tops off his breakfast with an
orange taxed 20 per cent. His breakfast
being finished he smokes his cigar or ciga-
ret, taxed all the way from rs to 200 per
cent, according to quality, and prepares
for his daily duties. Putting on his hat
taxed 70 per cent, his overcoat taxed
4S per cent, and gloves taxed so per cent,
he takes his umbrella, taxed SO Der cent.
and starts off to business.
Being engaged in building a house for
himself he looks up some building mater
ial. He purchases brick taxed IS per
cent, some lumber taxed As per cent,
slate roofing taxed 80 per cent, window
glass ~ per cent, paint and white lead 81
per cent, wooden pipe for drains taxed
~ per cent, and hardware taxed all the
way from so to $50 per cent And this is
the daily life of the American citizen, and
each one can fill up the residue of the
day according to the requirements of his
special vocation. SYDNEY SMITH,