New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1885-09-09

voLYMh l. NUMBER 60.

one market. This would seriously incon
venience a large portion of the citizens
and Of cQurse defeat the. very object in
view in permitting the opening of mar.
kets at will in various localities. b.
present tariff on beef taking the average
weight of beeves sold in the market, 1,
about 2 per cent, and is not high tarif
Thus beef that nets 800 lbs. or abdkt
that, pays 60 cents, and yearlings, calves,
sheep and hogs are scheduled to approx
mate to the same tax. If Of lesser weight
the percentage Of course is greater, and II
Of a greater weight the percentage is less.
Uniformity under the present system is
impossible, but let the tax be what it may,
Mr.. Basket, you must see that it is all
paid by the people-the consumers and
not by the middle men who as have
said are also the collectors for the corpo-
ration. ! am part Of a beef weighing 800
lbs. My master has averaged over cents
on every pound sold, footing up $24 at the
least. The hide weighing not less than
so lbs, sold at cents per pound equals
$3.50, and these are low estimates, friend
Basket. The corporation tax on beef Of
300 lbs. is 90 cents. Thus 1866 beeves or
beef for each day of 800 lbs. weight, would
be $219. The 300 lbs. of beef at 8 cents
per pound would be daily $24, and for 800
days $500. The 385 hides at $3.50 each
would be $902 80, or $9762 so, on which is
levied by this close-fsted corporation
tax of $219. My late master is bucking
against this although he is getting as col
lector for the corporation so per cent or
more for collecting this tax from his Gus
toners Odds, sklllets, ovens and fry
ing pans, friend Basket, but this is dis
play of cheek, indeed. To believe that
these vendors and collectors, who are re-
strained by no limits as regards prices and
can at will charge five or fifty cents per
pound for their wares, are too generous
hearted to avail themselves of their rights
or too stupid to be cognizant Of them, is
IN sbsurdity. That the complainants are
not in the least injured, but benefited, is
fact as prominent as the nose on your
masters face, and tcn-year old school
boy who failed to see it, would deserve to
have shingle shattered into shoe pegs on
his sitting down place, and ordered to bed
on supper of bred and water for display
ing so much ignorance. The vendors may
lose money and become bankrupt by ex-
tending credits recklessly, paying too
much for animals, and from other causes,
but the corporation has nothing to do
with such results. Men fail In all branches
Of business any day, and other men more
prudent succeed and prosper. So tell your
master, friend Basket, to keep his supply
Of sympathy and milk Of human kindness
for occasions when it may be really needed.
You can also tell him that the sum now
collected is imperatiyely needed by the
corporation, and if not collected as at
present from ell the consumers, will have
to be raised by increased burthens on tax
payers. Free markets simply mean eat
ing what others very heavily burthened
pay for-to the extent at least Of the def
cit in revenue-and the man who does 20
may well be called sneak.
B.-I am much obliged to you, Mr..
Roast, for the additional y4ink1et you|
have given me, ~ my opportunitiesfor an
insight into such matters ss you .dwelt
upsu, ,sAt ytry lihite,l fssing as did
bnt once day to and from market. While
tho cr1,lr 4. AL, !. ,,.,sS So. rst>.
for my masters dinner, will not fail to
call his attention to your views on the |
market embroglioJ but have strong doubts
rs to his seeing the matter through your
glasses, since you must know that
"Poor human natur's unc0 weak
And little to be trusted,
1fself the wavering balance shake,
yTis rarely right adjusted.
A NON-TAx PAYER.
- vN@s -
Mn. Wallnp, althO 6nmOvod by - /