Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-19
A WARNING.
ssBusiness" Answers Delegate Rock and
Points Out the Dangers 20 Which His Tax
Theories VIII Lead.
IN IL Riifnr AZ IL RnaiRa:


Theories VIII Lead.
10 ne RditOr of he ReqiRa:
WHEELING, February lS.-The following
extract from communication signed by
Delegate A. A. Rock was clipped from tG'
days issue:
at is contended that merchants and bus.
iness men should be allowed credit for the
debts due by them to others or they will
have 10 pay al unjust proportion OF taxes.
Let us see whether this be true or not. To
illustrate: A and B are merchants doing
business in the same town and in adjoining
houses. A has 100000 worth of goods in
bis store on which he owes $4,000. B has
100000 for which be has paid in full Is
it Just that B shall be forced to pay on his
entire amount of goods and A only on one
half of his-is not A receiving the same
amount Of profits upon his stock as B-f b
can afford to pay upon his entire stock OF
goods, why not require A to do the same
why exempt one and not the other? The
true and just theory is to tax property and
not what an individual is worth"
In the first place B has 100000 worth
of goods paid for. In other words, he is
worth $l0000 A has 100000 worth Of
I-goods and owes SO, 0,000. In other words,
he is worth $4,000. In order, however, to
compete with B in quality, extent, assort-
ment, ETC., A has to have 100000 worth Of
goods, and having but $4,000, he asks
credit for $4,000 B pays cash, and gets
consequent large discounts on his bills.
A wants time to pay for his goods; fails to
get the discounts B receives, consequently
B has the advantage largely. A, how.
ever, finding that B has this ad-
vantage, and can underseIl him en-.
deavors to ameliorate his condition by d is.
counting his bills. How? In his perplex-
10y a friend advises him to borrow the
money from bank or elsewhere. He does
90 and we will assume. that he carries in
bank an average Indebtedness of $25, 900.
The question OF discounts then as between
A and B is practically settled, each dis.
counting their bills and each are on the
same basis, except that A pays at the mini
mum rate of interest 50, 500 per snnum on
his borrowed money. The advantage then
of B over A is Just that amount. In other
words can afford to pay thrice the taxes that
A can and still undersell A. 1t is apparent,
then, in answer to the question Of MIR. Rock,
hat A is not receiving the same amount Of
profits upon his stock as b. and
hat B can afford, if necessary, to pay
taAes on his enure stock of goods and still
have the advantage over A, even though
A returns tor taxation but half the amount
that B. does Mr.. Rock denounces class
legislation.
The legislation that Nr. Rock approves,
to-wil: not to allow the individual the mer-
chant the corporation to deduct labili-
ties from assets in the personal prop
erty return for taxation. is essentially class
eeisation; legislation that is cordially dis
approved in this democratic country: to.wit
legislation in favor of the rich-those who
can pay as they go-and against the i'm.
mense number Of struggling industries and
Enterprises in all sorts of business that re-
quire credi, for their perpetuation.
We have shown BIS advantage over A.
~ he true and Just theory is to tax prop.
er,y ard not what an individual is worth. II"
Then God help the struggling debtors and
count them happy if they escape with even
htir lives from before the Egyptian oppres-
sor.
Legislators should "to moderation keep
They sought to shear not skin their sheep"
Mr.. Rocks theoryis the theory Of making
bricks without straw-a theory that, if car
ried into practice, will develop West Virginia
into O Sahara, or foster within its borders
discomfort that may ripen into socialism
~lrh all Its attendant disasters.
Merchants must live or ieavel Corpora
ions must either pay reasonable return
urou the money inves ed in them, fail in
rEe object OF their creation, or cease busi-
uCss. With the depression already existing
ip all departments OF trade, is it wise to
brow additional and insuperable obstacles
in the way Of business men2
Must the masses, already groaning under
the sad facts Of light pay and scant work,
pay still more dearly for provisions, or
starve, or 90 elsewhere2 for the merchants
must of necessity either mark up their goods
beyond the paying ability of the masses. or
succumb.
The banks under this theory will have to
pay annually for taxes from six to ten per
cent. on their capital stock, leaving nothing
to divide among their stockholders, aud in
many instances impsiring the capital; un'
less, indeed the Ireater evil eventuates Of
their being com PEELED TO increase the rate
| of discount 10 one, or, one and a hall per
ceut a month.
Such results in our hitherto partially con.
tented communities would verify reap the
shirlwind!
DO YOU want to drive cspital from the
| Stste? impair its resources; ruin or Danish
sour business men, or lash into frenzy the
masses who will suffer-
Do you want to make the larger cities oi
bis State theatres for bresd-riots, aud all
be deviItries that discomfort engenders
Time is not ours to analyze further this
| question, but there is in il much TO nourish
reflection.
The simple truth is Mr.. Rocks theory
is a the ory of oppression. Shall the daugh'
ter of The mother Of Presidents, scarce }
| more than out of her teens, develop into
a moi ouster-an oppressor; in short 9 tyranti
md stall her fate be that Of all oppressors
either gone 10 the depths, or torn from cen
tre TO circumference. Egypt once powerful
-blighted Louis the Sixteentha-5e
besdedl The Throne Of the BOurbons?-
buried. Russia H-bombs and bullets. Eng
nIP-bombarded in Its halls OF legisls
ton. Herod2-here human retributior
failed aud the usually inofensiye worm
recoiled and finished him The list is toe
numerous; these will suffice to point The
moral that oppression ultimately is avenged
and that the way Of the oppressor is hard.
One theory Of government that Mr.. Rock
seems 10 have overlooked is to make iis
people happy, prosperous and c9ntented
1.-THE pending tax bill will accomplish this
end, wby pass the bill and pass il az once
BCsEEss.