Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-28
THE CITY.
AaAINsr oocupAr1nN 49,

! "e~a All hROALf
FoRr WORTH, Tx x. SAINT "a iasa
To the Editor OF the Gazette, 49,
DrAR SIR; The local agitation Of the
subject OF occupation taxes, and the Of
Tort OF the city council to form schedul,
for the same during the coming year. 20.
gether with FIRE quent references To mi,
system Of taxation by the public press
have LED me to a consideration OF the pri
mary elements, involved in . system Of
taxation which depends, for its regula.
ton, upon nothing but the arbitrary iuda.
ment Of the Lawmakers, as Il will ak.
iomatically appear, that no possible rule
OF ethics can be applied in forming sucRn
schedule.
We are told that we are citizens Of tho
purest form Of republican government the
world has yet seeu; that the sacred trim
ny OF government, 1.-THE protection OF the
me- liberty aud property OF every citizen
ahke," extends Its @9is over us, and that
government knows no favorites among
those classes who are necessary factors In
the product of national prosperity. Is
THIS trueY Let us see. know 1t IL not
popular, but my opposition TO occupation
taxes being placed upon any calling that
goes to make up necessary part
OF the web and wool Of social and
commercial interdependence, has become
a hobby, and shall speak right out. In
the tlrst place don't believe the princi-
pal class--the farmer--who was sought
to be benefited by this law, or whose ia
yor was sought to be gained by 1t, ever
demanded II Of their lawmakers. am
OF the opinion that it was a voluntary
piece of oemagoguery and u terrible vio-
lation Of the principles of equal rights.
4 will admit that the law assessing
these taxes 10 constitutional; that the leg
islature had the right to frame such
law, and to give, as II has done,
the right to cities TO levy the
same taxes, In the general law OF
Incorporation, and to inflct
criminal punishment for It's non-payment.
But the constitution, or the principle
upon which we stand together on this
subject Is wrong. We do not stand to-
gether in Other words; or IL puts IL Ia
the power Of the legislature to stand us
apart. The constitution says that taxa
ton shall be equal, aud in the next clause
says this, however, shall not prevent the
legislature from assessing occupation
taxes. is this consistent? Is IL rightY
"Constituto," TO stand together. Do
we so stand, so far as taxation is
concerned2 All the fundamental
principles of government, and all the
laws emanating therefrom should be
based upon sound principles of Justice
and morality Are these elementary
principles violated In our constitution?
Let us see. What Is the Standard Right
and justice. But, says one, these are rel
alive terms and not absolute, and hence
will govern in the matter
But Will any man say they are not uni
versal, absolutely so; and hence, In gov
ernment, would mean that what was a
privilege for one man should be for an-
other, and duty upon one duty upon
all others? If this Is so, docs not our
make injustice possible by
law?
But does not the constitution In this
matter do violence TO the very idea, not
only of our government, but TO all gov
ernments, viz Equal protection to the
life, liberty and property OF all alike?
Let us see how 1t looks IN practice. The
constitution gives 10 the legislature the
right TO say to the farmer: You are the
favorIte and pet OF governments your life,
liberty and property Is dearer to the
state than any other. You need pay
only an adyalorem tax. But 10
the doctor, whom the sick need
TO the druggist, whom the sick need
TO the merchant, whom the farmer needs
TO the butcher, whom all need; TO the
hotel men, whom the traveller needs; to
the lawyer wAom all need aud curse, on ac-
count of their own frailty, to many others
necessary to O perfect development OF
men in life, Che legislature has said, by
virtue Of its constitutional power; "You
are strangers here, you must also pay
your adyalorem tax, but you must also
pay extra for the protection of govern
ment over your life, liberty and proper
ty.n Oh, shame! Why not con1ne this
lax to the manlpulators Of luxuries and
vocations, The sans OBJ
lection can be found TO the federal in
Lernal revenue laws. Matches, etc, are
taxed. We ell pay il.
But the worst of all Is there Is no prop
erty satisfaction but penal satisfaction
Tor Don-psyment OF this tax This Is
big thing for a small man 10 attack, but ]
cannot contemplate " without being
stnng by the injustice. may live TO see
the day when an advalorem tax Is the
main way of supporting the government.
An example of this hardship Is shown
where young doctor had TO pay tax on
what mind God had given 10 him. Why
tax the meat men2 They are surely nee
esssry 10 us; we patronlze them and
could not do without them, and they
In one form or another furnish the farmer
B market for his cattle. They may be
willing 10 pay the tax, and amply able 10
do so, but is It right? There surely
is healthy competition, and
everyone is left TO build up a good trade
by legitimate industry. II the meat-men
gladly pay 500 for certain privileges
granted, rest assured others will pay the
$50. II can but come out Of the pockets
of the consumer And thus, In all the
long line OF occupation taxes, when the
government places special burdens upon
the necessary middle men, they have the
power and will shift It upon the con-
sumer Of his merchandise. The govern
ment is pressed for meansi our legisla-
tors look around aud see class OF men
who are able 10 make money, and still
pay some Of their profits into the public
treasury. He is 10 ufeiol business,
we need his work and labor 10 his call
ing, bat he Is seized upon as con-
stitutIonal victim, 70 accomplish that,
..,hf.h ehculd hava boan accommodated bV