Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-08-01
Unnecessary Taxation is Unjust Taxation

Unnecessary Taxation is Unjust Taxation.
It is self-evident that unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation, and it isl
equally evident that, as the people of the
o. S. are taxed under the present Republic
can tariff to the amount of 800, 900
annually more than is necessary for the ad-
mini stration Of the government honestly
an d economically conducted, they are I'M
Justly taxed to that vast amount every
year. AS the Warrenton True Inder says,
''we are paying annually, one hundred mil.
lions more than enough, and this money is
taken from our pockets where we need ii to
be locked up in the Treasury where it is
n OF needed, there to lie idle; aye, worse
than idle, because it depresses trade, lowers
p rices, and if the boarding is continued it
will bring financial revulsion. In these
days of millions, when we have millionoires
by the thousands, it may be we'll to get an
idea of how much one hundred million dol
lars is. To haul this surplus to the Treas
ury, this amount collected over and above
the necessities of the Government, would
require 5000 wagons, each carrying full
ton of silver, and allowing 80 feet to each
team, we would have train sixteen miles
long, carrying merely the surplus which has
been unnecessarily taken from the people
only to be boarded. This looks as though
somebody was paying taxes, aye unneces-
|sary, hence unjust taxes. To bring the
matter nearer home, let us see how much
we Virginians pay of this amount. The
solution is easy. There are thirty eight
States, among which Virginia ranks 18th
rather above the average, and pays one
thirtieth of all Federal taxes. One thirtieth
of one hundred millions is three and one
third millions, or one hundred of the three
thousand wagon loads of silver, making its
way into the Treasury there to remain idle,
because not needed for the expense of Gov
eminent.
Again. let us see if we do not pay taTes,
|even though the Assessor and Tax Collec-
tor do not come among us in Spring and
Fall. Government collects from imports
two hundred and twelve millions, and from
Internal revenue one hundred and nineteen
millions, making three-hundoed and thirty
one millions of dollars, which reduced to
loads of one ton each would require in round
numbers 10, 900 wagons, which would make
a procession fifty-three miles long on its
way to the Treasury, there to place the
money collected from the people one-thirti-
eth of which-ten millions or three hundred
and thirty three wagon loads-comes from
the people OF Virginia, and of which vast
amount, very nearly one-thsrd is collected
where there is no need for it. Now this
looks bad, and is hard enough; yet the
worst, strange as it may seeem, has not
bsen told. Of the two hundred and twelve
million dollars collected on imports, at a
low estimate, one hundred and eighty mil
lions is laid for the purpose of protecting our
infant industries which are now at least one
hundred gears old. There protected manu-.
facturers produce nine-tenths of the articles
we consume, for which we are charged above
a. fair profit the per centage of duties laid.
1t is estimated that we pay into the pockets
of these manufacturers from five to eight
times as much as we pay into the Treasury.
Putting it five times as much, the lowest
estimate, we have the enormous amount of
nine hundred millions, which reduced to
loads of one ton each, would require thirty
thousand wagons, forming procession one
hundred and fifty nine miles long, but all of
which vast amount is to be emptied not into
the Treasury, but into the pockets of private
individuals, the protected manuf acturers.
This train will consist of one thousand
wagons loaded for Virginia, containing
Thirty million dollars paid by US Thus
we SEE that Virginia pays three and one
third millions into the Treasury and thirty
millions for the purpose of protecting IN
FAINT industries, aggregating forty millions
fully thirteen times more than we pay
into the State Treasury. Who can say
we pay no taxes to the Govern
ment? We call special attention to the
nine hundred millions paid to the manufact-
ureIs-pald to one class OF industry out OF
the hard earnings of all others. Isit strange
that we have Carnegies and Spreckles? Is
it strange that millionaires should be able
to form combines, trusts, rings and corners?
Is it strargo that they should control the
Bench, State Legislatures, the National
Congress- aud hold Cow entions to nomi.
nate Presidents? Is it strange they should
oppose Cleveland and Thurman, the Demo
cratic party, and the Mills Bill, or anything
calculated to loose their grip upon the
Threats Of the people? Is it strange the
farmers and business men generally are
crying out against oppression?
Friends, look at these facts, scan these
figures, pull on your thinking caps. put on
your studying-gowns, aud determine these
things shall not be So"