Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-17

- TO the Editor of The EDSnin9 Post
Z, ER: In view of the almost universal
complaint-more especially by the agri-
cultural interest OF the country-ot the
burden and inequality of Federal taxa
tion 1t seems important that certain
points connected with the same, not i'm
mediately bearing on the questions Of free
trade or protection, should ut the present
time he especially pressed upon the at
A teption of the American public.
The amount of money necessary to
meet the expenditures Of the Federal
government for the fiscal year COM
Y mencing July LIST, 1890. was estimated by
Secretary Window in his report for De-
xcember, 1889, at $341 400, 900. The ap-
preparations already authorized by the
= present Congress, or certain to be author
ized, will increase these figures to an ex-
cess of S400, 900, 900. But for the sake
CT argument, and in order TO avoid any
thing of hypothesis, let S400, 900, 900 be
assumed as the correct figures.
, Now, as the Federal government never
has any money except that which the
lpeople give it through the agency OF tax.
alton, and as the people as o whole never
have any money to give except what
comes to them as the result of their work
or from en- exchange of the products of
iheir work it is clear, 40 Mr.. Atkinson
has shown In one of his recent essays,
that what the government really wants of
It's people when IL calls upon them for
|. ta1e0 ia work, and that the methods of
Etezation are only methods for collecting
h end using the products of work. II we
4 sasume that the average earnings Of the
i larger part Of the people who work with
their hands In the United States are 81
! par day (Rnd this is an over-estimate, for
\ fhe average wages Of those who follow
Hag1ieulture for living are not in excess
WpfH5 cents), then S40D, 900, 900 of expen-
pditure by the Federal government next
4ear will mean 400, 900, 900 of days work;
3or, In other words for every dollar that
the government OF the United States ex-
\ pends somebody must do o whole days
work to furnish 1t.
Even II the highest estimate be put
upon the per-oapita product Of the whole
oountry--inoluding o valuation Of the
n domestic consumption of farmers and
II farm laborers-the average earnings of
n each person occupied for gain in all arts
n mud all branches Of mental, manual, or
v mechanical work cannot exceed @2 for
zach working day, or 5000 year, on
which three persons depend for their
\ support, giving O gross product Of G6s
Y cents Gach. Dsduoting the domestic con
sumption of farmers, the cost of state and
municipal government, aud the necessary
addition 10 the capital of the nation, the
Z net average earnings of the whole popula-
tion from which national taxes are to be
taken cannot excead so cents o day or
what 50 cents day will buy. Multiply
BY three, and the maximum average wages
or earnings of every one occupied for gain,
from the president of the great railway
system covering thousands of miles 10 the
scsub who washes the floor of the station,
cannot exceed $l.50 per day. How I'M
equally this is divided every one may
Intimate. But is the burden of national
Y ktion which takes So worth Of work
~ of each 150 OF product, or $50 worth
the product of each family of five
fscns who live on an income of $3.50
~, apportioned equitably in respect to
r. M5ome? Far from It for, as o matter of
t&act, the cost OF the national government,
6jStimated at $400, 0,000,0 900 per aunum,
kpresents not less than 30 days work at
~ 4. 80 O day out o. 800 days in the service
spf each family of five persona; and the
'ass the income the greater le burden Of
york required.
sest ituelflis, What are the people who
lNill work next year 100000, 600 days-
ID heat aAd cold, on the farm, in the
&torge,. Uline, factory, shop aud counting
~ ysd, in tho cab of the locomotive, or
on the deck of the vessel, with pick and
hhoyel, hammer and shuttle, with nimble
fingers, skiltuI pen and educate brain
in order to give their government the
money 1t Gays il must take from them
noxt year, to receive in return for such
workipg2 A correct answer, Expressed
general terms, and which every citizen
who keeps general run of the details of
ac7ernment ought to be able to frame
for himself would be as follows:
MI Work contributed in the form of taxes
10 the government, and wisely expended
by ii for the insuring of security TO life
and property, the administration Of JUS
lice, general education, general health
and improved facilities for the intercom-
4, zpunication of intelligence and the re-
y duction Of the expenses OF tfansporta-
Mtton, brings with 1t the fullest equivalent
Z 3l3f recompense or profit to the Individual
or community contributing. But work
performed and contributed to govern
ment in the form Of taxes which in turn
h are expended for other purposes--as for
4 The building OF enormous 'iron-clad"
yeadels which are likely to bs obsolete
before they are completed, and which, il
the advice Of Washington, to avoid
ntermeddling with foreign nations, is
aeedad, will never be wanted; or for
bstbe payment Of pensions TO persons
no having no just claim on the govern
lent, have other and adequate means of
tpport, and no right to ask other citi-
ms to work for them; or for the pur-
ksfe aud hoardiug of enormous quanti-
ssof silver under the pretence that it
fneeded ns the basis OF currency, whom
b hequnlly good and sufficient currency
an be provided not only without ex-
snss, but with profit to this people, by
Ne Royernment; or for enabling people
make livings or fortunes by unnatur-
~ adyanoing the prices of commodities
ia work that entails unnecessary labor
pon tue worker, favors the unequal
ntribution Of wealth, and III Its inhu-
Do IL antagonistio to the principles and
iatapce OF free and democratic form
9oyernment.
Let no man whose daily earnings are
isential to meet his daily needs deceive
imself with the idea, chat because no
ederal tax collector makes q personal