The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-03
Special Taxation.

respondent. 1 am opposed to the !
method adopted to deprive honest tax
PAYERS Of their money against Their |
wish. \ special tax imposed on !
town by the entire population gives to
non-taxable persons power they
should not exercise. The principle on
which such taxes are levied IS entirely
wrong. Designing men wishing 10 en-
nance the value Of their property at
my expense, ieaguing with insolvent
voters, ought not to have the right to
say what | shall pay for their benefit.
Unjust taxation Is oppressive an" dis
tasteful to those who are forced to pay
lit Men who are so eager to levy a
heavy tax on their town should be
cautious lest they put III motion a
boomeraug instead OF boom. II those
who pay tie special tax were the only
persons allowed to vote III such cleo
lions it would not be as unjust as 1t IS.
The course adopted is calculated to drlEe
oppressed tax payers from town. and
prevent others that do not wish to be
robbed from coming into 1t. | kno W
Of mOneved men that seek refuge from
burdcnsome city taxes iii the country.
They have 10 objection to necessary
town taxes. and would pay them cheer
fully. but they do not wish their prop
| erty to be left with responsible voters.
| recoIlcct on one occasion 1t was pro-
posed to vote heavy tax on certain
heavily taxed town for special pur-
pose. One day | ventured to give my
opinion AGAINST it. \ cOnsequentlye
man. too wise to learn and too ignorant
to rule. snceringly remarked. The
negroes will tasten it on you. Was
! that not cOnsOIing to one who thought
| the rights OF tax payers should be
respected: Some persons say heavy
| town taxes are essential to the pros
pcrity and growth Of 4 town. Well II
! that be the case let us levy tax com
mcnsurate with our wishes and build
up at once a wide-spreading. flourish
/ ing town. Why move 50 slowly on
when by heaping heavier burdens on
our people they will move with accel-
Grated speed. more vigorous and
strong: Oppressive taxes pull very
heavily on toiling widows, with their
dependent children around them, OWL
inc nothing but a small town lot; and
on others whose incomes are small. y
man owning suburban property should
have no RIGHT to tax others deriving no
benefit from it to make it more valu-
able Mills that convert wheat into
flour benefit the section in which they
are located: but ought | to be taxed to
keep them up and make them more
valuable to the owners who reap all
the benefits from them? If electric
lights are necessary and profitable iii a
town let mOncycd men take stock and
enjoy the luxury of poclleting the an
nual income. The same may be SAID
Of watcrworks and city railroads. We
want banks in our town no town can
well get along without them. But we
want stockholders to establish and run
them and reap the profits. We don t
wish to vote a tax Of fifty thousand
dollars OH our town to donate to rich
banking company to induce them to
locate in our midst. Unwise leaders
should learn it is bad policy. to say
nothing about right. to break the
camcl's back regardless Of his COM
planning look. especially when those
who heap the burden on feel not one
iota Of the crushing weight. While we
should wish to see our towns grow and
prosper by legitimate means, we should
not give to insOlyent voters the right
to say how much Of my honestly ac-
CURED estate should be given to in
crease the estate of another. We love
to live among a thriving people but
dislike to see others entrcnCh Oh our
rights. | would rather give a man ten
dollars than have him take it from me
, against my wish by unjust and ques-
= tionable methods. There seems to be
growing disposition in our rising
towns to vote heavy taxes on the peo-
pie. "@rcvous to be borne to donate
to purse proud milionaircs. The gen
eral government and the States can re-
pudiate when the burdens are too
heavy. but corporate bodies can not.
Memphis tried to dodge the payment
Of her heavy debt she had imprudently
fastened on herself by surrendering hel.
| charter. The Supreme court said that
game could not be played. That the
debt was 4 lien on every particle OF
taxable property in the place. After
: that she wisely concluded it was best
to accept the best compromise she
. could get. The Supreme court was
right. II Il town votes a heavy tax on
, herself and opens lands and takes any
/ money for them she ought to be made
to pay them. The honest creditor
should have some rights as well as the
=, dishonest debtor. In conclusion | will
j. say | would rather live i'll a smaller
' town free of unjust and heavy debt
e than in larger one with the citizens
i groaning under oppressive taxes levied
l. to swell the pockets of wealthy lord
lings that have but little sympathy fol
>, them II. W. HARRIS.
: The Christmas Number of Frank Les.
+ lies Popular Monthly.
u POI