The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-14

| goods and the consumer pays it. If you
tax drayman for running his dray you
not only take that much cut of his own
wages, but give him an added reason for
increasing his charges and shifting the
tax upon some one else. t
"On fair estimate there are 5000
wage earnerstin Roanoke. Over one hun
dred thousand dollars OF the revenues OF
Roanoke are derived through these vari-
GUS processes of indirect taxation, and
in the. end fall upon the producer. for
they produce all wealth and out OF all
wealth must como tho fund which pays
the taxes. According to that every
wage Garner in Roanoke js taxed an
average 1916 per capita to support tho
city, and yet the wage earnors mako
Roanoke. There would be no Roanoke
without them. 1t should be the policy
OF the city to encourage their coming.
ut is plain that population has
changed what were once farms into valu
able lands. tits plain that the %, 600 in
habitants Of Roanoke have, by their
coming here, created the Sl5,000,0 900 of
| ground values. Tho argument follows,
then, that each individual coming to
Roanoke adds his share Of tho ground
values of Roanoke, has added some
thing which did not exist before, and
carries with him that value wherever
he goes. Where, then, lies the injus-
tice of taking out of that property,
which he has created by coming to
Roanoke, whatever tax is charged to
pay his municipal expenses. If his
coming has added 5000 to Roanoke, why
should not that 5000 be the first prop
erty taxed to pay his share? Six hun
died dollars is worth $40 per annum at
| the common rate of interest
Yet the amount required for tho
municipal support of Roanoke is only
st per capita per annum. In other
words, tax of one dollar per hundred
on the value which he has created would
pay all the taxes which are due tho
city from him.
These figures seem to prove the case
beyond question. It merely requires
that this theory be engraftel upon the
city ordinances to etfecs the reform. 1t
is true. that until q new revision of
values and new assessments be had, that
the reform Will have to be delayed; but
tho start may be made and tho senti-
ment of tho community aroused as to
tho unwisdom and injustice of tho pres
ent system. The reform must first como
In the education of the public in this
direction. The changing of the law
then becomes an easy matter.
1T is not merely a matter of justice
| oboo 10 oOo lOt I'll III bulS DdDcI. Ii Is q
matter of wisdom. Free the wage earn
ers and productive industries of Roam
oke from oppressive taxation and there
Will be strong impetus given to in
crease tho population and tho establish
mont of industries at this point. Take,
for instance, tho matter of wholesale
houses. This is one of the best distrib-
uting points in the South. With the
establishment of the Roanoke and
Southern large extent of territory
which has heretofore been tributary to
Lynchburg will be accessible to Roam
olSe. If wholesale houses in Roanoke
wero freed from taxation there would
be tremendous impetus given to their
establishment hero and the CITY would
be greatly benefited thereby. The
Same is true of every other enterprise,
from the drayman to the corporate in
dustry."
An interesting discussion followed,
participated in by Messrs. Glasgow,
browne, DennistoD, Pcchin and others,
MIR. Glasgow held that many of the
license taxes were imposed when the
State was financially EN- barrassed. Mr..
Pechin responded that there was good
reason why progressive and prosper
GUS city like Roanoke should model its
revenue system on a different basis.
MI. Denniston made ast-ong and cogent
argument, in the main SUPPORTING
Mr.. Browns position In favor of a
simple and moro practical system of
taxation. The system OF taxing mer-
chants on their purchases he character
lied as relic of medisevaIism.
Mr.. James s. Simmons spoke on the
value of tho Association in forming
public opinion, and presented the <oi-
loving resolution, which was unan-
imously adopted:
Whereas our community has grown from q
vi age of 600 to majestic city OF 22O0o souls In
nine years; and
Whereas the eyes of the whole country are
upon us and expect us to hold place in the
foremost ranks or the cities OF this section; and
Whereas our cnterprising citizens have erected
large, connections and, in most cases. handsome
houses, for all the purposes of a large city, and
\ Whereas large industrial plants are in course
| OF construction, in our midst through which our
population will be largely augmented and our
Whereas our citizens appear TO have exhausted
| individual effort to make Roanoke what she
should be;
Now, therefore, Ibe 1t resolved, That we. OF the
| Roanoke Commercial Association, and citizens
generally, here assembled, do urge the august
body, Our city legislature (whose members in
urc),te make all possible haste In conaummatinp
the plans on foot for the improvement of our
streets. perfeeting our system of lights, and so
regulating and enforcing the franchises granted
! and TO be granted by them as that our peopIo
Will be provided with means for transportation
over and through our streets and thoroughfares
with comfort safely and expedition.
| Res0lrcd,'1 hat we appreciate the efforts nj.
! ready made In this direction by our Council and
the difficulties under which they have labor ed in
the pasf, bnt we think the tine has come for
aud we urge our city government to do its part
by giving us these public improvements, go