The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-04
is cognizant of q settled plan to overthrow
the Stambul0ff government IN Bulgaria
Suggestions About Taxation.

To tho Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
We are now hearing q cry of Increased
taxation. In n letter from o friend in your
city. of limited means. he says: The taxes
are not only surprising but alarming. My
tax last year was S45. so: this year it is e92."
That is the way he Is paying on his little
home. He truly says alarming" To Q
very great extent this can be remedied.
Let every voter think for himself aud not
be led by politicians to swallow SO much
absurdlty. The off ce-seekers in this coun-
try, as o class. and with some exceptions.
are a curse. They, true to nature. are first
for themselves. then for the dear people. If
at all. Don't allow them sucn
buy their office. DOM believe them
when they seek TO blame an administration
for low prices of farm products or crop fail.
ures. Think for yourselves, and you Will
soon see that the SIM pie running OF an OF
flee has nothing to do with il. On the other,
hand. in prosperous timcs the political
''outs" will attribute the good times to
any thing but the party in power. supply
ana demand Is the great factor. 1t Is true
Wise legislation Is better than unwlse. but
no one party mOnOpolizes that feature: so
don't vote blindly for your party" but
think for yourselves. Cause q law TO be
enacted which shall take effect one year or
eighteen months after It's passage. 10 the
effect that all banks shall, upon the de-
mand of tho proper officer, divulge the &C
count of any person on the 1st day or
April: increase the severity of the pen
alties or sequestered property; change the
Constitution in conformity. if necessary;
advertise the existence of the law so that
all may be cognizant OF 1t before
the time of its taking effect.
Let this apply also to corporations as we'll
as banks. When people see the public
IL -.
just taxation consequent. and know that
vast amounts OF property escape taxation.
is il to be wondered at that they nave the
feeling that they should pay no more than
wise, economic administration and eqult-
able taxation demand, and are tempted to
escape the injusticef 1t is notorious that
vast sums or public money have been ab-
stracted because of the fact that the benefi-
ciary was q voter. Herein is one feature
contributing to the O%diousness of the av.
erage Off ce-seeker. When once in power,
by such distribution of the public money,
he hopes for continued political prefer
ment. As to mortgages. enact o law re-
lieving the owner of the property from
taxation to the extent of the mortgage,
thereby avoiding the injustice of double
taxation las to money. let It's face repre-.
sent Its true value and avoid imitation.
As an illustration of injudicious legisla-
ton | Will cite q fact that is now, here In
Shelby Vile, elicting comment. The street
commissioners heretofore was employed at
n salary of 81 per day for actual service;
last spring the Council voted to allow him
SCCO per year. He now is said to be en-
gagged in outside work as o contractor,
having been rendered the contract for the
excavation for tho new school building. l
think no one would impute to any mem Der
of our Council such folly were it u personal
and private interest. Suppose any one of
those city fathers owned all the streets in
Shelby vile and they desired their i'm
provemenf. would they. without investiga-
ton, have let the job for $500 when there
are plenty of good and competent men
who would be glad of the job at S400i But
chus il goes.
Again. you should think and know the
detriment of the saloon. Just note the ex-
pense to the taxpayer ut your court-house.
Contemplate the possibilities of the victims
of the saloon as TO their becoming tax-pay-
crs. thereby relieving your own. Any
man who will. without prejudice. thor
oughiy investigate this matter will DO as
tonished at the burden the saloon is to tax
payers. / can only hint at it mere. l don't
suggest any r~enedy-think that out for
Observation-Disclosures do I refer to the moral
side.
In the proper place ! failed to say. change
the time of paying In spring tax from the
third Monday in April TO the last day of
March. The obvious intention of having it
the third Monday in April. when realized
at all, falls on the very ones 1t should not.
SHELBY.
SuELBYvILLE, Ind, March 81.