Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-06-22
A FEW WORDS

On Taxation and Representation.
Tothe Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
From time to time within the Last very
few months I have seen complaints made
in many quarters of lack of money to carry
out many of the needed Improvements
about the city. And very especially the
rejection of the education bill in the lsgis-
lsture in regard to the 81, 200, 900 school
fund of the state.
While I wish to take up the needs of the
city first, will take up the school fund
matter afterward.
We raise money for all the expenses of
the city by taxation on property of various
kinds, and if the money so raised does not
supply the demand many and very needful
things are left undone.
We see the High school building ham
pered by want of money to carry out the
needed improvements. We see the streets
in the very worst possible condition for
want of money. We see dilapidated side
walks and no money to make them good,
and yet We as city have very extremely
high taxes to pay. I am not questioning
where and how the money goes. Ana yet
think some competent men should take
that subject up and give it very thorough
airing, for 1t is very evident there Is some
thing lacking somewhere for 1t don't Seem
Is If we got our moneys worth" or an
equivalent for the money expended.
But to the subject, "Taxation and Rep
resentation," and this shall be partly as
sertion and partly interrogation. will
| ask first, what is the law in regard to the
collection of poll taxi and is or shou1d
there be any penalty for its non payment
A property holders property 10 held for
| the amount of taxes, and can be sold at
| sheriff's sale for the taxes. IT, h.,
How about the poll tax, and what is the
| collectors duty in regard to lit
Now ii is fact that very few, If any,
| persons net owning property in the city
and town of New Haven pay poll tax.
| The question may arise: Why should
| theyl And the answer: For very many
| reasons. And first, for educational pur-
poses. Every man in the city has the full
benefit of the schools of New Haven, from
the lowest to the highest, and If these, one
of the greatest of all privileges, are open tc
him, shoald he not help pay for it, II
there any valid excuse for any parent thai
sends from one to five children to schoo
and carries them up through the Higt
| school why he should not pay tax for it
and do his part towards supporting thes,
great public benefciaries2
The man now owing property has tn
same right to protection from any and al
sources as Of burglary or fire or assault
and in fact any place where he needs pub
lie assistance and protection, either il
town OF state where protection is wante,
or necessary. And should he not b
called upon to help pay for this protec
ton.
was told when I first came to Ney
Haven fourteen years ago that 1t was
political fad, and that neither party woul
collect the poll tax, because IL might 6
badly with either party that took tn
initiative In this matter. I hardly too
stock in the story, but know the poll ia
| Ia not forced to collection and PRACTICAL
| no property owner is pushed or forced
1 pay this poll tax. Is it 60 all over til
state and how much would accrue to til
/ state If these taxes were pushed to CO
| lection. The non-propsrty voter doei
and in many cases in our primaries has
large ana oftentimes overpowering Unfit
ence, and practically directs the way fe
which money must be expended. If E
should he not for the moiety Of one {
two dollars per year help pay the taxesa
In Massachusetts the poll tax ID 50 pr
year, and If that amount was paid by eac
non-property holder in Connecticut, v
would not see our legislature go bac
on the state for not increasing the scho
fund from where 1t now is to anotht
| full million.
And if the tax was pushed to collectio
we need not go begging for money fe
schools or roads or sidewalks.
1t is no hardship to any ordinary man
pay this tax. He gets an equivalent for b
money.
They get education. They get prote,
ton. They get all the pleasures and Col
veniences which the town and cities Civ
them, and they ought in a measure hel
pay for them. And If 1t was pushed
| collection we would not need to get Il
| city bonded to pay for sidewalks. Witho,
any desire to inconvenience or hardsh
any citizsn of New Haven say good fa
/ pool tax shonld be collected of every res
dent of New Haven, either native or foreie
1 born. OKALIs.