The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-30
our.r1nNs oT M noun.

QUESTIONS or THE HOUR.
We have two systems Of taxation,
which are as different as systems Of tax
alton can we'll be. That Of the general
government Is an impost on what we
buy; and that Of the states is a tax on
what We have. Each Of these systems
has It's advantages. and each has its me
qualities and ITS hardships; but OF the
two systems that Of the states Is much
more just and comes nearer taxing each
man according to the protection be re-
ceives.
In the state system Of direct taxation
on the man aud on the property he has
and the business he is doing, there is al
least an approximation to justice, and d
the system is correctly applied It be
comes a very close APPROXIMATION TO O.
lust distribution o. the burdens OF the
state government
The man pays poll tax for the pro
lection OF bis person, property tax Tor
the protection Of his property, and a
license taS Tor the protection OF his
business. Under this system man
pays in proportion to the protection the
state gives him in bis person and his
business The proportion Of the taxes
levied on each Of these three depart
ments. differs in different states. In
some states the taxes are too high on
property, while in others they are too high
on business, and in all too high on
the person. In our state the man pays
more for the protection Of some pur-
suits than men do for similar protection
in other states. In all the rich and the
poor are alike subject 10 military duty;
though the poor man has lsss 10 protect
than the rich.
But under the impost system Of the
general government the poor man pays
Just as much as the rich-he pays just
as much for pound Of taxed sugar and
yard OF taxed cloth as the rich man.
The government protects the coal in
dustry; the owners Of coal mines reap
the benefits They raise the price Of
the coal and all consumers, rich and
poor pay their increased profits.
The army and the navy protect us
and our property. For this the work
ing man pays as much as the man who
boards his millions.
While, therefore, the system Of taxa
ton in the states does not always tax
the poor man more than his full share
Of the cost Of the protection be receives,
the system Of the United States makes
him pay far more than his just proTo5-
ton Of the expenses OF the protection
given 10 all men and all their posses
sions. The injustice OF the system Of
the general government was made pain
fully manifest during the late war. Men
were drafted for the army. tie rich and
the poor alike. 10 cost tho poor man
just as much 20 defend his country as 10
did the rich. And besides the poor
man IN all cases could not make the
necessary provision for his wife end
children. while tho rich could hire a sub
stitute and stay with q family, and e.
cape al the dangers of hospitals aud
battles.
The injustice q this system Of mill
tary duty could in part DO remedied by
abolishing in the states all poll and
other personal taxes, which are the
same on rich and poor.
The general government too could in
some measure lessen the injustice ~ its
system by placing On the free hst as
many articles u general consumption
by the laboring poor rs possible. But
some ~ tho articles, which arc nov pro
posed FOR the free list DO not come uu-
der this head
There is lead. Tor Instance. which is
not consumed by the masses. aud the
removal o. the duty from which would
not Tighten the tax upon to- laborer
Tie wisdom ~ removing the duty upon
that, 40 time when Che silver industry
Is depressed, ~ eerou-ly questioned Ly
many good tariff reformera Our silver
miners, certainly, are unit against a
change in the duty, under existing con
ditions
A miner who in general favors o re-
duction u tariff duties makes this
point 10 a communicated o. The IyDE
PENDENT, urging the election u another
senator, and, il is fair % say, with mucl
force. lie Gays:
Oar Manufacturer vould reap the great
est good from cheap lead and oar miner
would Be tks greatest sufferers. Will
silver ia depressed many OF our SILVER unine
will be compelled % stop uoHk and die
charge their WoTkmsn. Bat some sIlve
mines rich In letd will SSH pay a email
profit while the duty 10 continued. Whor
our ports are opened 10 ell the lead PRO
duoinR nations these minss will cease q,
pay. Dsmouetizs silver and put lead on thl
free list and nearly all our silver mines vii
stop and many Thousands more Of on
lsboring men will be thrown ont Of en-
ploymsut
We think this is too gloomy a view