West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-02-14
DIRECT TAXATION
Abolish the Protective" Tariff Hum
bug and Support tho Federal
Government Sans as We Do
the County and State.
Another Able aud Logical Article
Written Specially for The Argus
by Col, Robt. w. Monroc.

bplioh. ARGUS - ny not ply
our taxes, or proportion of tho ex-
penses of the Federal Government,
IL the same way wo do to the
County and State? Why not? Oh /!
that will never do. Why that
would be the hated ercie tar-the
exciscman---lhat terrible animal.
that our forefathers hated as Satan
does holy water. lie will he abroad
IN the land. ptying into ali the Sc
crets of tho fan lily. Our hom will
mo longer be our castles: the excise
man, the Federal tax gathercr, will
trample OH our sacred rights with.
out hesitation, and without scruple.
Farewell liberty Farewell indi-
vidual security, when tho Federal
tax gal herer stalks abroad In the
land. Would that bc so if n falrer
and better system Of Federal tsxa-
tion were devised Would there
be new brood Of Federal office.
holders TO execute the law? nm
swef yes, If we were foolish enough
to have 1t so, but not necessarily.
at all. The method would be sim
pier and much moro direct, and
much less expensive. than the col
lection OF State taxes. Neither
would there be any place for the
exciseman, or Federal tax gatherer.
nor any necessity for an additional
Federal ollicc.hOldet; but on the
contrary, thousands of Offices would
be abolished, and millions Of dol.
lars would be saved To the people.
that are now worse than wasted.
Onr present system is tho most
cumbersome, costly and corruptIng
system that ever was devised. Let
MS see. All our property. real and
personal, is valued by our owl
chosen officers, aud the aggregate
value is known ut our own capital,
ahd our own taxes are based thereon.
30 1t is in every State aud Territory
III the Union. What slight matter,
therefore, would il be for the Gov
crnmenta at Washington 10 ascertain
the exact aggregate wealth, or taxa.
BILE basis. Of all TIE States. The
Government at Washington, rs do
the State Governments. and County
Governments, estimates the amount
OF money that will be needed for
all purposes for the current iisc Il
year; aud IL could be ascertnincd
almost ut u glance--by very sim.
pie operation in arithmetic, that
any of our intelligent school boys
could perform--just what per cent
would be necessary to lay Oh the
aggregate wealth OF the country.
to produce the required amount Of
revenue. OF which West Vuglnii
would be required to pay INTO the
Federal Treasury her exact proper.
tionai part--no more. no less. The
proper officer ut Washington. at
liked and definite time, say March
lst Of each year, would certify 10
the proper officer at each State
Capital the quota OF that State; let
that officer certify the same immc.
diutely to the Clerk Of the County
Court OF each county. with proper
instructions. oHce oaiU: SIMPLY tho
rate per- ceEk Of Federal taxation,
and the whole thing is practically
done. The information having been
thus given 10 the county officials.
let those whose business it is TO
make out the tax receipts or ticko s
heQd the ticket per cent on the
gross amount OF The tax PAYERS
wd0le property Tor Federal taxation.
"A - B. 1898.
0-l0 of ! per ct. on si 900
for Federal taxation $500. >"
Then follow with the items Tor ali
other purposes. arranged as now.
lot tie law be as favorable for
the collection ot The Federal taxcs
rs possible. Il could hardly be
more so than 10 Is already. IN all
the States. As fast rs these oolico
tons arc paid into The State Treas.
ury let thc Trcasurcrs forward them
immediately TO the Treasury 40
Washington. For further security.
aud to guard against any embar.
rassment tn the Federal Govern.