Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-01
Reduction of Taxes.
Editor TandScat0r:

Editor V5ndscGtOr:
We have read with interest the proceedings
you published of the meeting of farmers held
recently at Fishersville, when the subject
of reducing the assessment of lands was fully
and ably discussed. The meeting, we are in
formed, was composed Of representative
farmers, and some Of them men OF. experience
and ability in State affairs. We hope this
subject will be agitated by all the taxpayers
in the county. for it is fact, as was stated at
the FishersEille meeting, that the farmers are
paying about seVenty-fve per cent of the
taxes, and precious few of them are ever APP
pointed to fill any of the lucrative offices.
These usually 20 to that class who pay very
little taxes 1t is we'll known fact that
bonds, stocks, money and that class OF
wealth. pay very little taxes. We agree with
the Eishersyille farmers thai the lands Of
this county should be reduced greatly; then
let the legislature increase the rate of taxa
ton, and all kinds Of property will come in
for its fair and just share of the burden. We
have noticed that several gentlemen of wealth
Of your city have been talking against the
reduction of land assessment. Why? Be
cause they know the rate will be raised and
they will be caught fer more taxes: That is
just what ought to be done. The farmers arc
growing their crops and raising their stock at
loss n Ow, while their taHes ana expenses
are just as heavy as ever. But look at other
interests Mr.. Brooks stated in the Fishers
Vile meeting, that it cost one-third Of the
value of car of hay to ship it from his place
to Richmond. Freights have not come down,
professional fees have not come down, lahQr
is the same. Why -four merchant IN Rich
mond said he was making more money than
ever before; that lac always made fifty CENTS
profit ona barrel Of -four, retail, while 1t
used to take four hundred and fifty dollars to
keep in stock hundred barrels of flour, but
now it took one hundred and fifty dollars less
capital to keep the same stock, and
he made the sam e profit. The farmers are
patient class Of people. They bear their
burdens long before they demur, but the
time will come when forbearance will cease.
We notice that a correspondent of the Daily
News. inquiries why the penalty OF five per
cent. added to taxes not paid before the first
day OF Deem Der, should not he repealed. II
the writer is not mistaken, one Of our repre-
sentatives in the last legislature, Mr.. Koiner,
offered bill to that effect. He passed it
through the House, but it was defeated in the
Senate. Ii.is Law works a hardship on the
taxpayer, and should be repealed. If the
farmers don't look out for their own inter-
ests, surely no one else will. All other in
terests are combind for their own protection.
The railroads feeling the hard times. went
to Congress and got pooling bill passed,-a
trust, for their benefit. Now the bankers are
demanding more protection, in the currency
bill before Congress. And SO it goes. Why
can't Virg mia have a cheaper form of gov
eminent; call a Constitutional Gonven tion,
and when one is CALLED, lei delegates be sent,
as Mr.. Koiner said at Fishersville, who real
ly want expenses reduced. There is no reason
why the people Of Virginia should pay for
State expenses nearly double what the people
of North Carolina or Tennessee pay for their
government. The ideal government, is pro-
lection to life, liberty and property of citi-
zens at the least expense. Now let us have
it, This is true Jeffersonian democracy, and
let the democratic party give it to the people.
FARMER.