Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-08-23


about this ratio, sustained for hundreds
of years by the bimetallic system. would
not be again sustained by it, and next be-
cause that is the present ratio of our
coinage, and the trouble and expense of
melting this coinage down to change it
should not be attempted until found to
be necessary.
1t is advanced by the tmid or coward
ly that we should wait for European
nations to act with us, especially Great
Britain, Germany and France. This is
not satisfactory suggestion to Ameri-
cans. We are net accustomed to await
the consent of other nations to do what
we think ought to be done. Americans
are neither towards nor sluggards. 1t
they believe thing should be done, they
have little patience for plea of delay
in doing it. ut is the slothful man that
saith there is a lion in the way"
Every sensible American knows that
we can get along better without Europe
than they can without us. If they will
not take our money, they cannot get
our trade. No tariff ever raised so sure
a barrier to trade as premium on
money. But our trade is the best trade
in the world and one that neither En-
gland, Germany nor France will lose if
they can prevent it. Capital is always
timid, and those who owe debts in
Europe or are interested in corporations
that owe such make furious outcry
against any policy that they think
might produce premium on gold. In
doing this they are utterly unmindful
of the interests of the nation and for
getful that they represent but a very
small per cent of its population.
There is another question that CON
fronts the American people at this time
concerning which they are bound to
act the taxing of wealth. Vast aggre-
cations of personal property now pay
no tax. This certainly should be cor
rected. The principle, too, is believed
to be sound that those who have much
should pay a larger proportion of the
tax than those that have little. The
property of such is protected at the
expense of government, and now pays
no tax for such protection. Fer in
stance. the vast real estate of the
Astors in New York city, which the
government protects at large expense
/ by the building of forts and yes
sells and the sustenance of armies, con
tributes nothing whatever to the eX-
penses of the national government. 1t
is taxed for city and State expenses
alone Mr. Astor contributes nothing
whatever toward this protection or for
the expenses OF the national govern
ment, except the very small duties on
what he eats or wears, which Is contri-
buted equally by other citizens, who
have little or no property. What can be
more equitable than that real estate OF
personal property should pay its part tc
the support of government? What rea-
son under the sun can be advanced why
it should not? An income tax would
accomplish this, and the people will as.
suredly have such tax, even if the va
cilating decisions of the supreme court
render it necessary to alter the cOnsti.
tuition. The statement that the income
tax is double taxation is utterly untrue
1t is no more double taxation than the
two taxes, road and school, are double
taxation. Real estate now pays city
and State, but not national taxes.
The country is called upon, too, to
consider the railroad problem. When
in the senate Mr.. Edmunds was on the
side of the people in insisting that the
Pacific railroads should pay the obiga
tions due by them to the government
He also favored the government owner
ship of telegraphs, perhaps also of rail
roads we do not remember. The first l:
probably not desirable, as telegraphs are
not necessity to any one, and are useC
very little by the great majority of the
people. But with railroads this is diff
ferent. The railroads are part of the
nations highways. Every one uses then
for travel or transportation. 1t is
therefore, very important that they
should be operated in the Interest
of the people, and to accomplish this i
may be necessary that government
should control them.
These different questions are all Of
them pressing upon the nation for it.
action. Concerning them the old partie;
are badly divided, so that the people may
be obliged to form new party to ac
complish their purposes in regard tC
them.
JOSEPH BATTELL.