The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-20
rAxArrox IN AusrRALrA.

that one Of the chief issues In this coun-
try r. 10 be the subject of taxation. The
leading newspapers OF the East are de-
voting considerable attention 10 It, and
for the first time In the history of this
country local taxation as a system Is
being assalIed 50 far no suggestion of
any value has been advanced. and II Is
probable that attention viii be directed
to the experience OF other countries. II
ance. and on property as now assessed
are all open to serious objection. There
never will be system devised which
shall be entirely free from objection. but
II seems probable that some uniform
system may be discovered which shall be
free from the gross inequities of the pres
ent method.
The subject has attracted great deal
of attention in Australia. and John Hin
die. who was formerly member OF pariia-
ment In New South Wales. who visited
here short time since. gave very clear
idea of the condition IN Australia There
the sources OF revenue are twofold-direct
taxation and public service. The Aus
tralian governments are the greatest
employers OF labor In the world; the gov
ernments of the colonies own ana control
all railways, tramways. postal and tele-
graph lines, water and sewerage systems.
and such other public works az harbors.
roads and bridges. Ii is well known that
the debt of Australia is larger than that
of any other country per capita. While
that of the United States 10 only siass per
eapita. that OF New South Wales is s9li.s7
per capita, and that Of Queensland. which
Is higher than that OF any other COM
munity In the world, Ia Ssas. 4s. The high
est debt I'm Europe is that of France.
which is slle.s5 per capita, and that OF
Great Britain is only $s7.79. II is. there
fore. somewhat startling TO be informed.
as Mr. Hlndla Informs US, that mo coun-
try IN the world is so lightly taxed as
Australia
Much of the debt of the colonies is
really an investment of capital which
produces returns. and that'aecounts Tor
the fact that the revenue In New South
Wales from public services Is about $io0,-
coo coo per annum. This. of course. can
not be called taxation In the usual sense
Of the term. as II is payment by the peo-
pie TO the government for services rem
dered. OF the revenue derived from TAX
alton proper part Of II is from a tarin
on imports but this is being reduced. and
only seven or eight kinds OF imported
commodities are subject to duties. except
liquors opium and tobacco. which are
highly taxed. The Internal taxation seems
TO be OF very simple character They
have no tax on personal property or I'M
provemenis. but they have mild form OF
land tax equal TO cents on - In United
States money, or as they put IL. one penny
IN tho pound. This land value tax went
into effect a year ago. and much benefit Is
said 10 have already resulted. Mr.. Hindie
SAYS that 20 Australians visiting the
United states the policy Of taxing personal
property seems so inconsistent and unjust
| that they can hardly believe II. III
puhlic Official in our country should un-
| dertake TO 20 around into peoples houses
what was the value of their goods or FUR
nlu,re. how much money they had in bank.
| how much jewelry. how many musical
Instruments or other personal property
| they owned. or what were the gross re-
GENTS Of their business, such an imperti-
| nent intermeadler in private affairs would
/ be looked upon as a iunaiic freshly
/ escaped from some asylum. We do not
| believe that the government has any right
/ 20 poke It's nose into peoples private bush
| meas. nor has IL right 10 take from them
under the name Of taxation any portion
| Of their personal earnings. This senti-
+. ment l. growing stronger all the time "a
| the subject of taxation and revenue con
| tinues 20 be agitated."
| The conclusion reached by Ar. Hindle
is rather extravagant In its terms. because
| Il Is undoubtedly the right OF govern
rnent to take a portion Of the personal
| earnings OF taxpayers. The contribution
| made by the taxpayer is his proportion
| toward asfraying the expenses Of govern
| meut. and there Is no more reason Why
some OF his personal earnings should not
| h>,aken 10 Tight the streets through which
| he passes than to require 1t Of him fer the
| light he uses in bis house; nor Is there any
| reason why ne should not contribute from
| his psrzonsi earnings TO pay fer the help
| he receives from the Ere department and
| the police department In the proseeticn CT
| his property. II is voluntary payment.
| every taxpayer votes for taxation. al
/ though he leaves the amount necessary to
| ~ determined 81 his delegates. whom be
also selects. II IS not the right % gov
| srnmant 90 tax that - questioned or re-
| sisted: 81 l. the exaSpsratins. unequal. TN
/ juss system which places the burden up-
on those least sele 20 bear Il. and aeon
pAnles "a BY an iDguisitorial Interrogation
! that never fails 10 make the most will
tsx taxpayer angry.
We need not oe afraid TO consider tAe
! subject q tax reform on the gronud that
/ everything except the present SYSTEM 1.
ropa!ls,ic or eociailstic. The Chioa q
| Pit. ccmmentsns upon tie subject. SAYS:
'~rne passage by the soIsaIy Republican
| legislature % sucA a conservative indus
/ trial state as New York. o q radical
graduated o. progressive inheritance taS
] law. was a most ssSnIaoans indication o.
the trend % legislation ard rSferrsas
20 TIRE aeserSs q the Ball hy IS authe- 4
Republican o< snQucstsonet ability ard ~
,ekrsty. says one rnnSs esrtAlaly share his