The San Francisco call., 1897-01-03
Letters From the People.
PER CAPITA TAXATION.
Il Proposition That 1t Is Asserted Ho"t@
FENDER Ta1es Uniform.

Il Proposition That 1t Is Asserted Ho"e@
Render Ta1es Uniform.
To the Editor of the San francisco Call-SIR:
TIE alarming tendency to increase taxatlon
and thus add to the burdens already too heavy
is apparent in every direction. The taxpayer,
with scanty purse, looks on with horror, ana
fearful for the future asks, "When Will tnls
legal robbery cease? p The answer comes In
the shape of an appropriation for more pupllc
buildings and an additional staff OF well-pald
officials; more places for favorites, increase in
the salaries of officers who have always been
too literally paid for the times even when the
coun try was in the height of its prosperity.
The entire State is being covered with public
institutions conducted by corps OF high
salaried employees. The City of San Francisco,
not to be outdone in this reckless policy to
freely spend the money OF others, is likewise
making every endeavor to increase the num-
Der of its municipal buildings, as well as the
salaries of the political hireings upon whom
their management depends. The whole scale
of wages is far in excess of that paid TO the
best skilled labor in the land, and, when cou-
pied with the duties required and the steady
employment of the incumbents. it is not sur
prising that protests should be heard from
those who are fortunate if they should be en-
ployed even two-thirds of the time at lesser
rate.
There is not department in either the State
or CityGovernment that could not be conducted
for at least 80 per cent less money. The office
holders will invariably tell you that they are
hard worked and poorly paid, and each
year rolls around they demand still larger ap-
propriations together with an increase in the
working force. The legislators the people
elect are ever ready to prove false to their
trust and to respond freely to the demands of
the tax-eater. There is no pretensio to any
thing like business management; in fact it is
only question of how much will the tax
payers stand without revolution.
The government of this City, with its un-
blushing greed, regularly ADDS 10 the burden
of the taxpayer by creating fat places for po-
litical favorites, appropriating moneys for un-
necessary buildings and squandering the peo-
pies funds without any consideration of the
ability of the property-holder to contribute 10
these extravsgances. To partially cure these
evils the writer begs leave to offer the follow
ing suggestions:
First, that taxation should be levied accord
ing to the population, as shown by the Federal
census.
Second, that per capita tax of So (maxi-
mum) should be levied in each county for
State purposes only.
Third, that each County Treasurer should
pay into the State treasury maximum sum
of So for each inhabitant in said county,
which sum should be in full for each county's
proportion for the support of the State Govern
ment. No greater amount than $3 per capita
should be collected in any year.
Fourth, for county or city purposes, taxes
should be levied in the same manner, that is,
per capita tax OF a maximum amount, which
amount should be levied ON the property in
the county, and be in addition to the sum
levied for State purposes
Fifth, for this city government the maxi
mum amount OF taxes levied should not ex-
ceed $40 for each lnhabitant, and at every
Federal census taxes should be regulated so
that they would not exceed the amount of So
per capita for State use, and SO per capita for
the government of the city and county.
BY this method each county would know
just what they would be Called upon to pay
into the State treasury each year, and every
taxp'yer would be assured of q uniform rate
OF taxation, thereby abolishlng the bsurd and
unjust method now in vogue. Under this plan
the rate OF taxation would be as follows on
the basis of 800, 900 population:
For State purposes. at SO per capita.... 5000 600
For City and County purposes, at $40
per capita. .......-................ 3OOO,GO0
For fines and licenses, ,say............... 500.0OO
This amount would therefore represent a
sum sufficiently large to support q much
larger city than San Francisco.
Under this method of per capita taxation
several counties would be compelled to estab-
lish ratio or per capita tax that would be
sufficient to pay the expenses of the various
governments, and which ratio could not be
changed until the next Federal census an
nounced the population of the various coun-
ties ana their towns. There would be no occa-
sion for the maintenance of State Board OF
Equalization that never did equalize, and the
taxpayer would have the satisfaction of know
ing that his taxes would De uniform and that
a limit had been placed upon the grab game
of the tax-eater. A. NJ. SPECK.
San Francisco, January 2, 1897.