Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-04-15
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes.

The city council of Richmond has
been wrestling with the tax problem.
Their retrencement has begun where
all small legislators begin. In cutting
down salaries. Poorly paid officers are
about the most worthless set that ever
trod the wine press of human affairs,
but the idea of retrenchment having
no broader foundation than the chop
ping off of few paltry salaries is
pitiable. They are trying reform
after the following fashion, they are
contemplating an increase OF licenses
on lawyers. doctors, liquor dealers
and others, So far as the first two are
concerned they have always been the
butt for such legislation and will con-
tlnue to be we suppose. The tax on
them has always been an outrage and
legalized robbery, but neither courts
nor legislature has had the courage to
stop it, The only brains taxed are
these, whilst the teacher. the preacher,
the lecturer, the editor, the banker
and many other brain workers go free.
The higher tax on saloons will be pop
ular in a sense. but if it is revenue
they are seeking they had bettor re-
member that high tax is often prohib-
itory, and thus the object fails. But
did it ever occur to a town council to
reduce expenses instead of increase
taxation3 If not Richmond, or this
CITY. which ia much in the same boat
with it's sister, should think once in a
while on the subject. In this town, a
person owning a house worth So. 600
pays about So per month for the privi-
lege of living in it, and if he be law
yer he pay S. per month additional
for the privilege of praeticing his pro-
fession, and possibly So per month ad-
ditional as his water tax. But in
addition to the above doctors libra
ry and apparatus, and a lawyers
library are taxed, his property, If he
has any, is taxed just as other peoples
and when to this lie added his Office
rent. and his household expenses. and
to a doctor his office rent, and the ex-
pense OF keeping horse and buggy
and the tax on them, the wonder is
that any professional man keeps from
bankruptcy at all. If complaint is
made that our people are taxed too
high, the reply vouchsafed us is, that
we are not taxed as high as Norfolk or
maybe Lynchburg or some other place,
as if their sufferings had anything to do
with ours. Or If we complain that our
water tax is enormous, as it is, we are
told that it is the lightest tax in CON-
parison to the benefits we receive that
we have to pay,and whilst this is true,
what is there to prevent our other
taxes being lighter? or what kind of
consolation is it to tell a man who is
dying of starvation that his death is
easier than if he we're being burned
Almost everything is taxed here, even
to poor negro, who, with a broken
legged horse. tries to make living by
hauling for the public. He must pay
license. We suppose Richmond has
been equally as vigilant and active,
but we are certain with our expert
ence. that il anything is left untaxed
all that is necessary will be to tell
somebody and the tax will be laid. A
few days ago we saw small estate Of
about $4,000 left by kinsman to some
nieces, the State of Virginia took Of 1t
over $500 as collateral tax" God
In his wisdom only knows Low much
nhe VIII take a. direct tax before they