The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-05

by go,g there can save a large sum every
year In taxes and have the opportunity
OF doing a local trade amongst a mucn
larger population. Even the transfer OF
MS house outside the boundaries OF this
city, Into Chesterfield or Henrico coun-
Ties. viii save him a large sum every
year and entail little inconvenience upon
him. now that the telephone Is so well
extended. How strange and sad II Is TO
see Southern legis t;ures and city au-
thorities driving business away from the
South and keeping capital and ENTERPRISE
from developing our resources. by ANTIGUA
ted and barDarOus systems OF taxation.
When we 90 only into Maryland. the next
state north OF US we find a more liberal
policy pursued. In Pennsylvania state
SIN further North. a still more liberal
policy Is pursued. whilst In New YORK
state business interests are dealt with
more after me manner common In En-
gland and otner countries In Europe. In
Fact, the further North we 20 the more
liberal and enlightened are tho tax laws.
u IL any wonder that trade and commerce
flourish in the North ana anguish In the
SOUTH Is Il any wonder that Mr.. Roun-
tree. after serving two years In the CITY
Council. should say. as he said the other
day publicly. that trade was being killed
had already been compelled to establish
a branch Of his business in New York,
and that II he had not already built and
established a large factory In this city
ne would not invest dollar here in bus
mess and that even now he might be CON-
PEELED. in order 20 meet competition. 10
remove his whole business away from this
city and State whilst we are laboring
under these difficulties the city Of Rich
mOnd IS even now In tho throes Of con-
test in which the object Of one party,
and that the so-called Democratic party.
IS 90 defeat those who would give US a
better system and curtan expenses. ana
the Legislature now sitting Is engaged
nearly its whole time IN seeking after
fresh subjects for taxation under the in
SEPARATION Of the leader Of the Senate.
whom 7 heard say q few days ago that
Vt was not so much retrenchment that
was wanted as more revenue. II one may
hazard an opinion from what one reads
In the newspapers every day Of the pro-
ceedings OF the Legislature. by the time
the session IS closed the only things not
subject 20 10 the tex gatherer will be
fresh air and daylight. How different -
the case I'm Northern States. Massachu-
setts recently appointed a commission 70
has reported In favor Of the abolition or
all taxation OF personal property. as Is
tho case in England. Ohio has also.
through a commission. reported against
the taxation ~ personal property and IN
New York State the controller Of taxes
has strongly urged the same policy IN his
ren1rt 10 the Governor. America is the
only civilized nation In the world which
taxes personal property. ~ is relic ~
feudal times which every nation in Eu-
rope has cast off IL IS unjust and repres-
sive Of enterprise and progress and bears
heaviest upon those who have the least
and are worst able 10 bear tho burden.
II offends against every canon OF an
equitable and Just system OF taxation and
like an excessive excise law defeats the
object OF its own existence 1T kills the
goose that lays the golden eggs" and if
persisted in here will KIN the business Of
this city and State. 40 wonder that all
the meetings held here 90 advance the
business Interests OF the city have
failed 10 materlalize business. Capt.
tal when Il finds that 1t must
earn at least % per cent be-
fore % can hope 90 sucure even per
cent net return on its investment land
this IS so when s per cent is absorbed In
whom l have quoted gives us the go-by
and seeks a more hopeful locality. The
worst evil OF all this system of unjust
and excessive taxation IS that IL burdens
the poorest amongst us ont Of all proper
ton % their ability. Every tax imposed
on the manufacturer or merchant & ulu-
matelv paid by the consumer and n only
the power Of consumption is in excess OF
the power Of production Is a matter OF
small moment 90 the producer or distribu-
tor The masses OF the people-the con-
sumers-pay the bill and hard Is their
lot under such an onerous system as ours.
A decreased consumption Is the result
and then the producer and distributor are
hurt and the one least necessary. the dis
trbutor or jobber the middleman. be-
tween producer and consumer. IS squeezed
out Of existence This will be I'm a few
years the position Of our merchants and
iobbers as IL has been largely IN England
even with the greatest freedom OF trade
and no taxation imposed on personal prop
erty. Here with protection and excessive
taxation, the process viii be FASTENED.
have seen whole streets OF fine four
story warehouses go out OF occupation In
one town 10 n few years from change
IN methods Of business. These warehouses
were built for and occupied by merchants
-middlemen-who boug.t from manufac-
turers and sold 10 retailers. Now the
manufacturers sell % the retailers direct
and the merchant or iobber must turn 10
other occupations and the warehouses
are untenanted or converted into Offices.
Competition alone. thOut excessive tax
alton. brought this about and competition
with excessive taxation will bring u
about: In fact IS bringing IL about, as
pointed out by Merchant" already IN
this city, The town where this happened
was a great manufacturing centre and
therefore the loss was not so greatly felt.
Here. where outside the tobacco trade we
have practically no manufacturing In
dustry. the loss Of our jobbins trade
means ruin 10 the city and immense loss
20 the State. Nothing but an amendment
Of our system Of taxation so as 10 bring
Il in line with the teachings OF political
economy-as worked out I'm practice in
England under the greatest finance min
lister the world has ever known. Mr.
Gladstone-can save us from this cata-
clysm. J. F. JACKSON.
Richmond. Va. March 2. 1885.