The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-09-23
favored corporations.

eminent favored corporations
1t is well remarked in recent num-
Der of The Mexican Financier that
"the common people are not asking for
concessions or salaried places or social
distinctions at the hands of General
Diaz, and they are the most loyal
friends he has. 4" Very true it is that the
common people of Mexico are not ask
ing for concessions or salaried places or
social distinction. They know by long
experience that salaried places are at
the disposal Of the wealth of Mexico,
that social distinction is barred from
them by their poverty and wretchedness,
which are increased and perpetuated by
government policies
Taxes to Pay Subsidies.
In his letter eulogizing the Mexican
government and its financial policy it
will be remembered that Mr.. Bryan
made no reference to the most conspic-
uous feature Of Mexico financial policy,
its subsidy granting, monopoly form
ing, capital favoring characteristics,
which add to the power Of an edict from
the palace even while they add to the
poverty Of the masses from whose toll
all are being enriched in Mexico save
the toilers themselves Itmay be q mat
ter of some interest to my readers to
learn how the generous subsidies are
provided for. In the first place, Mexico
has a schedule Of import duties several
hundred per cent in excess of the tariff
duties of the present Dingley bill in the
United States on many staple articles,
90 per barrel ON -four, $1.4O per bushel
on wheat, IS per keg ON nails, 81 each
On hats, $3 per square yard ON wooden
cloth and cents per square yard on
plain cotton cloth, IL cents per pound
on cured meats and go cents per quart
on canned fruit, being some items indie
alive Of its general make up. These
duties, however, are evidently intended
to be in great part prohibitive. and they
are having that effect, although Mr..
Bryan approyingly credits the decrease
Of imports to the free silver exchange
sliding scale. Stamps are required by the
government on every receipt issued, ON
every show card or advertisement post.
ed up on notes, bills, checks, contracts,
leases, certificates, and the books of ev-
cry business house are taxed in accord
ance with the number of leaves each
book contains, the bookkeeping system
being prescribed by the government. In
addition to the stamp requirement ev-
cry line of business is compelled to pay
for the privilege of existence all it can
possibly bear, from $500 per month by
the largest stores to from 10 to 80 cents
per day by the old woman who brings
basket Of vegetables from her little gar
den to sell ON the street. Doctors and
lawyers and dentists pay $50 per month
for the privilege of practicing their
profession in addition to all other forms
OF taxation they must meet; architects,
$50 per month; ministers Of every
creed, $40 per month; retail grocers,
81, 400 per year in this city and district;
lumber yards, 81, 200 per year; cloth
ing stores, 5000 per year; hotels,
90, 400, and SO ON through a list which
includes every form of business and ev
cry line Of occupation and industry.
All these exactions, be it .remembef.
ed, are in addition to the usual taxes OF.
real estate, live stock and such like pos.
sessions For instance, in addition to
the stamp requirements and other taxes
bakers are compelled to pay tax of $24
per year for each oven they make use of
or possess and butchers are taxed So. so
per head for all cattle slaughtered and
81 per head for hogs and sheep. These
facts indicate how it is made possible
for the government of Mexico to bestow
such subsidies as are announced in The
Mexican Herald, mot to exceed &c.
600, 900" to the Mexican Southern rail
way, limited, and to reimburse the ma
tional treasury for the enormous losses
and grave concern" heretofore alluded
to through depreciation and fuctuation
in the value of it's free coinage cur
rency, but they afford no explanation as
to the merits Mr. Bryan could have found
in the system here which leads him to
urge its adoption in the United States.
1t cannot be questioned or denied that
the same loss in revenue, the same fluc-
tuation in value, the same unusual re-
quirements relative to meeting largely
increased national expenses. and the