The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28
The TaNQ Question.
editor Of The Times:

Sir.-In recent issues Of your paper you
have discussed the question or personal
property taxes. pointing out The inequauly
OF our present system admitting no DIM
Guilty OF proposing any more satisfactory
scheme. and inviting sugges ions or some
improvement 1 have been hoping 10 see
O response TO this invitation, but as yet
no ono has answered your call. This ST.
lenco must be- due either % lack or
helpful thoughts or TO a widespread IN
difference on The part OF our people touch-
ing . very serious evil.
Pardon tho writer for venturng ono or
two remarks. IN the hope that even n his
own words find slight Endorsement. they
may. az least. serve 90 keep up tho agi-
tation. and perhaps enlist the interest OF
some one more competent 10 advance the
good cause.
IL seems 10 me that the reason for our
failures TO provide a better system or
levy.ng and collecting taxes Is 20 be found
in the fact that we have dealt with this
matter as though It were thing apart
having no special relation 20 any other
quest on: whereas Il should have been
considered as correlative 10 the question
of elective franchise No man has an in
herent or natural right 10 vote. IL IS
privilege conferred upon him by the gov
eminent under which he lives, subject 20
DO withheld or taken away by the SUI
premo pOwer OF the state In other
words. theh right 10 vote, Ike the right 10
hold Office. IS not A civil but political
right-a conventional and not an inalien-
able right
what. then. IS tho consideration for this
great privilege? II is an implied promise
90 support the government. and as taxa
ton is the appointed means OF securing
this support, every man who IS permitted
20 vote should be constrained 10 con-
tribute somethlng-if only his poll-tax-
in discharge Of such obligation.
First of all. then, let US have a pro-
perry qualiAcation-rest the old poll
tax prerequisite TO voting Give every
citizen one vote. provided he IS other
wise qualified and has paid all his per-
sonai taxes.
But we must go a step further. ! sus-
gesr. IN the second place. that Wa adoDt
a system Of plural voting based upon the
amount OF personal property given In for
taxation II is clear that premium
must be placed upon honesty IN tho max
ing up OF property tax lists The man
with an easy conscience who returns only
q fraction Ok what the law requires should
not enjoy the same privileges as his
nelghbOr who makes a fair disclosure
fN+tA lAfH tttf idNt hlliif 10y Nbtt0 ne -
liable. No inQuisltorial method OF reach
ing personal property for taxation will
work IN a free country. and 1t IS con-
coded on all hands that the honor system
Is a dismal failure. There would seem 10
b. but one other alternative. viz-offer a
sub tantial inducement for people 10 do
their duty. The honest man would feel
much better satisfied IL he knew that the
Fellow next door, BY making a false re-
turn. would have one or two votes less
than himself az the next election. And
who can say that u would be- unjust 10
curtail tho tax dodgers electoral in
fuence In this way?
We need not now consider the details
or the legal aspects OF this plan. II Is
believed that there are more serious OBJ
iectlons on either score. Observe. tho
proposition extends only 20 personal-pro-
perry taxes Real estate gives no trouble.
There is nothing new in what has been
said. We only insist that changing con-
ditions render the application OF these
old principles. or something like them.
moro important to-day than ever before
X Y z