The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-09-28
SOMETHING ABOUT TAXATION

hou. Auo pSOple 90 not give the
attention to the question that it de-
mands. Each industrious citizen is
content rs rule if he has sufficient
money to pay his taxes, and he gives
no further attention to the matter.
There is no question about the
thought he gives to the payment of
his taxes, and while he is thinking
on the payment he wonders why it
is that taxes are so high, but it does
not occur to him while thinking over
the matter that the very best thing
he could do to enlighten himself
would be to ascertain if all others
liable to taxation were paying ac-
cording to the value of their proper
ty as he is required to pay on the
value of his property, which failure
to inform himself upon so important
a matter is neglect of duty as a cit
izen, and is the chief cause of his
thoughts upon high taxes. 1t is not
regarded by most of men who pay
taxes as their neglect to inquire into
the matter of payment of taxes by
others to learn if they are bearing
their share of the burden of govern
ment is failure in patriotic duty
that is imposed upon them as citizens.
The truth respecting the matter of
inquiry is that the large number of
the very best people are of the opin-
ion that it would meddling with the
business affairs of others, which is
incorrect. Taxation is a matter of
public utility. 1t is useful, as we
can only have good government as
result of taxation, and it is patri-
otic duty that dovolves on every
citizen 10 know that the government
is properly sustained by a just and
equal levy upon all property subject
to assessment.
Taxation is a ma tor that the pub
lie in an individual sense as we'll as
a whole are interested, because it is
the chief corner stone to good gov
ernment, and good government will
continue to our children the liberties
we so much prize. Do not think
seriously that unequal taxation is a
matter, as an unjust or unequal bur-
den imposed by an unjust or unequal
levy is lsden with the worst of con-
sequences to the state and nation, if
continued; also to every citizen, es-
pecially those who have families and
who are lovers of their country and
its liber rites.
1t has been and is the purpose of
those who direct large property in
terests to avoid payment of taxes,
and by avoiding payment save
money-anything to make money or
to save it, is rule of the money
power, which power will rob the
poor and defraud the government to
make money. The end justifes the
means is maxim with large ma
jority of those who have money or
who represent it when in corporate
form. Money is not patriotic, and
corporate aud money powers disre-
gard the prompting OF patriotism.
Patriotism is a proper thing to be
laughed at, and government is a
power to be used to further the ends
of corporate and money power when
engaged in robbing the people,
which is the chief business of each.
Preceding the time of the French
revolution, at the close of the last
century, the aristocracy and the
money power of France had sue
ceeded in arranging taxation in that
country in such way that the large
and most valuable property interests
in France were exempt from assess
ment and levy. Upon the poor and
the small property owners was i'm
posed the burden of government.
Taxation that blistered the body and
scared the soul of man was upon the
toiling people of that unfortunate
land, till tyranny became unsupport-
able and death became to the poor
preferable to life, and the revolution
came with its eagerness that overlook
the Innocent with the guilty. In the
revolution in France will we learn
lesson that will teach us to avoid like
consequences to our beloved republic
by giving our attention and time TO
patriotic duty to demand equal as
sessment and tax levy upon all prop
srty not exempt by law.-Journal.