Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-03-23
AUNTo AND vINDICATOR.

lunary spirits, or examined very close
ly the grounds in the tea cup, tor JUS
fifty him in being go positive about
what will happen hereafter.
For my part / repeat that l am will
ing to trust the legislature of the tu-
ture, or rather the peOk lie who elect it,
calamity shall not attend upOn the en-
forcement of the law. But all this is
necessarily conjecture both u on you
part and mine, and has no plac in the
discussion of aquestion involving only
the righteousness, or the reverse, OF a
law to equalize taxation. That is the
whole question,-all else is GIiUnde.
You speak of this bill as increasing
the general burden of taxation and
loading the people with another tax
law" Begging your pardon, it does
nothing OF the sort. 10 be sure 1t
makes people pay who never paid be
fore; it uncovers property already
charged With tG1eS, but which has
tOted no portion of the burden; and 1t
will in individual instances take more
money out OF the pocket of him who
has hitherto paid up on his visible
property because he could not help it,
but who has not paid up on his invisi-
BILE because he could help it. 1t is
rough on these people,-hence these
tears.
But it hurts no one else, and is but a
temporary Inconvenience any way, Tor
you can rely upon it.as a law OF human
nature that if the bill is found to
double or largely increase, as it ought
to do, the revenue of the State In the
first year of its operation, the people
will look to it that the rate of tax on
all kinds of property and subjects is
promptly reduced.
Besides, the fact must not be lost
sight of amidst a fog of immaterialitles
and side issues, that if in the begin
ming. decades ago, when incomes
money and the like. we're made SUP
jects of taxation, they had been ane
continued to be fairly and properly re
ported and assessed, the present rate
of tax and consequent burden on landi
and licenses, and the constant searc[
for some new source of revenue, woult
never have become necessary. Ii an!
man doubts that statement, let hin
look at Tables 81 and 30 of the Repor'
of the Auditor of Public Accounts TO.
the fiscal year 1889 and cast his ey!
over the absurdly small totals of -suci
subjects for his county, city or town
and he will be convinced that l an
within the bounds of truth in making
the above broad statement.
Possibly, however, discussion OF tn
subject is fr~uitless, as in a little Will
we shall all know through the decision
of the Court of Appeals whether IN
bill shall become operative or not. 81
ready the men with six thousand DO
lar incomes, who have been MAXIM
for many long years a stubborn resist
ance to the assaults of the tax collec
tor, from behind the breastwork OF
six hundred dollar exemption. ct q
onlne genus, have come out Into tn
open and hurled their missiles at thI
devoted bill, not because it is un
jjust, or inequitable, or unfair, or un
righteous, but because forsooth 1t wa
not passed by the legislature in th
manner pointed out by the Constltu
ton? This Constitution being III
same sacred, inviolable and not-to-be
disobeyed instrument as provides thai
| Taxation shall be equal and I'M.
form, and all property, both real an
personal, shall be taxed in proportio.
to it's value, to be a~Scertained as pr'
scribed by law. No one species
property, from which a tax may b
, collected, shall be taxed higher tina
+ any other species of property OF equi
value"
8 GEORGE A. MUsHBACH.
t Alexandria, March II, 1900.