Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-31

"Ye JaokobItes by Name Give an
Ear"
State and city taxes with us aggre-
gate Ito per cent. The best forms
of fixed investments yield Il scant s.
per cent. OH the principal. The chances
or deterioration in value, the actual
cost of the control and anagement of
the property, work havoc with the net
balance of 9-10 per cent. remaining
after the tax is deducted. 1t is dif1l-
cult. as any one is aware who has had
the charge of trust funds, to keep the
corpus of the estate intact, and save
1t from corrosion and decay. The re-
suit in the case of private personal
property, it is admitted, has been that
the possessor has compounded more or
less fairly with the Commemorative and
given In such account of his substance
as he deems he can afford, and as he
considers a reasonable measure of his
DUTY to the State--cara mater-for ben
ehtS received. y tax of 2 Ito per cent
on personal property is confiscation,
ana nothing less, in point of theory. In
practice. the abnormal tax is softened
down by the compromise which the
taX-paying public makes with the ext
Gency OF the case, and the public con-
science is tolerant in the practical
y
tore 1T chances that an obviously harsh
impost is in reality adjusted in some
degree to the circumstances of the tax
payer AS the law aforetime was. $50
much for Buckingham"
Buckingham was not satisfied, how
ever. with the way things formerly
were. n plethoric treasury has been
the supreme delight of placemen in ev-
cry age. A scant treasury compels
economy in the civil list. Ends must
meet. and every dollar of revenue must
count. There is no room for any out
lay in behalf OF collateral improve
ments or Snowy enterprise under the
patronage of the State. The legisla-
ture feels the restraint and is chary of
the public funds. Appropriations are
narrowly conned. All extravaganza is
tabooed. Retrenchment becomes a
rule OF necessity. But surplus ITO
Dust Is JOY forever, and ampler rev.
ehues, more toxic than the rarest vint-
age OF the Rhine. to the rulers of the
people Salaries may, peradventure, be
increased. And was there ever a
mothers son In public office who. soon
er or later, did not come to feel that
ms recompense of reward was wholly
INADEQUATE to the constantly increas-
ing cares of his post? Certes Jones
ought to pay the freight. Constitu-
lions may wait to be amended. for
neNher moth nor rust doth corrupt Il
written constitution. On the other
nand. thousand and one things ought
10 be done Immediately in order that
IN its mertorious adornmemt the State
may appear in guise commensurate
Wlth Its Importance and dignity. Then.
100. the interest on the Century Bonds
now approaching 81 very particular
meridian. as all men know, must b,
pu,a' buckinEham knows a thing or
Two beyond the DEAN of avarfce."
~ iCf 1At,
proclaimed, and another Torouemada
pesins domiciiiary visitation. All men
everywhere shall be "interpellated'' on
the state of their finances. and their
JOINTS and marrow be actually divided
Inc treasury of the State yawns TO en-
guif the plumber; the harvest is ripe.
and the reapers not few. The gen.
eral Golfers shall be filed. for there's
millions in II" thinks buckingham.
The multitude stand in mute amaze.
and expect in awe and silence the
dread approach of the familiar of the
fiscal office.
The result. of an honest disclosure
ana appraisement Of personal property
VIII. IN the end. reduce the rate of tax
alton. says Buckingham. very plausib-
~. ana in the sequel make lighter the
burden of the people. In denial of this
assurance is heard the voice of history
IaXes are never reduced. The head of
tnc Gamer, once within the gates
a1ar.' is never withdrawn. Taxes are
expansive in their nature, and. like the
poets ideal, on their dead selves rise
to higher things. Gradually the base
ascent by which they rose Is scorned.
For, be it remembered. in point of fact.
buckingham, that the American peo-
PIE IN teffueT membrance still lick
the cftigy and rudy replica of the
sunken Maine. though no longer the
war drum throbs In the peaceful Gu
ban wales. and though the general rev.
enues of the United States are re-
sponsive to the generous outburst of
prosperity In the closing years of the
reign OF William Mckinley, del gratia
President of the United States. En-
peror of the Philippines, defender of the
faith, ETC., etc. Vain, therefore. tho
promise OF ultimate benefits as the up-
shot of Mr.. Parks. his bill 1t is a safe
proposition in practical political econ
omy, which 1t were well to mark for
once and all, that taxes tend ever RI
increase. ~
Nathless. imperious buckingham has
not been suffered to have his will with
the pelf of the people-ill- gotten gains
a still more imperious Gloucester has
Drought him up sharply in mid-car
The Court of Appeals comes to the res
cue. "Off with his head; so much for
Buckingham"
M. r. p.