The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-20
GREAT AND UNNECESSARY rAxEs

That the present huge war taxes
should be reduced is the opinion of
democratic newspapers, and many re-
publican newspapers. They are too
grinding. too excessive, and are unnec-
essarily large. The figures show this:
For the fiscal year ending June 30,
1900. the estimated receipts of the gov
eminent are as follows: Customs.
1926, 000, 900; internal revenue, s292. 000,-
900; miscellaneous. $4,000. 900; total.
S562, 600, 900. The expenditures, includ-
ing s135, 900, 900 for tibet army and on
u war account, $50. OO0.0 900 for the
navy and $143, 600. 600 for pensions. ag-
gregate $3.50, 000, 900, leaving a surplus
of $40, 900. 900. For the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1901, the total of
the government are estimated at ST.
600, 900 and the expenditures at 1896, 0o0.-
900, leaving a surplus of $50, 005. 900.
Taxes are a burden always n often
made a palpable curse by excess, by
reckless extravaganza. Why rob the
people of their money in this way when
there is no real need for it? 1t is but
enough surely TO pay necessary taxes
under wise, rigid economy. But when
they are recklessly levied, and under
no sustained plea of actual necessity,
1T becomes an outrage and an oppres-
ion. Secretary Gage puts the war ex-
penditures at SIPS, 900, 900 for army and
$50, 900, 900 for navy for the next fiscal
year, but he makes no recommended
49, ~ tnv0c hA
reduced, or that war taxes so unnec-
essary be repealed. 1t is known that
on the Goth tot June, 1900, there will be
a surplus of $40, 000.0 900, but Mckinley
Company do not raise a hand to
lift the huge burdens from the people
and cut down revenues. The Washing
ton Sentinel says:
"On June Both, there will be a sur
plus of 500 o 900 in the treasury. rep
r%esenting taxation for which there is
no necessity. If the present
does not modify the war revenue act,
the surplus will continue to increase,
and If the taxes remain in force an
other year, from June 80, 1900, to June
80, 1851, the surplus in the treasury,
according to Mr.. Cages statement, will
amount to 1852, O00, 1000"
: Said Representative Levy to the edi-
tor of The Sentinel:
1.-The existence of such a surplus will
have a d~emoralizing effect. 1t will
tend to extravaganza and possibly pro-
mote fraud and corruption. The
schemes of plumber devised by cunning
minds will flourish, and the privilege
interests will grow richer at the pub
lie expense. Many extravagant pro-
jects and enterprises will be sanctioned
by congress on the ground that the
government can afford to be generous
with it's Golfers filled to overlooking.
Taxation is onerous even when it is
reasonable and unavoidable. When it
is shown to be unnecessary, however,
the people will not tolerate it indefin-
itely."
The Portland (Maine) Press,a staunch
republican organ, sees the wrong of all
this and p~ertinently insists that "a ma
ton ought to be taxed for only the
amount that is required to pay the
governments bills, the interest on the
public debt, and gradually reduce the
principal. 1t is not only unjust to the
citizen to call upon him for a larger
contribution than is required to meet
these demands, but it's tendency is to
encourage unnecessary and extrava-
CANT expenditure by the government.
A surplus is about as dangerous as a
deficit, though in different directions"