The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-08
The flavor and the Taxes.


Il seriously at a distance than he
is at home. In this weeks issue
of the Insurance Press is a long edi
torial reviewing that portion Of his
honors recent message which related
to the fire department and to the tax
ing of insurance companies; especially
this paragraph:
We rejoice in the excellent condition Of
our fire department, but We must not
forget that 1t now costs over fifty thous-
and dollars. This sum Is drawn from the
tax rate of the whole people. 1t seems
to me manifestly unjust that the whole
body of taxpayers should pay the en-
penses Of the fire department, while the
insurance companies receive and enjoy
the profits. Some plan should be devils d
for taxing insurance companies q sum To
assist in the annual expense of MAIN
tanning the fire department and keeping
up the high efficiency about which they
have so much to say.
The Press, among other things. saws:
"Why the amount for the maintenance
OF fire department should not be paid
by the whole people has not been ex-
planned satisfactorily, certainly not by
can pay the taxes because the amount
can be recovered from the premium
receipts. Policyholders pay the pre-
miums, and those that own real prop
erty pay the regular taxes also. Ac-
cordingly, the prudent property-owner
pays taxes twice for the support Of
fire department when the insurance
companies are taxed for that purpose.
If revenue for the support of fire de-
partments be needed anywhere, what
is the matter with getting it from per-
sons who are responsible, to a certain
extent, for the losses by fire? Tax
smokers! Cigars, cigarettes and to-
bacco pipes caused more than 900 fires,
involving a loss of NOR. than $500, 900.
Tax builders and house owners! De-
fective flues caused 1O,53O fires, involv-
ing a loss of s7,5OO,OOO. Tax house,
keepers and servants! Explosions OF
gasoline stoves caused 1900 fires and
a loss of $235,OOO; the explosion of
lamps, lanterns, etc, caused 2,4OO fires
and loss of more than 81 200, 900, and
lamp and lantern accidents caused o
900 fires and loss of nearly 81, 900, 900.
Tax the users of matches! Careless use
of the tiny things caused $500 fires
that involved a loss Of S1,5OO,OOO. Tax
tramps! They caused 755 fires and a
loss of nearly 100000 Tax careless
persons! Carelessness, besides that in
| dicated above, caused thousands of
fires and lose Of rnillion u,o, r,p,
ions. All of the cases referred to vera
in 1898. The possible revenue that
might be collected in a year has been
indicated very family. The idea is re-
! spectfully submitted to certain politi-
cal economists, including the mayor Of
| Scranton"
The suggestion of the Press Is not
| amiss: but our esteemed contemporary
| should not worry too much over the
| opinions of the mayor of Scranton upon
| the subject of taxation. 1t is well
known here that he has a mania for
| devising unique plans for vicarious
| taxation.
| Judge Schuyler, of NORTHAMPTON
county, has bravely subordinated gall
lantry to justice in a damage suit in
which a handsome woman won from
q susceptible jury an award out of all
proportion to the established facts. The
judge has announced to the comey
| plaintiff that unless she shall volun-
tarily accept a reasonable sum in set
tlement he will order new trial. Why
it Is that seasoned men of the world
always go to pieces in the jury box
when confronted by an attractive wo-
man litigant II IL one of the mysteries
of jurisprudence; Judge Schuyler will
deserve a medal il he can overcom
this tendency.
General Wood" writes an American
correspondent now in Cuba, lis too
busy with actual administration to give
much time to abstract political discus
sions. He listens courteously to all the
political talk which delegations and
committees make, and then ends by
offering practical suggestions regarding
the furtherance Of their objects" The
Wood plan is good plan for all coun-
tries.
Congressman Sibley Is certainly en-
hibiting fruits meet for forgiveness and
a reelection.