Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-01-24
cIAYs AKKxpEExT.
Diseased By & Reader Of The Ledger
Who Thinks il q Move 10 tie
Right Directisn


To Ne EEtor o. ne Le1Fer
FULroS, No. Jan lS-A nnmeer
Of thoughtful people, judging hy the
conversation one hears seem interest
ed In the Clay amendment 10 the
State Constitution. separating State
and county TAXATION, leaving real and
personal property 10 the counties and
cities, while the State derives is rev
enne from those artificial persons that
have no souls-eorporations owning
franchises. In fact people seem a
great deal more interested in it than
they are in that resolution sYmpathiz-
ing with the heroic, dosn-trodden,
lighting, fleeing, dllibustering Elipi-
noi the latter, when preached for COO
versatiOn, they generally dismiss with
a nif-though one patriot has been
known 10 remark that it is the bust
ness Of our Representatives to sympa-
thize with every thing on Gods green
earth, except Republicans
In behalf Of the amendment some
urge that it has merit, in that Ii
initiates the wise provision made by
our forefatherS, who, in the United
States Constitution, left direct taxa
tin to the states, combining the gen
eral government to indirect taxes:
true, the United States may levy
direct taxes; but they are compelled
TO levy them by the rule Of apportion-
ment something they are so 10th to
do that they have been tempted three
or four times, and even then have re-
pented and paid the money back to
the state treasures This suggests
thai, in case the state, in some crisis
might need more eyenue than our
soulless friends, the corporations, can
supply, a similar measure might be
embodies in the amendment. A State
tar would seldom be levied dir ectly if
1t had to be distributed among the
counties in proposition to the number
Of Representatives each has in the
lower House Of the Legislature; and
even il the State did it, if it repented
Of its sins and paid the money
back a few years later, as our Uncle
Sam has done, there would be eonS0la-
ton for the mOurnerS.
Representative Clay's proposition
does not just exactly meet old Adam
Smiths four formulas for taxation;
but the world hes long regarded
Adams ideasas a beautiful dream and
does not expect to realize them in toto.
But Adams No. 3, which insists that
every tax ought to be levied so that
it is likely to be convenient for the
citizen to meet II, Is certainly fulfilled
by the Clay amendment. For exam
pie, no one, as a rule travels Except
the poor newspaper mani unless he
has a little ready cash; and each time
he travels he pays a little driblet Of
the tax. The success Of the United
States In levying enormous tariff taxes
and making US pay them without
knowing 1t and consequently without
swearing about IT, has an encouraging
moral side TO 1t which must bring all
the preachers and Sunday School
teachers 70 Mr.. Clay's aid.
And that By the way, raises the
question, 10 what extent corporations
can shift the tax to their patrons. AS
increase Of prices always means de-
crease Of patrons, It is doubtful If
corporations ever succeed, for any
length Of time, in shifting the whole
tar. They think of the rainbow
c0l0red side Of the amendment: How
much independence Each county to
be sole boss Of its own taxationl Does
not this solve the good road question?
Can't it give Mexico paved streets?
Think Of It'll No more money poured
from the county directly into the
State Treasury. Less taxes, more
improvements. If it will not do many
or all Of these things, then consider
this the mistake Of a
SCaTTFpupAW