Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-10-16
THE CORPORATIONS
PAY THE TAXES
Under Republican Rule the Burden
Is Placed On Them.
CITIZENS PAY NO STATE TAX

100000 of State Debt Left BY the
Democrats, and Now Pennsylvania
Is Free From Debt-some Figures
For Democratic Shouters to Study.
Every home owner in Pennsylvania
has a vital interest in the approach
ing election. 1t is not only question
Of Democrat or Republican, of Patti
son or Pennypacker, but it is matter
of dollars and cents to every owner of
a foot of land in the commonwealth.
1t was the Democratic party that
plunged the state into a debt of $4O,-
100000 that has required forty years
of Republican rule to lift. Republi-
cans should not forget this.
And yet in spite of this fact the Re-
publican system of state finances has
been the subject of the most persis-
tent attacks from its enemies. Demo-
cratic leaders when they assail the Re-
publican financial system in Pennsyl-
vania know that they are deliberately
misrepresenting the facts. Unfortu-
nately the public at large does not seem
to have a very clear idea of the meth
cd by which state taxes are assessed
and collected.
Under the wise and beneficent legis-
lation of the Republican party in the
past thirty five years, the burdens of
state taxation have been lifted from the
shoulders of the individual and placed
upon the corporations of the state.
CITIZENS PAY NO STATE TAX.
An impression prevails among the
people that they are taxed for all the
appropriations made to the public
schools charitable institutions, the ju-
dietary, legislative expenses, the new
capitol, etc, etc. AS a matter of fact,
our citizens pay no state tax except
liquor license tax, and one mill on the
dollar where they own personal securi-
ties, such as bonds, mortgages, etc, the
tax on the same being four mills, three
of which are returned to the respective
counties Money for all expenses of
the state comes from the corporations.
In direct contrast to this has been the
attitude of the Democratic party and
it's legislation. Before the Republican
party came into power all real estate,
occupations over $4,000 per annum,
cattle, etc, were taxed by the Demo-
cratic party in time of peace; and even
with this enormous tax burden it left
a debt of over $40,000,000 in 1860, to
be provided for and lifted by the Re-
publican party. And the Republican
party has redeemed the credit of the
state; it stands to-day before the world
free from debt.
MISLEADING TAX RECEIPTS.
The manner in which the various
collectors of taxes of the common
wealth have their bills and receipts
printed is largely responsible for the
misapprehension tnat exists in the
minds of the people upon this question
of state taxation. In almost every in
stance instead of having separate
item for state taxes to be used where
the person has money at interest sub
ject to taxation, and not otherwise,
almost all bills that are sent out by the
tax collectors have one item entitled
State and County Tax" Opposite
this head is placed the amount of the
county tax, and the person receiving
the bill is naturally under the impress
sion that the amount charged repre-
sents a combination of state and county
taxes, and if questioned upon this point
the answer is always the production Of
a tax receipt showing the payment of
a certain sum of money under the head
of State and County Tax" The taxes
paid to the various local collectors,
under the designation State and
County Tax" go directly into the coun-
ty treasury for the exclusive use of the
county authorities.
The constant aim of Republican leg
islation has been to relieve the indi-
vidual taxpayer. Prior to 1888 the in
digent insane in the asylums of the
state were wholly supported by the
various local municipalities. This was
a burden upon the individual taxpayer.
AS the state debt was reduced under
the judicious management, it was be-
lieved that the commonwealth could
afford to assist the counties in the sup
port and maintenance of their unfor
tunate poor. By the Act of June 18th,
1883, the expense of the care and treat
ment of the insane poor Of the state
was equally divided between the state
and the several counties. The amount
paid by the state since 1885 under this
act amounts to $1O,525, 900, more than
$500 annually.
HELPING THE TOWNSHIPS.
Just as the burden of taxation has
been liften to the shoulders Of the state
to that extent have the townships, cit
les and counties been aided and over
burdened real estate owners assisted.
IL the two items of INDECENT insane and
public schools, the state pays out of
its treasury nearly $S,000,000 a year
To that extent every home-owner in
the commonwealth is correspondingly
benefited
By the Revenue Act of June Sth
1891, three-fourth of the personal prop
erty tax is returned to the respective
counties. The amount returned for the
year ending November 30th, 1895, at
the close of the Democratic admins
tration was $1,575, ,O19.70. The amount
OF personal tax returned to the several
counties for the year ending Novem-
ber Goth, 1901, was $2,572, ,675G3.
Under the act of June 9th 1891. the
liquor licenses were taken from the
state apd given to the different local
tiles. This was an additional benefit
to the taxpayer because prior to that
all liquor licenses has been paid into
the state treasury. They amount 20
about $4,000 900 annually.
In addition to all these things the
state pays the entire cost of the judi
ciary which amounts to upwards of
half million annually.