The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-30


Pennsylvania in 1862 began
the system of taxation
which finds elimination in
the fact that not a single citizen of the
state, as a citizen, pays single cent OF
state taxation This is not true of any
other state in the Union or of any
other country in the world. Governor
Odell of New York Is only now seeking
the Adoption of the same system, and
his efforts are commended by the lead
ing minds in that state.
In 1862 the Republican legislature Of
Pennsylvania abolished all state taxes
upon individual ownership of real
estate, making every home free from
that form of taxation; this was follow
ed by taking a direct state tax from all
persons and occupations, and from
horses, cattle, wagons, furniture, etc.
Now corporations, their receipts, fran
chises: liquor and mercantile licenses;
moneys at interest, dividends, etc, pay
all indirect taxes. What the governor
of New York has set out to do was so
to utilize the resources of the state,
So to simplify, and as the printers say
Justify" the system Of taxation as to
make it possible for the people of the
state to be relieved from the visits Of
the tax gatherer. 1t seems to the gov
ernor that it would be possible so to
husband the income from the excise
tax, from the railroad taxation and
from the receipts for franchises as to
raise sufficient amount of money to
pay the expenses of the state without
imposing a direct tax upon the citizens.
To do this he believed it to be necessary
to tax all franchises, to equalize and
increase the taxes paid by some of the
banking institutions, especially the
trust companies, and to change the
taxation upon mortgages.
All of this and more has long since
been accomplished by Pennsylvania.
The keystone state Is far ahead of the
Empire state in matters of taxation
in relief to the Individual and the
owner of farm or home. And it is
ahead because with the exception of
two administrations in forty years, 1t
has had Republican governors and
legislatures-the powers which repealed
direct taxes upon persons, and did it SO
wisely that our state gathers revenues
amounting to over fourteen millions
annually from corporations, etc, and
from this great sum appropriates an
nually five and half millions to the
public schools, and nearly as much to
charities-thus relieving home taxation
and home burdens.
Our citizens will favor continuance
of this policy in 1902 by electing the
Republican state and legislative ticket
For the year 1902 the trade of Can.
ada was nearly Si24, 100000, an increase
in six years of $1S5, 100000. In ten years
Canadian exports have more thar
doubled. Under the British preference
act British imports into Canada in
years have increased 20 per cent, show,
ing that the policy of reciprocity be-
tween colony and mother land (Which
Is what the preference act amounts to,
Is not without benefit to the former
American imports into Canada have
also largely increased; but there is M
reason to doubt that under wisely
ordered reciprocity treaty they woult
increase much more rapidly, Canada
Is coming gold mine for American
commercial exploitation If the people
of the two countries shall be wist
enough to cultivate freer economic re-
lations instead Of building spite fences