The independent., 1903-05-21
Money and the Taxing Power

BY W. II. ASlIBY,
alright, Reserved.


In thogp early times when the tax
was paid in the articles taxed inc
process would consist Of inducing the
richer inhabitants who owned IaIB'
quantities of the things most urgent
" needed by The government, 10 pay
their taxes for a year or more i'll
ud vance Of tax levy. MObl oI
the wealth of that early time was eX'
tremply pcrishablc. and knowing lhat
his taxes were certain to fall due
the next year, and that those animals
in which payment could now be maze
might die. or stay away or be stolen
the taxpayer saw certain advantage
to himself in thus anticipating pay
mcnts besides. no doubt, securing the
good viii Of the King.
The only stipulation, perhaps,
which he made was to require a Ger
lihcalc showing in the money sym
bol, the quantity OF value the gov
ernment had received from him, in
payment Of a tax levy to be made
hereafter. The government thus ob-
taIned in advance the articles its
needs required in carrying on its
operations, and the taxpayer obtained
certificate or tax receipt expressed
In the money symbol showing that
he had paid that quantity of value Ia
advance of any tax levy against him.
This certificate was not evidence OF Il
debt or promise to pay Of the govern
mcnt, there being no purpose Of re-
payment.
When the tax levy for the next year
was made, this taxpayer could deliv-
or up, not the specific articles taxed,
as other taxpayers would do. but
might deliver to the collector the GER
tfcae received by him. showing their
payment in advance. and might re-
cciye another certificate in the other
form, showing payment for the cur
rent year
But the "denclt" and the "antici-
pating Of the revenue" have always
been an evcr-recurring event Men
learn by experience; and some tax
payers. more shrcwd than others, and
possessing a large surplus of taxa
bic wealth, when the king was in
straits for the articles to support AMI
maintain his state and dignity, would
stipulatm~Shat he should deliver
large quantity Of taxable value In
articles needed by the king, q guam
tity which would pay his taxes for
several years in the future; If the
king in return would issue to him
certificates or tax receipts to that eff
feet, in a great number of separate
certificates, each for a small quantity
OF value expressed upon its face in
the money symbol, and amounting
in the aggregate to the quantity of
value received from him by the king,
and would in addition set forth In tho
certificates and in a law enacted for
that purpose that they would be ac-
cepted by the government as cOnClu
Slve proof Of payment Of any tax levy
against any person presenting them
for any year, to the amount expressed
upon the face Of each.
Now, these certificates or tax re-
ceipts showing, in the money" sym
Dol, that the government had re-
l|ed in advance of tax levy the
quantity of value expressed upon
their face, were necessarily inscribed
or stamped upon some comparatively
. durable substance. 1t might have
been papyrus or the skins of ami
mails, or upon metal plates or piece
OF wood Such certificates may have
1 been inscribed or stamped upon plates
OF silver or Of gold or of tin or cop
per or upon parchment or course
COnN eulenCe aud durability. as well "A