Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-03-08
WHAT AND HOW TO TAX.
MR.. RILEY ON "HIGHRIGHTS
OF TAXATION"
Delivered Before The Taxpayers
Association of Anne Arun-
del County Yes
terday.


member of the Annapolis bar and a
Journalist OF long years standing de-
livered the forcible address before the
Anne Arundel Taxpayers Association
at its meeting at the Court House yes
terday. Mr.. Riley's subject was 1.-The
High Rights of Taxation. He said
Mr.. President and members of the
Taxpayers Association
Excepting the right to make citi-
zen lay down his life at the call of his
country, the privilege of taxation If
the highest prerogative that freemen
give their representative. Taxation
means that another shall spend what
you make. 1t cannot only take your
coat from your back. but your house
from over your head, and that has
been done in this county over and
over again when men .were unable to
pay their taxes. 1t is, therefore, nat
ural that freemen should watch, with
jealous eyes, the use of this preroga-
tive of office.
Taxation laid the foundation OF
the American Republic. and the vindi-
cation of our forefathers to protect
this solemn right with the obstinacy
of George the Third to insist upon
the power of the Englishmen to tax
Americans without their consent. lost
to the British government its most
valuable colonies, and placed in the
constellation of nations unparalleled
galaxy of glory. Taxation naturally
divides itself into four distinct PROPOSE
tions. l. What to tax 2. How to
tax i? 3. What To- spend ? 4. How TO
spend
4 hoo Ilxy
settled by taxing the visible property
of the taxpayer, and this has always
been the easiest system for the tax
gatherer and the severest for the tax
payer. AS civilization progresses, the
aim of the enlightened common wealth
has been to create a system of indirect
taxation that lessons the burdens of
the landholder and the general tax
payer. Hence. customs. imports and
tariffs. These, when rightly used are
benefits to the public. 1t is said they
have been abused TO the injury of the
general public and taxpayer included
'Our Maryland forefathers have
been most ingenious in applying in
direct taxation and very courageous
in attempting to make the rich and
prosperous pay their distributlve share
TO discover and pay new mode of taxa
ton to lessen the direct burdens was
markedly shown when the Province
during the French and Indian War.
from l755 to 1862, was called upon to
raise heavy charges to pay the burdens
laid on them by the British govern
ment to carry on that war. Taking
advantage of some of their suggestions
IL IF q
lesson of wisdom and employ system
to tighten his burdens.
"The aim of the friends of improve
meut in the methods of taxation should
he to lessen the heavy charges now
made on the taxpayer by direct taxa
tion. To this end Anne Arundel
could apply several new sources of in
come that would increase the public
revenues.
"First-To require a license from
every resident of the county not tax
payer for the use with vehicles of the
public roads. The proceed to be ap-
piled to the repair of the roads. This
system could be put in operation
without creating one new officer by
requiring for a proper compensation
paid by the license one of the present
county officials to issue the license.
"Second-To require toll from every
resident of the county, not taxpayer,
for the use of the bridges. This could
be put in operation without another
official being appointed, the bridge
keepers being required to collect, and
collecting no tolls where there are no
bridgekeepers.
"Third-To require a fee from
every litigant, not taxpayer, in tie
courts and before justices, not tax
paver, on the initiation of a suit or
case. This to be in cash before the
case is docketted. The justice and the
clerk of the court to turn the same
over TO the treasurer to be applied TO
nav the courts expenses.
"Fourth-To require each voter,
not a taxpayer, to pay for his official
ballot. the charge TO be collected by
the Judges of election, and to be
turned over to the treasurer to aid in
paving the heavy and onerous expen-
ses of the wonderful election system
now in vogue.
sFifth-To require a license from
every resident, except taxpayers, from
those who keep dogs. the proceeds to
be placed in q savings bank and used
as a fund to reimburse sheep raisers
for any of their flock killed by dogs.
"Ali of these plans, directly or in
directly, excepting ballots, which have
only lately come in vogue, have exist
ed in some form in times past. No
people can tell of the system of direct
taxation. for it is q direful experience
of the past and an ominous and bane-
full signkfor the future, that, as the
country grows in population and
wealth, taxes steadily increase in size
and onerousness.