Evening journal., 1906-10-27

stitutions. This custom of hazing has
grown UP as a kind Of reaction against
the authority OF the president and MS as
sistants in preserving order But by the
new departure in college government 1t
is the students themselves who decide
what penalties shall be inflicted on Of
tenders against the law and order neces-
sary to quiet study and serious work in
a college
The school city, as it IS called, Is nov
an established fact and an unquaiined
success in many. If not in most OF the
most successful schools and colleges OF
the country. The future voters OF the
community instead Of being taught that
politics is a muddy pool which il is well
to avoid, have the powers Of an officer
Of the law placed in their hands while
they are students and upon their using
this power wisely and with discretion de-
pends the good name OF the college it.
self AS an educator in the duties OF
citizenship this training is Of the highest
value, and IL is successful in maintaining
the best Of order. Its introduction was
brought about by Wilson GIN one Of
the thinking teachers, who noticed that
the graduates Of colleges left their alma
matters, with a feeling almost Of contempt
regarding the highest duty OF a citizen
which is to cast an intelligent vote
With responsibility rlacei In their hands
as it will be when the Initiative and Ret
erendum shall have been adopted. the
people must come to realize that the
power to tax placed in their hands by
law, is the greatest and most important
question Of government.
Many property owner has been almost
ruined by unwise taxes levied by cor
rupt or incompetent common councaA
who decided to build sewers and pave
streets when those streets and sewers
passed by long vacant spaces and open
lots on which no houses were erected
And everyone has seen the long rows
OF houses built to rent to workingmen
with no light or air admitted except from
the narrow front or back Built cheapiy
because Of the high price paid for the
land on which they stand and as many
houses as possible crowded on a Lite iand
to make taxes lighter and bring in more
rent
Now let us consider the effect OF
law which the people may pass some time
in the near future to exempt all home
steads rated on the assessors books at
less than 1890 IN value from taxation
Would the effect Of such a law be good
or bad? To make my meaning clear the
man whose taxable property amounted to
less than 1920 would have no taxes at
all to pay
But this law would surely create a de-
ficit in the treasury OF N,e city unless
more income came from other sources.
and were it enacted the citizens would be
obliged to consider the taxation of other
property to meet current expenses.
But this deficit could be met in many
ways. and the American voter can see BY
a study Of what other nations are doing
where the tax can be laid without adding
any burden upon the workers, and with
benefit too. France has a heavy state tax
upon fortunes which pass into the hands
Of heirs by will. New Zealand has an in
come tax which bears lightly upon small
incomes and grows heavy as incomes
reach such high figures that they are
drain on the general prosperity. and a
menace to democratic government. There
are hundreds Of questions which must
be decided and should only be decided by
popular vote regarding the use Of the
taxing power.
To make a mistake through defective
| Judgment or from Ignorance IS excusable
in voter. But TO fan to register and. vote
is totally inexcusable and shows that the
citizen is unfit for the blessings of the
/ highest civilization which are invariably
found where the government is strong and
wise II is democratic government alone
that is destined to survive the tweptieth
| century. for every throne in Europe is
/ tottering on its foundations, and the lot
/ OF a king OF an emperor is no longer
envied. The future lawmakers all over the
world will soon be the people themselves.
and the Initiative and Referendum Will
be the means Of registering their will
William Candy Ferris
/ Wilmington, October 2I