The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-18
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

eS. W nat lue pun pOSS vi uldWiu B
such vast sums from the earnings
of the people, is beyond the reach
of conjecture. During the past
four years the vast cost of the con-
struction of the capitol was paid
out Of the revenues and during the
entire period of these extraordinary
drafts the surplus never fell below
nine or ten millions. In the face
of such facts one would think that
the present revenues ar. sufficient
for the maintenance of the govern
ment even on liberal scale.
There seems to be well settled
purpose to increase the approprla-
ton for the public schools and there
may be wisdom in such action.
Money invested in education is
wisely spent always and by proper
economies in other matters, the
State could probably pay all the
cost of the maintenance OF the pub
lie schools without materially in
creasing the revenues. OF course
the money comes out of the pockets
of the people, just the same. though
the corporations make the collec-
tons and payments. But the di-
rect taxes such as are levied by
local authorities for school, road
and other purposes are the buroen-
some taxes and the lighter they
are the better.
If increased revenues held out
the hope of diminished local tax
burdens, there would be reason in
searching for new subjects of taxa
lion. As a matter of fact, however,
the only promise that can be drawn
from the additional revenues pro-
posed is of greater profligacy.
There is a little comfort in the
prospect of an enhanced fund for
the use of the Highway Depart
ment. Seventy-hve cents of every
dollar expended by that depart
ment goes to waste or loot. The
return to the local authorities of
greater proportion of the personal
md license taxes is not very at
:ractive proposition. 1t would be
better to leave those revenues with
he local authorities in the begin
ming.
THE PROPOSED TAX BILLS.
Yet it is proposed to increase the
revenues through new subjects of
taxation to a total of upwards of
SIS, 900, 900 a year. Six measures
pending in the General Assembly
are expected to produce this result
They are Mr.. Hitchcock S bill levy
.ng one mill on all corporation as
sets for the benefit of country
roads, counted on for s., 500, 900 a
year; Mr.. Endsley's bill to tax the
,spital stock of manufacturing cor
oorations, set down as good for S2,-
100, 900; Mr.. Howard's bill to tax
anthracite coal three cents a ton,
depended on for s., 100, 900; Mr..
,reasy's bill taxing express COM
'anies, certain to produce 5000, 900;
Mr.. w. S. Reynolds bill imposing
! stamp tax of two cents on each
,I.oo worth Of stock transferred,
stimated to be good for $2, 900, 900,
and Mr.. Dunmore's bill adding
hree mills to the tax on the capi-
al stock of corporations.
The only bill in this group which
sill not add to the burdens of the
,eople is the Greasy measure. The
Express companies have been tax
!odgers in Pennsylvania from the
eginning of their existence and
heir rates are already so high that
will De impossible to surcharge
be tax against the customers. Sem
tor Meek, editor OF the Bellefonte
Natchman and Secl etary of the
Democratic State Committee, re-
;ently published in his paper a
Ltatement of the business of the
Adams Express company and the
amount of taxes it paid. He show.
ID that while that company did a
business amounting to $S.oo5,e55.-
90. in 2Io of its Offices within the
State and probably twice that much
in all its Offices, it paid the State in
taxes only about S3,I7o.79. Mr..
Creasy's plan is to compel just pay
ments in the futnre. There is no
possible way or recovering the past
deficiency but the express business
can be mace to yield at least $500,
600 a year in the future without
adding to the expenses of shippers
THE ROOSEVELT HYSTERIA
The Roosevelt hysteria struck
the House of Representatives at the
initial session last week. The
Roosevelt propaganda is wcrkipp
day and night and under co7s- ia
Taft boom is making :;.Isiderable