New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-05
T4TLNG PEOPLE GOOD.

The New York World presents a "sympo-
stun" on the annual plans Of various state leg
isatures for taxing bachelors Now everybody
knows that tax on bachelors is Il joke; we
might almost say that it is the one piece OF
legislative humor about the genuneness OF
which there IS unanimous agreement The
bachelor has almost succeeded the old maid
as a national humorous ticurc-n fact when
we think Of It, how long it is since we have
heard of the old maid, Perhaps She Is an OK
tinct species. The bachelor has one character
stic that IS not desirable In taN1bl" things eva
siveness his life is one long evasion. We doubt
If he will ever be taxed in money; the only tax
that is likely to be collected from him IS the
petty tribute Of laughter which our humorsomc
legislators annually levy
But for all that the proposal 10 tax tn" bache-
lor is only n gay exaggeratlon Of a comlnoA
tendency. 4 tax will make the way of selfish
ness and sin thony and difficult tax is an
instrument OF reform. You may tax people
good. II you may not reward merit with prizes
and bonuses. you may AT least tax the prim-
roses out of the path of dalliance II marriage
certificates and babies may not he cashed H
at tho state treasury the public may ut least
reprobate the neglect TO possess these mpedi-
menta Of life and metc out its reprObaton with
a tax. There IS the ScrptIral injunction TO
marry The good. we told, marry-oncc
they used to die young but now they have hit
upon marriage a. substitute for that early
sacrifice. The ladies, too have some rights
which legislatures are bound to respect-though
bachelors do not. Therefore, tax the bachelors.
They are recreanfS and runagateS: tax them
into mending their ways.
There IS talk up IN Canada. always more pro-
gressIve than this country. Of appointing a man
or commission who shall act rs public opinion.
This conception is pleasing in it's general
aspects that we shall not cucumber 1t with
details. We have always thought we should
like to see public opinion in flesh and blood
and when we have thoroughly reformatory
system Of taxation one warranted 10 tax men
good the tax collector will be embodied public
opinion. In his little book every wrong will
have public reprobation measured out to it In
dollars and cents-a standard Of moral values
to which even the most Callous conscience is
sensitive 1t may be said that he will be q
sort Of public indulgenCer, and that evil may
purchase pardon from him and right to pose
as virtuous; but make the taxes high enough
and we maintain that the collector will be punt
tive public opinion 1t will be a simple system
and will dispaCe the present inadequate moral
Judge conscience; for now there Is always
dispute whether an act or an institution is
right wrong. but then. why, look in the tax
book; If II is taxed it is wrong and its moral
quality will be worked out to the last mill
thousand!
The bachelor is not the only thing to tax from
his sinful ways. If the cleanliness Of Sniggs's
Soap offends bazoned from scarped cliff, tax
the proclamation of It's purity Tax the faint
out of dollars Indeed, we do not see why
when the system of taxing things good is per-
fected, you should not tax the spots off
leopard; the Biblical remark on this subject
precludes only voluntary change of spots and
the powers of the purifying tax collector are
IN no way impaired by It,
Every one knows what an evil is water in
corporations. The very name of water has De
come OdiOus- 80 much so that the vote Of the
Prohibition party has fallen off notably in con-
sequence. Why not tax the corporations good?
We do not know whether this idea has Oc-
CURED to any one else or not, but we hope not
for we should like the credit Of originating II
First establish the quantity Of water in a cor
poration, simple matter then tax that water
say, 10 per cent year. There is an idea which
should make the stock in trade of great re-
former, one Of those who believe in taxing peo-
pie good.