Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1908-09-15
CAPT. CT DOYLE WRITES
Interestingly on the Good Roads Sub
ject and How They May Be
Obtained.

About three years ago Mr.. James
Wilson, secretary of agriculture, in
his report to congress, stated that
from actual experiments it costs
the farmers of the United States about
nine hundred millions of dollars more,
each year, to transport the products
of the farms and forests to tidewater
and railways than it would cost if we
had good, firm roads. He recommend
ed that congress issue 8 or IL bonds
to as much as the farmers have to
pay each year extra on account of
bad roads; and apportion that to the
different states, provided the states
would also aid for the purpose of Sc
curing better public highways. If his
recommendation was ever noticed, or
debated in congress, failed to see it..
The question would arise, on what
would these bonds be based to secure
their sale? I would have congress in
the same bill provide for an income
tax and set aside specifically all the
tax received from incomes to pay the
interest and necessary sinking fund
on these bonds. believe that such
tax would secure the sale and final
redemption of these bonds in less
than twenty years, and hurt no one.
Many OF our best statesmen and finan-
ciers contend that an income is the
A graded income tax would, to some
extent, prevent the accumulation of
such vast fortunes in the hands of
the few To make such tax constitu-
tional it would have to extend to all,
One of the main planks of the demo-
cratic platform of 1896 was to raise
revenue by an income tax. Such was
passed by congress, but was decided
unconstitutional, as all were exempt
ed unless their income was as much
as $1,000. l introduced bill in the
twenty fifth legislature which was
pigeon-holder, to amend the assessors
inventory by adding one line in cap
itals above the oath: What was your
net income last year?"' Such would
add many millions to the taxable val
ues of the state, and not hurt any one.
George Gould, to his honor, favors an
income tax on net receipts. He says
man should pay for protection re-
ceived, that every peace officer in
the United States is virtually sworn
to protect the scattered property of
the millionaire, and that they should
pay in proportion to the protection re-
ceived. All property, merchandise
and labor is priced according to the
amount q money IN Circulation. Event
this 100000, 900 would increase the
circulating medium $40 or $11 per
capita.
This increase of money would cause |
a material advance in the price of
farms, property of every kind, labor,
etc. With this increase man, by u.s.
ing economy, might pay for a good
home. But as it now is, cotton at |
cents, one can never have a home for
his family. He is destined to be a
slave for life. A system of good roads I
would increase the value of our rural
homes at least Is per cent. Neigh
horc corld yisit moro chiJdran could L
more regularly attend schools, get a
better education. All could attend
church more and become better citi-
zens. 1 write these, perhaps, vision
airy thoughts, hoping that our editors
who do so much to mold public opin-
ion, our lawmakers, state and nation
al, who should work for the general |
good, will study these questions, OF