The Washington herald., 1915-04-27
New York's Debt and Taxes.

The New York State Legislature adjourned
were direct tax the people to raise $4,000
600 more revenues, an increase of the liquor taxes
by 100000, and submission to the voters Of a
proposition to increase the bonded debt of the
State by S27oooooo. The debt OF the State is
now more than SIoo, 100000, and the debts OF the
civil divisions of the State counties, cities towns,
etc, amount to more than $1,000, 100000, or
greater than that of the Federal government.
These debts have increased IA per cent in the
last ten years. and still the cost OF government
increases, and the objection to the increase of
taxation compels the legislature to increase the
Indebtedness and leave good share to be paid
by future generations. 1t is probable that there
will be less objection on the part of the voters
to the issue OF bonds than to the direct tax.
There are already demands the governor that
he shall veto this part of the legislation. SO far
there has been complaint against the increase
the legislature to abolish this tax altogether and
enforce prohibition on the State. The results
show how inslncere was that appeal The State
and the municipalities OF New York now receive
about SIS.ooo,ooo revenue from the liquor taxes
and the increase voted by the legislature last
week will make these revenues $4,000 900 a year
1t is all very we'll for theorists to advocate the
abolition OF such taxes until the time comes to
pass a revenue bill to secure the money to meet
the bills. Then the theories vanish into thin air
the taxpayers with their hands on their
pocket books. protest against direct taxes. 1t
so last fall when Congress found it necessary
to pass revenue bill The Committee on
Ways and Means considered various taxes, but
as the news went to the country the protests
came back with the result that the greater part
OF the additional revenues collected from
beer. Not even Capt. Hobson made an effort to
defeat the beer tax. So it is in New York. The
taxpayers will fight the direct tax, and applaud
the increase OF the liquor tax.
The condition in New York is not unique 1t
prevails in most of the States and their civil dyi
sions. The total Indebtedness OF the various
States, cities, towns, villages, townships, and
school districts in 1913 amounted to S3476 900 600
or 1851 per capita OF the populations and the
total government cost for the same year. ma
ional, State, county. and municipal, amounted to
500, 10000, or 5000 per capita of population.
OF the revenues to meet this government cost
SSl5.oooooo from taxes on liquors, which,
il abolished, would add $5l5 per capita to the
taxation OF the people. to be paid by direct taxes
or on incomes or industries.
1t is easy TO theOrize how money can be
raised to meet the cost OF government, but tho
present situation in New York illustrates the
unwllncncsS OF the taxpayers to dispense with
any taxes they do not have to pay. or to increase
their own taxes to demonstrate the correctness
OF d theory Cen Garfield said that the only
, voluntary taxes paid in this country were those
on beer, whisky. and tobacco, and the New York
people in tune with him. They may shout
prohibition up to the time the revenue bills arc
passed, and then they prefer TO tax the saloon,
rather than TO abolish it.