The Cordova daily times., 1919-09-15

l law has been generally and willingly complied with, even by the itinerant cannery workers, the good object for which the tax is levied carrying it's own recommendation for what other 1 wise would have raised a storm of protest.
 There is no argument that can pos sibly excuse such an negotiable method of taxation other than the direct necessity, and the people of the territory no doubt will look to the next legislature to bring about the repeal of this law and the substitu- tion of a bill which will place the tax wrere it rightfully belongs-upon property The Times article is in part as follows:
 "This tax, which is intended to make up the deficiency in revenue caused by the loss of saloon licenses, is a makeshift of the most disagree able type known to taxpayers. Ap- parently without due consideration of the people, and with the single idea of obtaining funds with which to oper- ate the schools, regardless of meth ods, the legislature hit upon the sim- plest, yet most obnoxious of all forms of taxation, the head-tax.
 Under this form of taxation the laborer working on the railroad for a days wages is taxed the same as the executive head of the department, even though the latter may be earn ing three times as much money; the miner working in the drift is taxed the same as the owner, and the clerk is taxed the same as the merchant In every case is the injustice to be found If as it frequently happens, the man who is drawing the big money is over fifty years old, then he is relieved of any tax whatsoever.
 However that is not the only in- justice. In incorporated districts, if a man owns property which has been taxed for school purposes, he must, nevertheless, also pay the $5 tax.
 Since time immemorial the head tax has been the refuge of unwise lawmakers who, seeking to raise funds with the least expenditure of mental effort, have resorted to this method, which ever has resulted in resentment and resistance by the peo- pie who were affected. That the money to be deriveal from this tax is to be devoted to the schools of the territory is the only factor which has saved it from general disregard by the people.
 "The old poll tax, which only re- gently was wiped from our statute books, was repealed because it was found almost impossible to collect it. This, like all other head taxes, was unjust in it's operation and found to be unavoidable.
 "The people of Alaska are willing to pay taxes for the support of the schools. They are not overly critical as to the amount of these taxes, but above all else they demand that the tax be just, and that all pay accord ing to their abilities and that there be no doubling of taxes in some cases and escape in others.
 "Our correspondent is mistaken in the supposition that the schools are maintained by the federal government other than that 25 per cent of all moneys derived from liquor licenses outside of the incorporated towns and 50 per cent which were paid to the federal government was turned back for the support of the schools. The balance of the money necessary was supplied from the territorial treasury. The education of the Els kimos and Indians, however, is under the control of the secretary of the in terior, and the federal government supplies all the necessary funds.
 With the loss of the liquor licen- ses, the revenue of the schools natur- ally was reduced, and it was to over come this deficit that the last legis- lature restored the obnoxious head tax
 "The Times can offer no comfort to it's correspondent, other than to re- mind him that this makeshift law is the work of the Democratic legisla- ture, which following the lead of the federal government at Washington, which has burdened the people with innumerable direct and inconsistent taxes, has run to form in the enact