Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1920-02-11
MORE THAN A TENTH
Our Taxes Much More Than Was Paid
by the Jews In Bible DAYS.

1t is not our purpose to try to dis
cuss the tithing system of taxation bu1
some good people seem to think thai
the people of this country would have
to pay more if that system were ir
practice here.
But considering that the Jews paid
their land rent with one-tenth of the
income and that this tenth was used to
bear the expenses of the government
which was a church government, or a
governme ent church. whichever express
es it the better. it is seen that the bur-
dens of the Jews to support the the
government and church were very light
compared with ours. The tenth paid
their rent and their taxes too, both
church and state.
In this country, the rent Tor the land
alone is one-third, and if it is extra
good land 1t is one-half, not Including
any houses, vineyards or wells. Be-
sides this, every thing the renter has,
including his oed, his cow, his watch,
If he has one, his plow, his az, his
chickens and dog, and under some Acts
of the legislature, his shoes and shirt,
are also taxed, one thousand dollars
worth of his property, however, is ex-
empted from the tax. The land owner
is also taxed and taxed on the farm be-
sides. And by the time the city. coun-
ty, state and government all get
through with him. what they have done
for him is certainly plenty.
These taxes, except the government
taxes are not according to income. but
according to the value of the property.
and must be paid, income or no income.
If the property is productive. the
tax must be paid just the same, and Of
course, the taxes are more than one
tenth of the income yes, more than all
the income in such cases for there is no
income. This is burden the Jews
did not know at all.
On some property, though there is
some income, the taxes are more than
one tenth of it. For instance person
has $500 in house and rents it for
say $40 per month, and here they think
that is high, and actually collects for
ten months in the year, which is doing
pretty we'll, and the average yearly re-
pairs on the house and It's yearly decay
xmount to $40, this leaves $50. Then
bis city taxes are $3.50 and the state
and county, $3.50. and he will do well
to get Oft at that, in all, s35. liz this
instance, the taxes lack only SIS of be-
ing half the income, which is five
tenths instead of one.
Again, a person sell his farm and
takes notes. They bear interest at the
rate of Sc on the $lO0 The taxes on
the notes are city. $1.30; state and
county, about $2. 35, in all, S3 65 on the
$780, whicn is more than fve-tenth.
This is about the way IL is now in
Crossville, and is threatening to get
worse, and some places, we understand
it is worse than here.
If person IS unfortunate enough to
be in som" business so rs t. have to
pay sr i.roue lax 10 .la El..Iuu mt,
1t is Lol only ane-teutn, nut the rate is
Increased as his income increases till
it gets to be more than half his income.
And this is all in addition to his city,
county and state taxes above spoken
of, besides all privilege and license
taxes. So by the time the publicans
get through with him and let him go,
he feels glad to have tenth or so left
for himself, and feels somewhat like
the man that went from Jerusalem to |
Jerico.
]. w. Dorton.