Year: 1876

amount annually required to pay


the interest and current expenses.


But before such rate can be fixed.


with any degree Of certainty, every


available source of revenue must be


made to pay its fair proportion


of taxes.


The crisis is one which demands


the exhibition of the most enlight


ened patriotism and the practice of
ofthe most rigid economy, and there


must, in addition, be perfect con


cert of action between the admins


trative and legislative departments
of the State government in order to
derive the greatest amount of reve-
nue. from the property subject to
taxatione If the State be worth


six hundred millions, as we have
seen it stated, a fair assessment on
that basis viii make a vast differ
ence in the volume of revenue; but
if assessors, at their own option, de-
preciate the value of property to
about half the amount above stated,
it ceases to be strange that the tax
fails to meet current expenses and
pay the interest on the debt. And
unless the Legislature does some
thing to prevent this rapid depreci-

alton in the value of property, as
shown by the assessors books, it is
idle TO hope that a higher rate of
taxation will supply the deficit,
because that higher rate will be
urged as the cause of a proportionate
depreciation in the immediate fu-
ture. Nor can it be loug before
this cross purpose between the law
and those selected to execute it,
will be followed by disastrous re-
sults-the State viii be bankrupt
and the people dishonored.


What is needed to be done in
view of the crisis is to enforce a fair
assessment of all property subject
to taxation, trim exemptions down !
to the smallest point; hunt up new
sources of revenue-for instance
the consumption ofIiquors distilled |
in the State-and then, with the |
lights before the legislature, it can
safely adopt sliding scale of tax
alton, moving up, or down, as ne
cessity may indicate. The impa
tience of the people under the
burden they now carry is due in our
opinion, not more to the weight of
that burden, than to want of con
fidence in those who enact, and |
those whose duty it is to interpret |
and execute the laws. Want of
confidence generates discomfort,
and discomfort breeds demagogues
who glory in political schisms, hop
ing that the storm of popular ex-
citement may lift them to positions
unattaInable in times of harmony
and safe counsels. Hence the
questions of high or low taxes?
the payment, or non payment of the
State debt? Hence too, the ques-
tiOn-who's to blame for not pay
ing the interest past due? The
true answer is that the people are to
blame for electing incompetent law
makers, and this is the root of the
evils complained Of But the dem
agogue fatters the people that they
have acted wisely, and that the
fault lies in the legislature, or in the
Executive, or anywhere except in
their own ignorance of their most
important interests, or criminal in
difference to the means whereby
those interests may be most efectu-
ally advanced.


We are for the payment of the
State debt because it is the only
honorable solution of the financial
conundrum, and because the State
is able to pay it; but in dealing
with the subject, we see no wisdom
in singing out this, that, or the
other department as the scapegoat
of a condition Of affairs resulting
from a general inefficieney in th
administration of the State govern
ment. Who struck Billy Patterson?
is a query of far less Importance
than the question-where shall we
find the skill and ability to heal the
wound inflicted by the blow? Grim
ination without discrimination, is
unjust and impolitic, and it should
ever be borne in mind that bare
suspicion is no warrant for grave
and direct charges, nor should acts
of indiscretion be accepted as posi-
tive proof of corrupt motives and
criminal Intentions UarksviHe


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