People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1896 — Taxes. [ARTICLE]

Taxes.

< We are in receipt of a letter from an Illinois complaining of the increase of taxes this year. Is it to be wondered at that the tax payer makes complaint? Illinois is out of debt. Her industries, in common with those of the whole country, are not prosperous. Farmers are selling their products at a loss, and under such circumstances, when it might reasonably be supposed that government would become rigidly economical, up go taxes. There is no reason in it. In Cook county, Illinois, the taxes have been increased 33 per cent, and many a man with a little home in town and many a farmer will find the burden heavy. Railroads and government never let up in their demands for money. It makes no difference to them whether the rates or taxes amount to confiscation or not; and what is to be the remedy? A political revolution; the united action of the tax payers against the tax eaters and tax shirkers; the curtailment of the number of offices and the cutting of official salaries. Reduce the offices and cut every salary in two from President and Governor to town supervisor. But such heroic measures will necessitate heroic work at the polls. There is not a moss-back in office or who ever held office who would agree to any such measure in the interests of the people. But the people can force it, if they will. It is a pleasant thought that the people are sovereign. It is an unpleasant thought that they are so slow in asserting their authority.—Farmers Voice.