Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1874 — The Five and Fifteen cent State Tax. [ARTICLE]

The Five and Fifteen cent State Tax.

The. democratic and Republican State papers are doing much figuring on .the amount of money that will be . raised by the respective levies pf 5 and 15 cebts on the SIOO The Republicans insist that 5 cents per hundred upon $956,000,000 valuation will not. raise $1,000,000. This conclusion seems to be correct. It is clear it'wont make a million. The Democrats are somehow inclined to file opinion that it will iA' sorUe way make that sum. Neither one seems to get hold of the idea that the ^tate could get along with less than a milliori. ’ We beg leave .to submit the question to them : If e«] enditures were reduced onp-halty would net half a million

be all that is required? If a less number of door keepers, pages, clerks, and bangers on about the legislature while in session was provided for, and member’s salaries reduced, State officer’s salaries and all other expenditures brought down to a proper basis, would it not take less money to get along with? How would it do to make a full showing of all bills and item's of one year’s expenditures to just let the people see where Jtheir money was put, and then perhi^s they can devise some means, ibr getting along with less. The discussion is carried on with the idea that the million must be expended. The people must understand, of course, that the success of either the Democratic or Republican parties means that there is to be one million expended. Upon this point they agree. The only difference is, shall the levy be 15 cents, so the million can be raised by taxation now, or shall one-third of that amotint be raised by taxation a'nd the other two-thirds be borrowcd-.on eight per cent, bonds? The Republicans advocate the first, the Democrats the latter. The people intend to elect the Independent ticket, have a levy of 7| per cent., and cut down expenditures so that sum will pay all bills. It will do it if proper economy is used.— lndianapolis Sun.