The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-05
TAXATION, DIRECT AND INDIRECT.


1t is well for us to understand clearly that we
are to be taxed; that VIC are not at peace, but at
war; that great war involves vast expenditure,
and that this expenditure can be met only by taxa
tion In one shape or another.
Hitherto our taxation has been mainly indi-
rect Certain occupations have indeed paid a
licensei certain sum has been levied upon
property, and certain Per centage has been
assessed upon incomes.
But amy and all of these form only fraction
of the amount which every man has paid and IL
paying TO carry on the war. WhOeyC- has paid
hfty or hlndred per cent more than formerly
for n coat or hat, for yari of cloth or a spool
Of thread, for a loaf of bread or a pound Of meat
has paid the Oyerp us towards the support of the
war, in the shape Of indirect taxation.
He may designate this fact by any phrase
which suits him. lie may call II ri,e ia god
or 81 prt citation of the currency, but the tact Is
just this The sum which he has paid in extra
pI rs IL his portion of the Indirect tax for carry
ing on The war If his income-as happens with
tew-iEcIeases more rapidly than his expenses
he is richer for this indirect taxation. II his OK.
penses-as happens with mOst-increase more
rapidly than his income, hc Is poorer for this in
diTect taxation.
We need not attempt 70 shut our eyes TO the
fact that all of u.s. eN,tpt the few who IN IKE for
tunes by contracts, trade, or specul alton must
feel the burden OF TAXATION. Tue only naestion
Is how 90 npporiOn these burdens 50 that they
NAV pieSs fairly upon nll.
This indirect taxation, which ilSes the palp tble
shape Of an increase Of prices, is the most unfair
and unequal possible. The man who owns a
million of dollars In property, OF who has an in
come OF hundred thousand, cas- and wears little
more than the man who owns or earns hun
dredth part of that sum, and consequently he
pays scarcely more in the way of indirect taxa
tion.
Again, Of the sum thus Indirectly paid by way
OF war tax, only a small part actually reaches
The hands OF the Government, so as 20 be ex-
pended in conducting the war The greater
part is arrested in its progress between pro.
Queer and consumer, and falls into the
pockets OF the men of whom everybody
speaks as having "made q fortune" Add
together all of these "fortunes"-the millions
credited to few score, the hundreds Of thou
sands claimed for hundreds, and the smaller
plums plucked by thousands, and we shall have
the amount OF the war tax-indirectly levied,
lldte1, but none the less really paid by the
pe0pe-which has gone, not 10 support the war,
but into the pockets OF speculators stock gam.
blers, and forestallers.
The system of direct taration, which is now
fairly inaugurated, is the only one adapted 20 the
circumstances OF the times. Every man's prop
eTty, every mans income, should be, and we
trust will be, taxed. The gross amount OF this
lax should be sufficient 70 pay the ordinary ex-
penses OF Government and the interest upon all
loans This once fully ascertained, currency will
80 up, or, which is the same thing, prices will 60
Gold, among other things win find It's natural
1erel: not, probably, an equality with currency
Tor awhile, because gold, like everything else,
must be high" in war times, but certainly far
nearer par, as measured by currency, than the
rates a. which il now sells In Wall street.
a direct tar, sufficient In amount 10 bring cur
rSncy up and prices down, 10 the Ons financial
peasure NEEDED