The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-01-17


he has no control. And while the family
of Jones, in the case Of bis death, are still
secure in the income of 81, 600 per year, the
! family OF Smith would be left in a state of
destitution should he die. Can il be just,
then, citizens, that Smith, who Is only worth
one dollar, should pay as heavy tax as
Jones, who is worth twenty-six thousand
dollarsl And yet, such is the law of Con-
gress.
I Thclc is another fact connected with the
income tax to which wish to invite your
attention. The tax on the income for one
yedr can not, and is not, assessed until the
following year; for, until the close of the
year, the amount Of the income il not
known. But suppose that during the in.
come year that the family of Smith was al
fictcd with sickness which caused him to
exhaust his entire income, and that during
portion OF the following year, the same
in which the tax is 10 be paid, he is Unable
to obtain employment, can you tell me, cit
izens, where he is to get money to pay his
Inst year taxi His family must be fed and
housed and clothed, aud he is without en-
| ployment with only one dollar in his pocket
and yet the law requires him to pay as hea-
Wy tax rs Jones, who is worth twenty-six
thousand times mole mon"y. Can it be
possible, my friends, that such law can lie
just?
fear, citizens. that / shall weary your
rstience, but as the subject is an important
one, indulge me in one further illustration.
| will again take my examples from those
large and wealthy families of Jones and
Smith. The two gentlemen have each a
capital of $40, 900 in money. Jones invests
his in State stocks, drives fancy horse,
smokes good cigars, and without risk or la
labor has an income of twenty four hundred
dollars. On the other hand, Smith, who is
public spirited man, full Of energy and in
dustry, assumes the risks of trade and es-
tabl!Shes a foundry or factory, and the re-
ward Of his enterprise and toll is an income
Of torty-eight hundred dollars, although his
capital was only equal to that Of Jones; and
yet the law requires him to pay double the
amount of tax paid by Jones. That is: the
law imposes penalty upon industry and
enterprise, and bestows reward upon idle
ness. Is this either wise OF justp
| TWO GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT.
! From the nature Of our institutions, citi-
zens, we are taxed to support two Govern
luents at the same time, and both are in
debt. 1t is true, as you all remember, that
prior to 1861, the affairs of the Federal
Government we're so economically admins.
tered, that the people, in those happy, pros
porous and peaceful days, only felt the Fed
eral Government in the blessingsi it bestowed
upop them. They knew that there was an
army and navy, but no one felt that dol
lar was taken from his pocket to pay either
Cherish the memory of those by gone days,
citizens, for never again will you see them
return. Nevertheless, VIC have a duty to
perform, aud it will be becoming and decent
to discharge it like men.
THE BOND OWNER AND THE TsoNDMAs.
But, citizens, what will you say of a law
which exempts one man from taxation who
is worth 100000, while it taxes another
man who is only worth 500? The act OF
Congress passed June 80, 1864, declares
that all bonds and other United States secu-
rites shall be exempt from taxation hy or
under any municipal or State law. Time
will not permit me to discuss, and by discus
| sion demonstrate the unconstitutionality Of
tn. law; but ask are not all the citizens Of
Ohio alike protected in person and property
BY the laws? Why then should not all con-
tribute equally to their support There is
your fellow. citizen, Mr.. r., who ownsSl00,-
OOO i'll bonds, on which he receives what is
equivalent to ten per cent, interest in green
backs. And when u bought his bonds he
only $4,000 III gold for them, snd thus
cleared $50, 900 by the operation, But as
his original investment was only $4,000,
and as he receives six per cent. in gold on
one hundred thousand, it follows that he
| gets twelve per cent. in gold, or twenty per
cent.Am paper money, on the amount OF his
original investment, and yet he is not taxed
for State or local purposes But while he
reaps his harvest of gold interest, and con
tributes nothing to society, he insists that
you shall place gas post in front of his
house, SO that be may 60 to and return from
his luxurious home in safety; that you shall
keep well-payed streets for his convenience,
and maintain well regulated police to
guard his person from assault, and his house
| from burglary; and he requires you to keep
up courts of law, and pay tho salaries Of
iudg, s, SO that he may have vou tried and
punished, should you have the misfortune
| TO offend him. And finally, citizens, inas.
much as you made the roads, and he drives
over them; as you put up gas lamps and
he sees by them; as you pay for maintaining
courts, and he brings suit in them; as yop
build jails and penltentiaries to oonfine per
sons who steal his property; and iunatiC
asyluns for his care and restoration should
he become Insane; and dumb and blind ssy.
lunls tor the benefit of his children should
they become deprived OF sight or hearing;
inasmuch as you do all this, while he con-
tributes nothihg--not farthing of his bond
money--why he naturally concludes, citizens,
that you ought to pay his tuxes, and edu-
cate his children; and his conclusion must
be just, for you do both without nlurmur.
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