Evening star., 1869-07-28
TINE ElNIONIETAX

All taxes are more OF less unpopular, but as
-ociety - at present constituted, taxation-
direct or indirect-is sssary evil, and mus,
o. erduied. Government costs something 2 and
he expense must b. met. The only thing IN n
can be done then, ~ we canno; throw the
burden on. IS 20 equaiizs ITS pressure 50 that
al classes msy pay their fair proportion OF the
penalty which Inevitably attaches TO ciyiiiza.
'I0H- Of the taxes imposed upon our people
ring and since the war, that com planet of
IS the most onerous and oppressive ; tr. H.
s'me Tax, which has been gsi mag in u.poou-
iAFity ever since At was first Impos.i The
reeent disclosures rs to the opportunity il,
taOrds for fraud, have increase the oppo-
sItion to II, and the press and peopl. in
some sections Of the country ara actively
'gitatIng Tor Its Tspesi or modification
ihe concluding clause OF the law reads a.
IOliows, The taxes on incomes herein imposed
shall be due asd payable on the : ID day of
April IN each year until and Including the wear
$50. and no longer, and II is very nkaiv tha,
q powerful pressure will b. brought 10 b,,r
nron Congress during the next session 10 allow
;ae isEv 10 expire by this limitation If not u
abolish II Immediately.
We are told, among other thin IS, that II op-
erstss badly on the active workers and pro.
H1Cers OF the Country; that II encourages per-
iuiy' tnat tae dishonest escape while the hon.
rsi are burdsred; that II Is inquisitoriai, etc.
eut granting all this to oe partly true, no one
lelis US from what other source, II the law IS
repeated. the S'a,OO0,O Will bs realized which
the Government derived from. this source last
year. The industry of the country, It ~
CANNED, cannot conveniently bsar the add
ueEai burden Manufacturers, acc JrdIng to
ineIr own showing. are taxed 10 the extent OF
their capacity. The tarifi b Is reac he'd staut.
Srd which renders additions in that direction
lot 10 be thought of and as for the taxes on
whisky snd tobacco, they are now quite heavy
enough for the interests Of the Treasury ana
Of consumers. But " bile a repeal OF the lay
may be impracticlhle. or, at least, impolitic,
all agree IN one thing, which Is, that n in
come tax should Be modified. II the experi
rhee OF the curTent year warrants ths belief
that considerable surplus will be ayaiIib!s.
u Is contender thar its reducnon by the dimi-
uuiion of taxes Is preferable u any aoplica-
lion OF II that has been devised
Ii Is suggested taa, the rate O. iuc,ms ,sx
saould be lower or the exemption higher. au8
mere should oe a ciscrImIn ttion b L Seeu tn.
itcome from SHAY. and one from Iarys
vested interests the latter certain, aud the for.
'ner dependent on the accidents of health ard
oseupation- IL the vast majority OF incomes
paid upo salary, the tax comes not oat of the
SaNinss ofine yesr when the liability was in
uTr'd bu,out OF TIE receipts of the year whsu
'he tsx Is pNd The iaco ne OF l. js has been
used IN necessary expenses, and thu, OF i-6, is
Enade TO pay the tx. There are various items
4 rent exemptions, &c. which yve thu rich
advsntsges not Possessed by the poor uni.
form tax offvsPer cent, 1, Is argued, increases
me temptation 10 fraud. and operates harsnIy
upon the posseSsors Of smsiI incomes derived
ficm labor OF trade. and the New York TIxss
.eecmmends that it should be reduced totvo
and halt per cent. on Incomes below som.
liked figure. or on ali incomes derived from tn
dHstry or trade. a. Distinguished from tao.
ceriyed from realized property