Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-06-08
II INCOME TAX.

nePuoiicau party LOT continuing IN
force the Income Tax law. The public
complains, and justly, too, Of the
onerous taxations TO which it is com.
PEELED to submit, years utter the causes
existed which required their Ell ,ct-
ment-and now the question becomes
quite serious: "How lons-oh, Lord,
how loug?" Personally, we have no
grievances in this matter (; for in pub
fishing a newspaper here in Washoe,
subject to the demands Of q high tariff
for labor and material, such MS is not
paid in any other part of the world
Except perhaps out at White Pine),
the surplus Of our exchequer is too
limited to respond beyond the exempt
items. But there are others more for.
tuuate Tor unfortunately, who come
under the demands Of the law, and
who have patiently responded for years
when the demands of the Government
required it, who have become tired Of
being longer oppressed, aud who de-
mand that this oppressive weight shall
be removed, and that the Republican
party shall be made to fulfill its prom
Uses in such removal. Here, then, is II
serious matter for the consideration Of
our Senators and Congressmen - es-
pecially those who are aspirants to
continue in their places, and those who
are DESTROYS Of further elevation. The
Income Tax law is said to be very
Objectionable for several reasons, and
those who feel the oppression are
appealing to the Press to urge II remedy.
It's inquisitorial character has made it
particularly obnoxious to the people,
and it is, indeed, ut entire variance with
tho whole spirit Of our institutions. In
all the older countries Of the world,
where even the most tyraunical and bur-
deusome forms Of government prevail,
it has, in the course of years, undergone
many and important a~meliorations. In
copying this system of taxation from
such sources, we have taken steps back
ward at least II hundred years. While Il
devastating war lasted, on the success
Of which not only the destiuies Of our
own country, but the liberties Of man
kind depended, the Government, if not
altogether right, was largely cxcusablc
for executing all meau to carry the war
to u triumphant issue. Out OF the ne
cessity for raising u million Of dollar,
daily, to meet the daily demands Of the
Republic, grew this obnoxious law. 1t
had no other reason for its existence,
and nothing else could have palliated its
operations, which turned the great army
of revenue inspectors into special de-
tectives, with every mans home for
the field Of their iuluisitorial exploits.
The urgent need of the measure has hap
PLY passed away, and in its absence the
tax should also pass away. In 1862,
when the original law was framed, the
fact was distinctly understood and so
announced by the trainers of the act,
that it was purely and altogether Il war
measure.
But now the story is changed our
statesmen have adopted new views, and
there is every prospect that this harsh
| aud burdensome tax is TO continue in
definitely. Section ll9 Of the amended
act of March ., 1867, distinctly fixes a
date for its termination. 1t says that
the taxes on incomes herein imposed
shall be levied on tho lst day Of March,
and be due and payable on or before
the 3Oth day of April, in each year,
until and including the year 1870, and
no longer" That, we think, should
finally settle the matter, particularly
when we consider tho character OF this
tax-its many Objectionable features
and the exigency that called it forth,
which no longer exists. But such is
not the determination of our law girers.
They propose to give this Act n new ex-
tension of life. 1t is announced on
good authority, that the bill Of Mr.
Schenck, of May IL, 1883, out of which
grew the Act Of July 20, 1868, will,
during tho next session Of Congress be-
come o law. If we may believe the
statements of those who are in the best
position to know about it, the fact is
already II foregone confusion Against
the re-enactment Of any such law we
earnestly protest, us n measure unjust,
unpopular and unrepublican in every
one of its provisions. And not only on
these grounds, but because it is uu-
necessary. The public credit may DO
maintained without it there arc other
avenues of revenue less obnoxious to
our citizens, less burdensome, Of moro
benefit to tho people and the country.
Let the guardians of the country's
finances turn their attention to the ca
liabilities Of the tariff, or to any other
source not so onerous or dis,asteful to
the public as the income tax. Hitherto
they have yielded to its operations, if
not always chesrfully, yet with pa
thence ; hereafter they will not yield to
them except under protest and dissatis-
faction. This is precisely one Of those
bad laws mentioned in Grants innu
gural address, which should by its own
want of merit work its own repeal.
A FRExcH lawyer recently defended n
man who had stolen n chicken from Il
~barnyard. He said his client was in
sane. al do not see in this theft any
thing that would account for the mental