The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-05-10
rsE h,ro.uE rsx.

There has boon great effort to pre-
vent the further levying Of an income
tax, after this year, when the act by
which il was established will become
void. A vast deal has been said about
the injustice Of the tax, grcanings have
been uttered by the money-making I'M
fortunates, that they should be made
to pay over small fraction Of their
enormous gains towards the payment
Of debt which is the price Of our ma
tional life. II the exemption is raised
to $4,000, it surely will be very arbi-
trary and extortionate act, on the part
Of the government to lay tax of from
3 to per cent upon all incomes above
that. Only the most desperate govern
ment straits could justify such pro-
ceedure, for isn't the man to be pited
that cannot be secured against the nc
farious tax collector in larger sum
than the paltry income Of $4,000 per an
mum How is it TO be expected that
men afflicted with such 'impecuniosity'
are TO live, much more to prosper, wax
rich aud grow fat, il after their success
ful efforts in flohing from their fello ss
a few thousands, Uncle Sam steps up
and compels a disagreement to the amt
of few dollars II is too bad La the
name OF mummon we protest agalHstit
The total number Of persons who
pay an income tax is 272.Sl3. OF this
number over 100000 paid $50 or less,
and II the exemption were raised TO
$1,000, that class would be cut of. The
second class that paid between $40 aud
$50, numbers 90, 1874 The third class
thai paid between $50 and 500. nun
berod 41,l9G; the fourth. that paid be-
tween 500 and $500, number over 40
900, and those who pad over $500 mum
bered 100 Witn tic proposed *
empiiou u $4,000 the whole number to
pay an income tax would be redueed TO
lGJ 900, and that a siuss u al Others
best able to bear the burden a large
proportion d them are exempted from
other forms Of taxation, many whose
capital is invested in United States
bonds, subject neither to national or To-
cal taxation, except through their IN
comes TO remove tue burden from
them, while the industry Of the country
is heavily taxed, would be an outrage
ON tie labonng classes
The income tax Of last year melted
little over $27 600 600 Qaite an item;
and from the very nature Of tho case
no tax could have been more easily
paid. II was tax upon absolute prof
its. possessions in hand, aud out Of the
excess Of aecumulations /. IN tax
which will affect no poor man, impair
no industry OF burden any one. That
knayery and fraud are resoricd TO in
evasion Of lts requirements is no argu.
mont against the expectancy OF justice
Of the tax. These things are practised
70 an almost incredible extent although
they pass ior honest dealings with the
We sincerely hope that
Tie tax ID a modified form Will he con-
tiuned. All abote tie Income 81 $1,000
per annam which VIC may receive from
this time forth, We will checttully del.
cate 10 the government, aud What mill
ions Of like uuiortunates ia this eoun.
try woald gladly do The same II our
favored aud fortunate brethren will not
do this. lei them a, l,ast he patriotic
enough to devote ungrndgingly slaall
portion d their wealth to the llquida-
ton o. those olAims which were incur
rod in behalf Of tie nations liberty aud
life.