Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-14
The Income FAX.

rbero are evident outgrowing lndloa-
tions that the country is becoming FESTIVE
,,,5ar the burden Of taxation, and espe-
cially il the renewal of the income tax,
which is expiring under the limitations
# the act creating it, obnoxious to the
coople. for it is not equitable or just, maxi
iog singular, certain classes for taxation
who succeed in a majority OF cases in es-
GAPING its provisions, and another class
like salaried men, however meagre their
yearly earnings may be above one thou
sand dollars, are compelled to pay, and
men oftontimes controlling millions OF
dollars pay not a dime for income. In
stances of this class taxation can be cited
in every town in tho country, and any one
having knowledge of its workings can cite
instances in their own communities.
While this irregularity exists the people
fail to soc tho propriety of its renewal, for
it ia not IN accordance with the principles
Of republican government that it should
70 a settled financial policy.
Petitions and remonstrances largely
signed by the most intelligent men of the
country are constantly being received by
the representatives in Congress, protesting
against its renewal, and are significant
warnings from constituents that voting in
favor of perpetuating the income tax will
not be in accordance with the wishes of q
majority of the people. The tax is in.
quisatorial and unjust, and ought not to
be re-established. 1t has expired. When
it was established it was only to live until
into the year 1870. 1t has reached a nat
ural death and it should receive no resur-
rection. An income tax is war tax and
ought not to be made a peace tax. The
taxes of the country must be reduced and
thore are radical objections to its re-estab
iishment, which the limits of this article
will not allow us to argue. AS it is APP
parent to every reasonable observer that
the taxes must be reduced, Congress
cannot do better than to begin with a tax
inequitable in its operation and which
according to the original understanding
of the country when it was first passed
was to end now.
1t is claimed by the advocates of its re-
newal, that an income tax has become a
settled part of the financial policy of
Great Britain. This country, England,
or no other nation has ever sustained an
income tax, only as Il war measure, that
ought not to be imposed without meas
ures Of simultaneous relief. This was
the view taken of it by Sir Robert Peel
and other Englishmen, at the time of its
establishment i'll England nine years ago.
1t is said the minister of English finance
ha. sustained an income tax this very
year. There il a reason for it. England
il pressed with taxation, and il is difficult
for her to find objects for taxation in
order to meet the great demands upon
her treasury. England is obliged now,
in time OF peace, to meet the responsible
tiles of war. 1t is on account of that
terrible war debt which still hangs over
her, the interest of which must be anuu-
ally paid, that England is obliged to as.
sumo, even in time of peace, this respon
sibility. We are. in no such condition
Our war is over, and there is no reason
why the responsibilities and obligations
assumed during that period should be
prolonged now during the reign of peace.
Let Congress put an end to the war; and
it can DO it in no better way than by
stopping that taxation which was the
child of the war
Down with inequitable taxation, is the
cry of the people, and the national rep
resenta,ives should hear it in the halls OF
legislation ere they hear it iu thunder
tones and at the ballot box at home.