The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-06-17
The Income Tax. Speech Of Hon.
Nj. &. Kerr.


When the internal tax bill was under
consideration in the House Mr.. X ERR
made the following pointed and telling
speech in favor Of continuing the tax
upon wealth, and tightening the burden
upon the poor and the labor Of the coun-
TRY. MIR. KERR, in his few minutes
speech, said:
lmove to amend by striking out in
section thrty-sevep the words "$l, ,5O0'
and inserting in lieu thereof "$2,OOO,"
|so that this tax shall not be levied OH in
comes Of $1,000 or less. am in favor
|of the reduction of this tax to three per
cent, but am opposed to any greater
reduction. ! am decidedly opposed to
the repeal OF this tax, because in my
Judgment it is fair and just tax. 1t is,
Il agree, liable to objections; so are ali
taxes. 1t is subject to imperfections in
the modes Of its collection so are all
taxes. 1t is in some respects odi0us to
those who pay it /: so are all taxes. 1t is
oppressive TO those who pay
|it /; SO are all taxes. Whatever objection
may be made to this tax, the same OBJ.
lection will apply 10 almost any other
tax in the list, in greater or less de-
gree. As in other cases, the imperfcc-
|tions both in the modes Of imposition
land collection Of this tax are capable of
and reform. Let them be
reformed. But do not repeal this tax
without an effort to remedy its objection
able features. In principle, in my judg-
mcnt, it is fair and righteous burden
upon the rich, upon the earnings Of
wealth, of massed capital, of monopO-
lists. II ought to be so reduced Ms not to
invite evasion or fraud by its excess. II
should be kept within the limit of the
true and reasonable revenue Standard
This can be determined in time and by
experience.
To the revenue it Is a most valuable
tax, realizing over thirty million dollars
per annunl. 1t rests lightly upon the
people generally. 1t is not like your
taxes which fall upon the poor, which
meet them at every hand, which add to
the price of everything they wear,evcry-
thing they eat, everything they enjoy in
any way. 1t is not a horrible incubus
upon the millions who labor and earn
but little beyond the absolute necessa.
ries Of life. 1t docs not cost the people
five dollars paid to monopolists and
Government iavoritcs forryery one dol
lar it pays to the treasury, like the out
rageous and unrighteous tariff imposi-
tiOns. 1t does not add to the cost Of the
peoples clothing, Of their salt, or their
bread, and their implements of toll. Do
not remit this tax on incomes, and turn
round in the interes; of protection and
demand more burdens upon every in
dustry and energy Of the people by the
increase Of your already infamous tariff.
Ii you are sincere in your desire to re-
licve the people, reduce the tariff. re-
form its scandalous partiality, abuses,
and favoritism.
The gentleman from New York INr.
Davisl says this income tax is "war|
tax" So, let me tell him, are more than
one-hslf OF the present tariff impositions
in this country. They were imposed as
" war taxes" Why does not the gentle
man ask that they be removed from thcI
Why docs he vote to per-
petuate those oppressive taxes, those in
outrageous burdens which,
Are consuming the peoples earrings toI
the extent Of four or five dollars for ev-
cry dollar that ever finds its way into|
the Treasury Of the country? Why isl
he not in favor Of repeating them?
Mr.. Davie-I would vOtc to repeal
them II the act imposing them contained
} solemn pledge that they should expire
with the present year. 'a
Mr.. Kerr. Mr.. Speaker: the Solemn
pledges" made to tho country rest vcryl
lightly, l fear, on the judgment of the