Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-07
The Income Tax.

Our exchanges without regard to politics or,
parties unite in the cry for the abolition OF the
income tax. On the proposition before Con-
gress that the tax shah b. continued, but
reduced, the New York Sss says:
The people win object to for two reasons In
When en- the RsAi income IA. was Originally Levied sd
amid the EXTREMIST pressure of the war. Con
gress solemnly pleeged the fsith Of the Govern
ment that it shousd cease Win N1s7o. That is a.
binding q promise as that on the face of the
Government bonds. Ii Is q contract with the
people, and cannot be repudiatej without dis
honor
Another vital objection to this tax il that n is
UNCONSTITUTIONAL IL b direct tax, and the
Constitution provides that direct taxes shall not
be laid unless In proportion to the census"
We are sMsre thns the preeense 10 sot up that IL
is an excise taH, like that on carriages, watches,
o. billiard tables but this pfeteMse vii not beal
examfhsf3on. A tar on incomes takee from the
taxpayer directly every year y certain proper
billiard tables ke need not tesS ~ Naschss OF
but when the tax-gafherer lays hands on = man .
income, he lays hands directly on his property.
Inn gives TO the income tax the character of q
except in proportion to the census, or collected
except from the States, as was the tax imposed
by Congress in the first year Of the rebellion.
The Josrnai of Commevce advances similar
views, and is even more emphstic in densuncing
the Law in its practical opefstion, thus
IL flevied precisely the same tax on incomes
rom real estate and other productive property
which 1T collects from the annual earnings Of
manual labor or professional industry, 1t would
De unjust, since there Is no parity in the two
cases. The owner and occupant Of farm worth
comfort on its yearly product, Is in very differ
emit position from laoorer, Clergyman, q
lawyer, doctor, or even merchant, who Is
annual earnings of his hands or head. If either
OF the latter b permanently disabled his income
ceases, and IL be dies he may not leave . dollar
to those dependent on him. To tax the income
from capital - precari0us as personal ability to
earn money az the same rate as income from
vested wealth which will 60 on i'm sickness and
may be left at death rs An inheritance to one s
heirs, Is very unjust. But what shall we say to
the actual discrimination TIE other ,cays The
owner Of the farm pays nothing on his income
from 1t, while his labOrer must return every dol
lar OF his daily pay, and, If It exceeds the limit
OF exemption, pay a tax on II!
Take another illustration:
We know man owning q farm that would
sell to-day for so 600, and Is worth much MORE
he lives upon it and supports q large family.
he has go, 900 out on bond and mortgage At the
highest interest allowed In his State. He is
worth from ten to fifteen thousand dollars in
other real and personal property which is wear
ly increasing in value, but at present Welding
no cash income. He pays not one cent Of In,
His farm products are not taxed; and his 81, 200
interest money, after paying his annual city and
state dues, which are legally deducted, leave
him fraction under the 81 900 individual ex
emption Here is the owner Of $50 900 actual
property, living at his ease, and laying up mo-
ney yearly, also pays no tax! The clergyman in
his town, with salary Of 81 800, is not only
Obliged to pay on the excess of 81 1000, but has
been compelled by the assessor to return all his
wedding fees and pay five per cent on them
Il ne doctor in the same town. who hasn't dol
lar OF property in the world beside his horse and
saddle bags, and has large FAMILY dependent
on his earnings, paid last year on 800 over the
exemption The keeper of little store there
may be worth two or three thousand dollars,
but has five children and parslytic mother to
support, was obliged to devote two or three
weeks in taking account OF stock because his
estimate of profits was doubted. He too paid
his tax, looking wistfully all the while at his
wealthy neighbor above cited. and wondering
why the law couldn't reach him.