The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-23
WAsHINGToN, July l6, Is

WASHINGTON, July l6, 1870.
CosGREss-NcoNE rAx--TARFF-cINCNNArI CON.
GREss-LABoR AND cAPIrAL-rHEIR MUTUAL IN
TEkEsTs.
To the Editor Of the woRKneHANs ADVOCATE.
Congress has closed its session, ad-
journed and gone home; and they did
nothing for the benefit of the working
classes but they have done all they
well could do for the capitalists and
Land Grabbers.
The tax and tariff bill has become a
law it retains an income tax Of 81 per
cent. on the amount of salaries and
other incomes above s., 900; and ex-
empts rent of homesteads, without linn
it; if man wishes to put twenty or
even fifty thousand dollars in a house
to live in, and occupies it, that amount
is exempted as much as the room of
the poor man at ten dollars per month;
and that is deducted from the occu-
pants income; for instance, a rich
bank or railroad president receives a
salary Of $50, 900, and lives in house
the rent of which is worth $4,000, he
will pay no income tax-being exempt
ed 81, 900 of income and Sls,O for
rent while poor man receives So, 900
salary, lives in a house of $500 rental,
and pays income tax on $500. Such is
the justice of it.
Then again all special taxes are abol-
ished on bankers, brokers, foreign
brokers, foreign insurance agents, patent
right dealers, pawnbrokers, keepers of
hotels, inns or caverns, proprietors of
places Of public amusement, billiard
rooms, bowling alleys, lottery dealers,
jugglers, license for cigar and tobacco
dealers, etc., while high tariff is re-
tanned on all the necessaries consumed
by the laboring and poorer classes, for
the benefit of the rich employers and
manufacturers.
A large pension Of $4,000 per an
mum is given to Mrs. Lincoln, who
never suffered and was not friendly even
to the Union; while many who did
suffer and were faithful are denied,
though poor and in need, while Mrs.
Lincoln is rich, living in luxury, in for
eign countries. Such are some of the
many abuses of Legislation by the Con-
gress which has just adjourned. But
there is another Congress soon to meet
Labor Congress at Cincinnati
which We hope will be wiser and more
just at least, if the mechanics and la
boring men are brave, manly and true
to themselves, something will be effect
ed by them, in 1872, at the ballot box,
that will secure just regard and rec
ignition of the value and rights of the
producing classes of the country-and
make parties heed!
AT Cincinnati, a system and candi-
dates should be adopted and placed be-
fore the country, and firmly supported
by all true workiDgmen, which tCW vim
dictate and maintain their claims, against
the pretensions Of mere politicians and
demagogues; and which will bring
parties to properly regard their rights,
or carry those parties down, to be crush
ed under the wheels Of the labor-car.
The great burden Of the recent legis-
htion has been to make the rich richer,
and to depress and humiliate the poor.
We have no enmity or i'll will toward
capital, but respect and regard it as
use and blessing; we only oppose its
too despotic asccndoncy; labor and
capital should 90 hand IN hand, in mu-
tual good wishes and offices.
DISC.