The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-02
TIE TNCOlfE TAX INTO UTTY.

IHE INCOMB IdA INLQ CILI.
The rejoicing over the defeat of the income
tax was somewhat premature, as that ire
sponsible and uncertain body, the Senate of
the United States, last night reconsidered its
vote of few days ago, abolishing the tax,
and decided to continue it for two years, at
% per cent, on all incomes over $4,000.
This reversal of the former decision of the
Senate was brought about by piece of mean
trickery, the motion to reconsider having
been made at late hour and in the absence
of great many Senators who were known to
be opposed to the continuance of the
tax. The reason assigned for this action was
that, in order to raise the necessary revenue
either incomes or gross receipts must be
taxed, and that it was preferable to impose
the burden upon the former Any one
acquainted even in the most superficial man.
ner with the financial condition of the Gov
eminent knows perfectly well that neither of
these taxes are required, as without them
the receipts of the Government will be far in
excess Of its legitimate expenses. 1t is SIM
ply an outrage that an inquisitorial tax that
was originally imposed under peculiar circum-
stances, that made the patriotic people of the
country willing to submit to anything so
that the Rebellion could be crushed, should
be continued after it has expired by imita-
ton, and after the very plain and emphatic
expression of public opinion with regard
to it.
The only people in this country who can be
said to be in favor of the income tax are
Western and Southern farmers who have no
cash incomes worth speaking about, and yet
who are often possessed of far greater wealth
than the clerks and others who live on salaries
in the Eastern States, who are forced to bear
the burden of the tax. The corn-growers
think that by continuing the income tax they
will be able to shift portion at least of the
burden that properly belongs to them upon
the shoulders of others, and it is to crafty
this mean and selfish spirit that so many of
the congressman from the West and South
have advocated this unjust and iniquitous
measure with such persistence. AS has been
asserted again and again, however, the
amount of the tax is not what is objected
to, and we would equally oppose
the imposition of one-tenth of one per cent.
as we would ten per cent, if it required the
taxpayer to make a formal and detailed state
ment of his most private affairs for the benefit
of anybody whom curiosity or impertinence
might induce to inspect his returns and pub
Hsh them to the world. The only hope now
is that the President will interpose his veto,
but as he is committed to Secretary Bout
wells policy of paying off the public debt as
rapidly as possible, it is scarcely to be ex-
pected that he will interfere, especially as a
veto would have the effect of sending the bill
back to Congress at the very fag-end of the
session, when its reconsideration and recon
struction would produce great deal of con-
fusion, There is no help for it, therefore,
but to swallow the bitter pill with as good a
grace as possible, and to wait patiently until
favorable opportunity offers for making the
advocates of the tax in Congress feel the
weight of public opinion in such manner that
they will learn which are the masters, the
people or their representatives.
The following was the vote on June "A to
strike ont the income tax sections