The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-04-15
THE INCOME TAX IN THE
SENATE.
An Emphatic Protest.


ESUin Mr INr,r York EHdINHdnnt.
We protest once, twice, three times, all
the while, forever, against the resolution
the Senate Finance Committee, which
proposes to continue the tax OH incomes
ai(er this year at the rate Of three per cent.
We do not accept this us substitute for
the House resolution, which simply cX-
tended the present law into 1871, without
any change Of its terms That was bad
enough TO provoke II general remonl'
STRANGE. But this Is even worse; since i
proposes 10 continue the tax until 1t shall
suit the pleasure nr the Government 10 re-
peal the law. What we desire, and what
the country desires, is that Congress will
simply let The hr alone 1t is just right as
It now stands. No nation will tell the
story. By Its own terms the tax dies this
wear: and no death could possibly be more
acceptable 10 the people. They havcbeen
patiently waiting for the mortal year to
come; and, now that 1t has come, they are
in no mood TO have the period adjourned
TO tho indefinite future. The sugar coat.
ing Of three per cent, instead Of five, will
NOT change the public feeling in regard to
this TAX.
It Is quite possible that Congress may
not have heard the news. Indeed, We
should think not, If judging Senators and
Representatives By their course in respect
to the income tax. Hence VIC venture to
inform them TINT General Grant has con-
QucrCd General Lee, and smashed up tho
Rebellion from circumference TO centre
Yes, gentlemen, The IoUr is 0rcri ! aud Gen.
erL Grant is now Presinent Of the United
States, and In . single year hns paid about
$1O0,OO0,00O Of tho public debt ont OF the
surplus revenues Of the Government
These important facts may not have come
TO your knOwledge; yet you will now
have no excuse for not knowing them.
There Is another item Of Information
which we think It well to give; and this il
the fact that IN income tax is '0dT ttr
justified only by m extreme emergency
and entirely out Of place in the time o.
lRace, especially In IL republican govern
mcnt. # Congress wants any authorities
on this subject, we can baCk the PROPOSE
tton by all tho respectable writers on pO
litical economy, who arc in nothing mort
agreed than in their condemnation Of the
tax on incomes. II is the verg last meIs
urG to which Il government should ever
resort, and always the first TO be abandon
cd. It's inQuisitoriNl, unequal, and de
m0ralizing cllaraStcr has led not few tC
designate II aS "TIIE INTERNAL TAN.
Outside Of Congress, so far rs We know
nobody likes It, and everybody hates It
It tempts honest men to be dishonest, and
| furnishes roglles with plausible excuse
| for cvading II.
Now, gentlemen, having given you
these items of information, we sub]oin the
following advice: Do AOtlRng. Let tht
law alone. The year 1870 Is the limit o.
It's life The people have borne it for five
years since the close Of the war, and WI
assure you that they do not wish 10 bear Il
any longer. You will make grand mis-
take If you attempt TO force the COntinu
ancc Of the Tux upon them against sOgcn
craI u public judgment 49,
While we arc about II, We may Us well
thank Commissioner Dclano for relieving
the income tax for this year Of its Pau
Pry feature. lie has forbidden the aSscs
sofs to permit the publication Of incomt
returns, rs has been done for several yeari
past. This practice, not required by tht
law, and really serving no good end, wa
exceedingly offensive 10 the people W.
heartily commcndAfr. Dclano for this sen
sihle Orllcr. Better late than never. =