The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-22

rid Of. To some taxation they have felt
compelled TO submit for the look of the
thing, and to enable them to draw. the
chief part of the revenue out of the poor
and the middle class without instigating
rebellion.
The income tax was never imposed on
England until 1S42-after the people had
so far got the upper hand of the aristoc-
racy as 10 force 1T out OF them. 1t was
then imposed for only three years; but
it has so yindicatea its justice that it
has become a permanent source OF rev.
enue. The rate has varied from 3 to 10
pence on the pound-that is, from As to
cents on the dollar. Since 1854 this tax
has produced an average Of over $50, ,00O,-
o year. Our income tax, while it con.
tiuuod, varied from az to 8 and 10 cents
on the dollar, with changing exemptions
of $500, $1,000 and $4,000. The annual
product oi this tax was about 100000, ,000.
Thus Great Britain, with three.fourths
our population: raises one-fQGrrtlr more
revenue from the income tax in the ordi-
nary state of the Treasury, than we
! raised from it in an extraordinary finan-
cial condition. Popular Sentiment in
England has forced the rich to perma-
nent continuation of this tax which is
being pronounced by her statesmen the
most just of all taxes; while in this coun-
try the income men are so largely in the
moral supremacy that they forced it's re-
peal, and sneer at every proposition for
it's resolution.
Great Britain has settled down 10 a
scale of taxation that is remarkably just
in it's pressure upon the several classes,
when compared with our scale Of duties
and excuses. Her taxes draw from the
several classes as follows;
Upper classes. s......................$1 $11J,G,NOO0
Middle classes. .................... 160,00O,O00
working classes ..... ............. lVo,oOOVVU
In the supper classes" are included the
aristocracy, the merchants, brokers,
manufacturers and gentry. The middle
classes mean those of less income, but
dependent upon wages. The working
classes mean the wage men. The wage
men are two-thirds the whole, but have
very little OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
them none at all.
The aggregate revenue of Great Britain
is about $50, 900, 900 more than our nation.
al revenue, though If our State and local
taxation were included, it would be
$100, 100000 less. How do our national
taxes bear upon the several classes
About as follows:
The rich ..............,........$ 5000 oU0
The middle CLASS. ass.................... l0U,oVO,VVU
The wage class. Observation-Disclosures. l6O,0oOOOO
We include among the rich all whose
incomes are over $4,000. Thus, while the
rich get all the income that can well
afford to pay taxes they do not contribute
more than one-sixth of the revenue; while
the wage class that can not afford to pay
any tax at all and ought not to pay, are
made by sneaking system, to furnish
nalf the entire revenue of the govern
ment.
1t Is bad in England to make the poor
pay more than one-fourth the whole, but
it is worse in the land of freedom, where
all the poor have votes.
The income tax is very general through
out Europe, and it is not war tax. 1t
was first levied In this country as war
tax; but thanks to the war for that much
of justice in taxation. Let it be perma-
nent peace tax. 1t is the only tax by
which the East can be made to contrib
ute in proportion to her wealth.