The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-12
MORE TAXATION OF THE POOR
For THE BENEFIT OF THE RICH,

FOk THE BENEFIT OF THE RICH.
| And so 1t seems that Congress can not
entertain any proposition to tax those
who are able to pay, but mustmake those
who are unable to pay furnish about
$30, 900, 900 of additional revenue to help
out the public expenditures. II the peo-
pie had deoreed one year ago, as we
urged them to do, that the deficit should
be raised from the incomes of the rich,
Congress would be now finding ample
leakages of revenue that might be
stopped. The rich and the members
themselves would very plainly perceive
what expenditures might be retrenched.
But the people did not demand an in
come tax, and hence it is concluded that
| they canbe further sheared without even
a bleat Of dissatisfaction. Accordingly
the Committee of Ways and Means has
partially reported tariff and tax bill
per cent. more, tobacco cents per pound
more, whisky ON hand 15 cents more, and
on all manufactured after the passage OF
the bill 30 cents more per gallon, and re-
storing the reduction of 10 per cent.
made in 1872 on iron, steel, paper, books,
india rubber, gutta-percha, glass.
leather, cotton and wooden goods, and SO
forth.
Not one Of these levies affects the Yich
even as individuals, and irrespective of
their ability to pay, as severely as it
taxes the poor. For example, four cents
per pound on tobacco is ~three times as
heavy on the poor as upon the rich, be-
cause it amounts to almost nothing on
tire finest qualities, which the rich con-
sumo. The poor take dog-leg and pay
four cents more of duty on it, while the
rich take quality worth four times as
much and pay no more per pound; SO
that on the weed they are taAed but one
fourth as much as the poor. SO Of sugar.
More especially so OF whisky The poor
man pays 80 cents more on gallon worth
80, while the rich topper pays but 30 cents
moro of tax on q gallon worth $12-one-
sixth as much SO also on cotton and
wooden goods-the poor pay twice as
much as the rich, because they are COM
PEELED TO use the cheaper qualities.
But worse still. All these taxes are
calculated to put money into the pockets
of the rich. The increase of the duty on
sugar will largely increase the profits OF
the planter with his immense sugar-land
monopoly. Under Land Reform this
would go to the laboring producer in
small amounts, instead of to the nom
laboring monopolIst. SO also the in
crease of duty on cotton and woolen
goods is for the benefit of the manuiac-
turing capitalists. Ditto of iron and
steal. And while these taxes put money
into the pockets Of the rich, they take
another grab from the small wages OF
the poor!
And such fs American legislation! !!
Verify does 1t seem to be true, as was
said by an author 50 years ago, that CIV
ilization was failure since the open
plunder in barbarism had only been ex-
changed for refined plunder by taxation !!
And yet the people seem disposed to
stand it. Well let them be skinned
alive-we are powerless to prevent it.
When they get sense and spirit enough,
they will reform this Internal plunder. p
An income tax graduated upward from
2T to 20 per cent. is what is wanted.
This would draw money from those who
are able to pay, and would not put
money into the pockets Of the rich at the
expense of the poor. Talk about array
ing the poor against the richl Yes, keep
the poor quiet that they may bo robbed!