The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-05
Total revenue from income tax. s22595i,75S a

Total revenue from income tax. 225,954. IS &C
The amount received from the income tax
was about AZ per cent of the government
revenues for the periOd from 1872 To 1876.
The other 95H per cent. was paid by the con-
sumption tax, and other taxes, licenses, etc.,
which amount to the same thing.
At least one third OF the income tax was col
lected on incomes so small that they ought
never to ha, G been taxed az all, as, think, i
Will be able to show directly.
have given the above facts TO show that
the rich men of the country and the wealthy
corporations have borne only trivial per-
centage OF he burden of federal taxation.
THE Distribution OF THE BURDENS OF TAXA
TON.
To-day the burden of the national debt of
81 900 O0OO09, and all the expenses ofthe federal
government are borne by the lsborlng men
and Others wuo are moderately wen OH. Inc
rich, such as have an annual income OF from
S25, 900 to 5000, co. do not bear appreciate
part of this enormous burden. They pay, of
cOulSe, something on the articles whlch they
consume, but it amounts TO nothing in COM
parison with the taxes paid by their less
wealthy neighbors.
living expenses of the owners do not reduce
them to any extent, not even to the smount
of the yearly interest on the sum received.
Federal taxation, instead OF being levied
upon the people In proportion 10 their AGILITY
TO pay, is in fact levied upon them in proper
ton 10 their inability to pay.
Thus, for Illustration, take the case OF four
persons:
One having an income of 81 600.
A second having an income OF Sl0,OOO
A third an income OF 100000.
y fourth an income of 81 ,O0O.O 0.
The first spends $500 in living, or so per cent.
of his income.
The 5 cond spends 5000, or so per cent. OF
The third spends $4,000, or 20 per cent. of his
The fourth spends $4,000, or per cent. of
his income.
In their expenditure they have paid the
tax on consumption to the federal govern
md ~ In nfO N hQi N
ability to pay, the one who had the most, has
paid the least
strengthens the rich by relieving them from
a Just burden, and Expresses the poor and the
middling classes by laying upon them an un-
lust burden.
And these vast estates go on rolling up, year
by year, substantially exempt from federal
taxation, while the great mass of the people
are forced to .expend nearly all their earnings
in the expenses of living, which is made the
Fellow Citizens: AS an American citizen, 1
protest against this unequal, infamous and
unhoy condition of things. II must not be
allowed TO continue, for its existence is hostile
to the rights, equality and freedom OF the
ii this systm of taxation is permitted to do
its work for n hundred years, or Tor even fifty
years. IT will make US a nation of serfs, ruled
by a moneyed aristncracy. 1t Will overthrow
tue independence of our legislature, destroy
the manhood of the voter, carry elections by
bribery, purchase returning boards with un
taxed wealth. It Will strengthen and CEN
tralize the federal government, and IL the
people vainly attempt TO rebuke its tnsolence
and treason IL will crush them out with the
standing army.
The proposition that have to make is that
wealth tuust and shall be taxed by the govern
ment of the United States. IL must be done,
because it is the only wise, honest and just
course 10 pursue. IL must be zone as meas
ure OF safety 1 A the conduct ofnational afia1rs.
IL must be done as a measure OF RELIEF 10 the
suffering millions of the people.
HOW CAN WEALTH BE TAxED:BY THE UNITED
STATES?
The great question to determine is how TO
to contribute Just proportion Of the federal
revenues.
IL is a practical matter as well as theoret.
tcal one, and Is well worthy Of the soberesl