The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-04-18
THE MOST RIG HTEOUS TAX.

THE MOST RIGHTEOUS TAX.
The fairest and most righteous tax that
ever was levied in this or any other coun-
try, is the income tax; it strikes at the
truest basis OF taxation, and requires those
to pay most who earn most. 1t is right
that all kinds OF property should bear its
share OF the burdens of government, but
there are circumstances under which any
kind Of property tax will sometimes
work great hardship. With an income tax
this can never be the case, for it never calls
upon man to pay unless he is making
money. We are glad to see that there is
good prospect that the income tax will be
restored by the present Congress, and we are
glad TO observe, too, that the newspapers oil
the country, except those that represent the
bondholding interest, are giving cordial
support to the proposition. The ST. Louis
Republican of the 18th, says:
The House Committee on Ways and Means
having decided In favor OF an income-tax,
bill to provide for it will shortly be reported.
II will meet with the opposition OF the East
the stubbornest resistance coming from the
great cities OF that section, where the largest
incomes are to be found. A remonstrance
against such a measure has already been pre-
pared TO be submitted 10 Congress, signed by
wealthy citizens of New York, Boston, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore.
This remonstrance declares that an income
tax would be unconstitutional, impolitic and
m Il The a NJ nm nnSfi M
ty rests on that provision of the Constitution
which declares that mo capitation or other
direct tax shall be levied unless in proper
ton to the census or enumeration heretofore
directed to be taken" 1t is declared impol-
itic because ''it is a tax on industry and
thrift" and it Is declared unjust because sit
is a direct tax levied on the gains and saw
ings of the individual and cannot be divided,
or transferred, }" like the indirect tax levied on
whisky and tobacco. The remonstrance
states, further, that in 1863, out Of total col
lection Of s3i, 2i9 1888 under the former income
tax law, the seven States Of Massachusetts,,
New York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Illinois and California paid SIS, ,5s7 or more
than three fourth of the whole and out OF 233
congressional districts then existing, there
were six that paid Is Isl 49,, or nearly one
lourLn Ol the WnOle, anu seventeen PAID Sl1,-
O66 III, or one-half. There were only about
215,0O incone-tax payers under the former
law, and when the exemption was raised to
1900, the number was reduced TO u6,0OO.
There are arguments against the measure.
1t will be observed that they are the argu-
ments Of n class, and that too, a class which,
while most able to pay taxes, pay the smallest
proportion. 1t is true an income-taX would
fall on those who have large net incomes, a
comparatively small number. But does not
the tax on spirits, the tax ON beer and the
tax on tobacco, also, fall, not on the whole
community, but on those oily who use those
articles: Does not our revenue system favor
special classes by protecting them against
competition, and thereby set the precedent
for taxing classes? The Eastern remonstrants
inform us that in 1850 the income-tax yielded
Sd, 1900. This Is a strong argument in its
favor. The government needs money, and it
cannot afford TO raise it by laying additional
tribute on the necessaries of life consumed
by the masses. II it can raise S3I,OO0,0 900
through an income-tax on 90, 900 wealthy per-
sons who are most able TO pay it, there would
appear TO be no doubt of the propriety Of the
measure-particularly as all OF this class,
whose income is derived from untaxed gov
eminent bonds, at present pay next to no tax
at all for the protection they receive.