New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-15
FEDERAL TAXATION.

lately prevailed, would retire that class of in
debtedness within less than one year from this
enue would soon result in the receipt of an
annual income much greater than neces-
sary to meet government expenses. with no
We should then be confronted with vast quau-
tity of money. the circulating medium OF the
people, boarded in the treasury, when it should
wasteful public extravaganza with all the COR
rupting national decentralization which follows
In its train. But 1t is not the simple existence
Of this surplus and it's threatened attendant
evils which furnish the strongest argument
against our present scale of federal taxation. It's
worst phase is the exaction of such surplus
through perverslOn of the relations between
the people and their government, a dangerous
departure from the rules which limit the right
OF federal taxation Good government, OF which
every American citizen boasts, has for its objects
the
PROTECTION OF EVERY PERSON
within It's borders with the greatest liberty con-
slstent With tho good OF the country, and his
perfect security in the enjoyment of his earn
ings, with the least possible diminution for thu
public needs When more of the peoples
tenance is exacted through the form of taxation
than is necessary to meet the just obligations of
the government and the expense OF its econom-
ical administration, such action becomes ruth
mental principles Of free government. The
indirect manner in which these exactions are
made has tendency to conceal their true char
acter and their extent; but we have arrived at a
stage OF superhuous revenue, which has
aroused the people to realiza-
tion of the fact that the amount
ment is paid by them absolutely. ii added to
the price of the things which supply their daily
wants. as it it were paid at fixed periods into the
hands of the tax gatherer. Those who toll for
daily wages are beginning to understand that
capital, though sometimes vaunting its impor-
tance and clamoring for the protection and favor
of the government. is dull and sluggish till,
touched by the magical wand OF labor. it springs
into activity, furnishing an occasion for federal
taxation and gaining the value which enables il
70 TO pear ITS burden; and 1 the laborns man is
cumstances and considering the tribute
he he constantly pays ,j into the public treas
There is also suspicion abroad that the sur
plus of our revenues indicates abnormal and ex-
ceptional business profits, which under the sys-
out corresponding
BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE
at large the vast accumulauious OF few among
our citizens whose fortunes, rivaling the wealth
of the most favored in anti-democratic nations,
are not the natural growth of steady, plain
and Industrious republic Our farmers. too.
and those engaged directly and Indirectly in
supplying the products Of agriculture, see that
day by day, and as often as the daily wants Of
their households recur. they are forced to pay
excessive and needless taxation, while their
competition OF nations which, by allowing
freer exchange of productions than we permit,
enable their people to sell for prices which dis
tress the American farmer. AS every patriotic
citizen rejoices in the constantly increasing
pride Of our people in American citizenship and
in the glory of our national achievements and
progress. sentiment prevails that the leading
strings useful to nation in its infancy may
we'll, to great extent, be discarded in the pres
ent stage Of American ingenuity, courage
and fearless self-reliance: and for the
privilege of indulging this sentiment with true
American enthusiasm our citizens are quite will
ing to forego idle surplus in the public treas
ury, and all the people know that the average
rate OF federal taxation upon imports, is to-day.
in stime :of peace but little less, while upon
some articles Of necessary consumption it Is
actually more. than was imposed by the grievous
ernment needed millions to maintain by war the
safety and integrity OF the United States. It
has been the policy OF the government to collect
the principal part of it's revenues by tax upon
imports, and change in the policy is desra-
BILE. But the present condition of affeirs con-
strains our people to demand that by revision
OF our revenue laws the receipts Of the govern
ment shall be reduced to the necessary expense
Of it's economical administration, and this de-
mand should be recognized and obeyed by the
peoples representatives in the legislative
branch Of the government. In readjusting the
BURDENS OF FEDERAL TAXATION
a sound public policy requires that such Of our
citizens as have built up large and import ant
industries under the present condition should
not be suddenly and to their injury deprived of
advantages to which they have adapted their
b business: but If the public good requires it,
as shall deal fairly and cautiously with their
interests. While the just demand Of the people
for relief from needless taxation is homes lv
answered. a reasonab BILE and timely submission
to such demand should certainly be possible
without disastrous shock TO any interest; and
a cheerful concession sometimes averts abrupt
and Needless action often the outgrowth Of i'm
patience aud delayed justice. Due regard
should be also accor ded in any proposed read
justment to the interests Of American labor so
far as they are involved We congratulate our
q q QC
fixed within uny1eldlng bounds and doomed
under all conditions to the inexorable fate
isf daily fdal toll IN '" the %ss9b Of in the labor
public, and we treat those who have it
for their keeping as citizens entitled 10 the most
careful regard and thouehtful attention. This
| regard and attention should be awarded them,
not only because labor is the capital Of our
workingman. justly entitled to it's share OF
government favor. but for the further and not
less important reason that the labcring man,
surrounded by his family in his humble home,
as consumer is vitality interested in all that
cheapens the cost Of living and enables him to
bring within his domicile additional comforts
and advantages. This relation of the working
man TO the revenue laws Of the country aud the
manner in which it palpably influences the
question of wages should not be forgotten In the
justifiable prominence given to the proper main
tenance Of the supply and protection of we'll
| paid labor. And these considerations suggest
shall curtal the cost of living while it does not
curtail the opportunity for work. nor reduce the
compensation of American labor and injuriously
affect its condition and tho digniied place
it holds in the estimation Of our people But
our
FARMERS AND AGRICULTURIsTs,
| those VINO from the soil produce the things con-
sumed by all are perhaps more directly and
plainly concerned than any other of our citizens
| in just and careful system Of federal taxation
| Those actually engaged in and more remotely
connected with This kind of work number nearly
cne-hs!f Of our population; none labor harder or
more continuously than they. No enacJ1nenbs
limit their hours of toii, and no interposision Of
| the government enhances to any great extent
the vane Of their products, and yet. for many OF
the necessaries and comforts OF life. which the
| most scrupulous economy enables thera to bring
| into their homes, and for their implements OF
| hrabandry, they are obliged to pay price
| largely Increased by an unnatural profit which,
by the action Of the government, is given to the
| more favored manufacturer. I recommend THAI
keeping in view all these considerations, ths IN
creasing and unnecessary surplus OF national in
come annually accu,nnlattng be released to the
people by amendment OF our revenue laws
| which snail sharpen the price OF necessaries ct
| life and give freer entrance 70 such imported
| materials as by American labor may be manu-
| factured into marketable commodities, Nothing
can be accomplished, however, in the direction