The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-09
For the Year Ending
FEDERAL TAXATION.


In nv last annual message to congress atten-
ton was directed to the fact that the revenues
of the government exceed its actual need, and 1t
was suggested that legislative action should be
taken to relieve the people of the unnecessary
burden of taxation thus made apparent. In
view Of the pressing Importance CT the subject.
| deem it my duty to again urge its considera~
ton The income Of the government, with its in
creased volume and through economies in its
collection is now more than ever IL excess of
public necessities. The application of the sur
Plus to the payment of such portion of the pub
lie debt is now at our optioh subject to eX-
tinguishment if continued at the rate which has
lately prevailed, would retire that class of in
deb edness within less than year from this
date. Thus continuation of our present rev
euue would result in the receipt OF all
annual income much greater than neces-
| sary TO meet government expenses, with no
| Indebtedness upon which it could be applied.
| We should then be confronted with vast guam
| tity OF money, the circulating medium OF the
| people, boarded in the treasury. when it should
| be in their hands or should be drawn into
| wasteful public extravagance with all the cor
rupting national decentralization which follows
| in its train But il is not the simple existence
| of this surplus and it's Threatened attendant
| evils which furnish the Stznngest arsument
against our present scale of fcttcral taxation Its
worst phase is the exaction of suoh surplus
through perversion of the relations between
| the people and their government q dangerous
| departure from the rules which limit the right
| of federal taxation. Good government, of which
|
| the
| PROTECTION OF EVERY PERSON
within it's borders with the greatest liberty con-
sistent with the good Of the country, and his
| perfect security i'll the enjoyment of his earn
| ngs, with the least possible diminution for the
public needs. When more of the peoples sus-
tenance Is eXacted through the form of taxa ton
| than is necessary to meet the just obligations of
| the government and the expense OF its econom-
| ical admin stration, such action becomes ruth
| less extortion, and violation of the fundas
mental principles of a free government. The
| indirect manner in which these eSaCtions are
| made has a tendency to conceal their true char
acter and their extent: but we have arrived at a
! age of superfiuous revenue. which has
ao,, of the fact that the amount
raised profcssedy for the support of the govern
| nent is paid by them as absolutely, II added to
| the price of the things which supply their daily
wants, il it 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 Wanting It's fmpor-
| lance and clamoring for the protecti n and favor
| touched by the magical wand of labor. 1t springs
into activity, furnishing an occasion for federal
taxation and gaining the value which enables 1t
| to- bear it's burden; and the laDoring man Is
thoughtfully inquiring whether IN these CIR
cufnstances~ and considering tine tribnte
| he constantly pays into the pubic Treas
uFy as he supplies his daily wants,
he receives his fair share of advantages.
There is>aso suspicion abroad That the sur
| plus of our revenues indicates abnormal ana eS-
! ceptional business profits. which under the 'ys-
| tenn which produces such surplus increase with
| out corresponding