Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1886-12-16
Federal Taxation.

In my last annual message to Congress Mt
tention was d rccted to the fact that the
revenues OF the GoYeenment exceeded ITS
actual needs and it was suggested that legiS-
iative action should he taken to rel eve the
people from the unnecesSart burden OF tax
alton TINS WAS made apparent In view OF
the press ne Importance of the subject L
deem IL my duty TO again urge IT'S cons era-
ton.
The income Of the Government by its in
creased volume and through econom eS in
its collect on is now more than ever in ex-
cess of public nccessirics The Application
of the surplus to the payment of such
portion of the public debt as is now
at our option. e subject to eXtinquish IL
ment f continued at the rate which 1t h as
lately prevailed. would retire that class
of Indebtedness with less than one Year
from this date. Thus a cont nuat on of our
present revenue system would soon result in
rhe recG.pt of all annual income much great.
Ell than necessary TO meet Government ex-
penSeS. with no Indebtedness upon which il
could lie applied. and we should then he con
frOnted with Al vast quantity of money, the
c.rculnting med um' OF the people, boarded
in the treasury when it should be in their
hands. or we should be drawn into waSteful
public eXtrava=aEce SEith all the orrupting
national demordlAat on which follows in its
train. Eut il rs not the existence of this sur
plus and its threatened attendant evil which
furnish the strongest argument against eur
present scale of Federal taxation.
Its worst phase 9 the exact on of such a
surplus through perversion of the rela-
tiors between the people and Their Govern
rules Which limit the riS2t of Federal taxa
tono Good government and espec ALLY the
\
/ zen boasts, has for is object the protection
of every person withiFD lis care the great
est liberty consistent with the good order of
society and bis perfect security in the enjoy
ment of his earn ngs with the least possible
diminution.for pubic needs. When more OF
the peoples sustenance is eXacted through
TO meet the gust obligations of the
Government and the expense o.
exaction becomes ruthless extorton
and a violation OF the fundamental prime plies
in which these exactiOns are made has i ten
dency to conceal their true character and
thor extent; but We have arviyed at a'stage
OF superhuent revenue which has aroused
the people TO Il realization of the fact that
the amount 'Sed profeSSeoiy for the sglp-
port of the Government is paid by them :,s
VIII ch support their daily wants rs If il were
paid at fixed periods INTO the hands of the
Those who toll for daily wages arc begin
ming 10 understand that capital, though some
times vaunt ng = Importance ana ciamor ne
tor project. on and favor OF rhe Government
is. dull and siu&g sh till touched 10y the
mage hand OF labor il springs into activity
furnishing an occasion for Federal taxation
and gaining the value which enables il TO
bear It's burden. and the labor ny man is
IhoughtssslIy inouiring whethrr ir these cir
cnmSfancr, and cons derIfYr the rr;nnra ne
Consistently pays into the p1blic Treasury as
he supp es his daily wants he receives b :
fair stI,re of advantages There is also Il
suSpic on abroad that the surplus OF our rev
enues Indicate abnormal aFf exceptional
business profits which; under the system
that produces such surplus. increase without
corresponding benefit to the people ut large.
The vGsr accumu lations OF IL Few among our
citizehS- whose fortunes, rival the wealth
of the NOSE favored N antI-Democratc Ma
tons. are not the natural growth OF u steady,
PLAN and industrious republic
our farmers, toe. and those engaged d.
rectly and indirectly in supplying the pro-
ducts OF agriculture. see that day by dav.
holds recur tuey are forced pay excess We
and needless taxation while their Eroducts