The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-04-12

rooted, so natural consequence OF |
the tendencies of human nature it
self, and of our whole economical
system, that the majority are dis
posed to think action in the pre-
misses entirely useless, and as chin
erical and enthusiastic as plans to
abolish poverty or effect complete
reform in human nature.
We make no pretence to being in
possession of any sovereign remedy
for the inequalities of taxation, but
we are enthusiastic enough to be-
lieve that some remedy exists or can
be devised, and that mon who have
any influence in shaping legislation
ought really to devote earnest
thought to this problem with view
to embodying their results in the
form of law. Our own proposals
may seem to many too radical. It is
worth considering, however, whether
graduated property and income tax
would not be at once feasible and
calculated to realize the end in view.
We are aware how great are the
difficulties which stand in the way
of any kind of income tax. They
have generally led to the abolition of
all such attempts to raise revenue.
On the other hand, it is generally
admitted that the tax is the most
equitable which can be devised. And
it may be worth while to experiment
with it here.
The objections which apply with
so much force against an income tax,
do not affect our other proposition,
namely, to establish a progressive
tax on land, and for that matter on
other forms of property. By pro-
gressive tax we mean of course a tax
which increases it's rate in proportion
to the amount of property returned
by single individual. For example,
property under certain valuation
might pay three-quarters of one per
cent. The excess above this valua-
ton might be taxed at one per cent.
up to another limit. And all above
this second limit might pay at the
rate of two per cent. and so on. Thus
a rich merchant might pay on $4,000
three-quarters of one per cent; on q
second ten thousand, one per cent;
on a third, one and a half; on the
next hundred thousand, two, etc.
This system would, as far as it went,
shift the burden of taxation from the
poor to the rich, without doing the
latter any injustice. It is certainly
not likely that such proposition
will find favor with the capitalist
class, but that is not to be expected.
Capitalists would not be human if
they did not decry so novel pro-
position as unjust and prejudlcial
to their rights. But the injustice of
it does not seem clear. It simply
proposes that the rich, who are
abundantly able to bear larger
share Of the taxes, shall assume a
proportion corresponding to their
superior ability.
A progressive land tax will GER
tainly be decried as socialistic. We
must admit that it is tainted with
the moderate socialism which is
growing more powerful in every part
of the world and which is shaping
legislation every year. It is not,
however, socialistic IN any more dan
gerous sense. Neither IS it doctrin-
ARE. While certainly radical, it is
not entirely new. We believe it has
been tried elsewhere and not been
discarded. At any rate our oppor-
tunities here for judicious and care
full experiment are unrivaled, and it
will do no harm to try now and then
| a new thing. Perhaps in this way
we can pay the debt which we owe
the western world for our civilization.