Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-04
Tariff on Sugar.
70 ne Editor of he Dispatch

To ne Editor OF ne D1sDdtch'
Its injustice consists In taxing men in
proportion to the number or slze OF tsmi-
lies instead of according to their ability to
pay. p DISPATCH editoriaI--T driT on Sugar
November n, 1892.
Granting the truth OF the above PROPOSE
ton then You and all holding such senti-
meut must be absolute free-traders and
Henry Georgeites. or single-tax men.
Because. il tariff on sugar - I'M
just and must go because rich and
poor. irrespective of ability to pay,
must pay the came tax on similar
consumption, then tariff on WOOL carpets,
cloth, dress goods, etc., IS equally unjust,
and mist equally go. because rlch ana
poor alike. irrespective OF ABILITY 10 paw,
must pay the same tax on similar con-
sumption; and tariff on pig-iron and steel
rails is equally unjust and must equally
go, because Terminal, so poor that none
do il reverence pays the same t1rin on
each that the rich New York Central does,
with its stock far above par, ana with IT'S
fscetious president. Depew, drawing his
$50, 900 annually. And then all tarln ~
unjust and must go. because rlch ana poor
alike, irrespective of ability 10 paw the
same tax ON similar consumption, ana then
with all tariff unjust and gone we have
absolute free trade.
And you must also be Henry GeorRelte,
for by no known or conceivable process
can taxation according to ability TO pay
be reached except by the single tax, and
then only approximately. No other pro-
perty offers the same opportunity as land
for apportionlng taxation according 10
ability to pay. because land is always visit
Die and cannot, like personal property, DC
concealed, aud It's value can be easily estab-
lIshed. Besides, land Is the basis. direct
and indirect, of all value. for without land
there would bs no men much less wealth.
and should therefore be the basis, If not
the sole basis. of taxation; and when land
alone is taxed then all the landless and
the landlord, or rich and poor, will pay ac-
cording TO ability, or as near thereto "a
human Imperfection will permit.
On any other basis there must be uni
versal and perpetual lnQuisitioDs with
each taxpayers ability, which of course
can never be successfully done, but which
will surely operate 10 the oppression OF
Of the poor, whose possessions being small
and in constant use cannot be concealed,
while the rich can and will conceal stocks.
bonds, mortgages, 6c., to the value OF mil
lions.
But until the era of absolute free trade
and the single tax arrive there can be no
more equitable method of taxation than
according TO consumption" which can
easily be ascertained, instead OF &C
cording to ability TO pay" which
can never be ascertaiued. Therefore,
your objection to tariff on sugar because
not according to ability 10 pa" Is with
out force, or if applicable to sugar IS
equally applicable TO all tariff, and you
thereby inaugurate free trade.
If wrong, would be glad for enlighten-
ment through your columns. ] am sure
that many besides myself will find tariff on
sugar an interesting and profitable sub
ject for discussion. great deal depends
upon the proper handling of taxation.
l.. II. b.