People's voice., 1892-06-17


of each should be taxed without
regard whence derived, by a graduated
scale affixed by law, in order that each
and all recipients might pay taxes equal
to their ability. The head of this
family few years ago had $4,000, 900
invested in government bonds. This
immense fortune was merely surplus
salted away in the United States treas
ury. guarded from robbers and tax col
lectors by Uncle Sam, drawing per
cent interest and waiting for favor
able opportunity to gobble up more
railroads This sum and all similar
aggregations of money were not only
exempt from tax but the income de-
rived from them was also exempt be-
cause Of their being no law to tax in
comes. Let us examine what the in
come from this S5O,OOO,OOO of United
States bonds amounts to ut per
cent per annum, S2,000,O0O, pay
able semi-annually; Sl,OOO,OOO every
six months An income tax on
that would have, at 20 per cent, bene-
flied the treasury 100000 In the alb
sence of an income tax not one cent was
derived from it in the way of tax.
These brief illustrations will serve for
all others and there are thousands
of similar ones aggregating lesser
amounts
Carnegie's income in 1890 was 81. 800.
900, which he invested in Cluny castles
in the highlands of Scotland and similar
enterprises. His last pet is an immense
library in Pittsburgh, into which he has
put S2,6OOOOO, which can benefit but
comparatively few persons.
Rockefeller, the Standard oil trust
king, is, byvirtte of our monopoly class
law system, enabled to build a great
university in Chicago, of little or nc
benefit to the public at large, from
whom all the money was drawn. Al
of these colossal incomes should b,
taxed and taxed heavily, and the pub
lie, out of whose creations of wealtl
they are acquired, should receive bacl
at least a portion of that wealth to de
fray the expenses of government
Millionaire fortunes and income,
should be taxed by an income tax com
mensurate to their amount, with tn,
percentage rising with the increase o
income, as income increases with tn,
aggregation of capital.
These unnatural aggregations o
wealth in single hands or owned by cor
pOrations are a menace to the Liberties
of the people, breeders of vice and pov
erty, corrupters of courts of justice
Legislatures and morals Of society. anC
public interest and justice demand they
should be taxed as the people are taxed
bg railroad companies, all they vii
bear
A graduated income tax'is one of tn,
demands of the Farmers Alliance. an
it is one of not the least Importance ant
appeals to every laborer and wealtl
producer for earnest support. Unde
our laws the rich are taxing tn
poorer classes, and those least able I,
bear it, to death, while the forme
are escaping almost scot free. Unde
the superstition of party, which ha
grown to be almost a religion with on
middle, 'well to do" class, this vile op
preston and injustice is perpetrated
while the wealthy class, disregardin
party, stand together for their owl
selfish interests. How long will tn
people continue to be deceived and offe
their best gifts on the altar of part
molOch for the benefit of those who ro
them? A graduated income tax is tn
most just of all taxes upon persona
property, but the rich kick against
and the subservient middle class meek
ly bow their necks and bear the loar
that incomes should pay.-Rising SUI
Md Midland Journal.