People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-10-28

up to $4,000 increase the tax TO IS per
cent On all incomes from $50, 900 to
100000 make it 20 per cent, and on all
incomes over and above 100000 make
the tax % per cent
The above rate of increase NAV be-
susceptible Of improvement Our figures
are principally for Observation-Disclosures
our judgment is that the rates we have
given are not far out of the way.
The system then would work some
thing like this: John Smith, who is
merchant in small town of a few
thousand inhabitants, seldom makes
enough in his business, over and above
all bad debts, rents, local taxes, wages
to employees, living expenses, etc. TALL
OF which would be deducted from his
gross income), to lay aside as net in
come $1,000 per year. But suppose we
ind here and there one who makes
$1,000 why, such a one would have to
pay per cent on all over and above
s2,OOO-which amount is exemption. in
other words, per cent on s., 900. This
would be simply $50 out of his net in
come of $1,000. He would have s9.950
The $50 would never be missed by a
man who has made 5000.
Suppose we find man who has made
$4,000 clear net profit in a single year.
Deduct the 1000 which is exempt, and
it leaves SIS, 900 subject to taxation. On
the first 5000 levy a tax of per cent.
making $3.50; on all above $4,000 ami
less than $4,000 (which is s2O,OOO) levy
tax of 10 per cent, making 5000; on
all over $50, 900 (which would he 5000
levy a tax of Is per cent, making $3.50
The total amount Of taxation would be
the sum of $3.50, and $1,000, and s75O-
or, $1,000. This $1,000 is the amount
which So, 900 net income would pay.
1t would be quite a large tax TO be
sure, but he would still have sS4, 900 left
and certainly no man ought to complain
who has clean net income of sS4. 900
in single year.
He could spare that S.. 900 better than
a man who works for 81 per day can
afford to pay even 50 cents tax on what
sugar his family uses in a whole year.
And the payment Of this $1,000 into the
public treasury would take that much
off the shoulders Of the poorer classes
who pay their taxes in small amounts.
1t would be like giving the small OK the
long end of the yoke
Suppose again, that we take Il man
who has an income Of half million.
As we have seen in the above calcula-
ton, there would be So, 80 on his in
come up to $4,000. Then on the excess
of $4,000 and up TO $50, 600 there would
be tax of $4,000; on the excess Of $50
900 up to 100000 there would be SlO.-
900 1.-THE rate being 20 per cent. }; and on
the excess of 100000 up to 100000
there would be 500, OOO-the rate being
% per cent The total amount then
would be sll5, $50 This is what man
who made 100000 in a single year
would have to pay into the public
treasury.
Well, Of course, such a man, unless
he was natural born patriot like Peter
Cooper, would squeal But if he
squealed just take him by the ear and
say: See here, Mr.. Hog, you have got
1884, $50 left, and If You are not satisfied
to live in a country whose business OPP
portunities will enable you to clean up
that amount in single year, then you
had just better emigrate TO some other
country where you can do better.
Not only would such a graduated in
come tax take the great burden of tax
alton from the backs of those least able
to bear it and put it upon the shoulders
of those best able to bear it, but il
would serve TO equalize the possession
of wealth-or rather prevent the vast
accumulation of wealth in the hands of
a few.
OF course taking one dollar from the
pocket Of one man and putting it into
the pocket Of another brings those two
dollars nearer together. II 10000 cor
porations and individuals had to pay
800, 100000 per year into the public
treasury of the peoples government it
would bring the 10. 900 corporations and
individuals 500. 900, 900 nearer the peo-
pie.
The Vanderbilts and Goulds would
find themselves weighed down the same
as the trotting horse with lightweight
driver is handicapped in race Take
Is per cent from their incomes every
year and they would find il a much
longer road to the coveted goal Of a
Millionaire fortune
We have not the data at hand TO show
even approximately what the aggre-
gate tax would be from incomes, but
we venture to say that with the public
debt wiped out and the interest stopped,
1t would pay the entire expense Of the
general government We believe that
a careful consideration Of this subject
will convince any candid mind that
graduated income tax would be ra-
tional, equitable and effective method
Of preventing the vast accumulation Of
wealth in the hands Of the few.
The system is not an experiment 1t
has been tried Though not the gradu-
ated feature of it) in this country, but
because it was poor mans law 1t was
repealed during the memorable period
when a wave of official corruption and
plumber swept like an epidemic over
the country. 1t has also been adopted
and is now in use in other countries. -
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