Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-29
WAYS AND MEANS.

The message conveyed by the people
to Grover Cleveland at the late elec-
tion, is of so unmistakable character
that its recognition must necessarily be
immediate. This being so it becomes
the duty of the incoming government
to consider how best to so regulate our
| financial system as not to disturb its
equilibrium. Many earnest advocates
of tariff reform are in doubt as to the
effect On the revenue of liberal reduc-
tion in the tariff on those articles upon
which the heaviest duty is levied under
the present law. They think that
very considerable falling off in the
revenue will follow from this reduc-
tion. On the other hand some of the
most experienced statesmen in the
country have no fears in this direction.
They argue that the enormous increase
in consumption which will naturally
follow from the contemplated reduc-
ton in duties and the necessary lower
| the loss arising therefrom. Should it be
| found however, that after liberal re-
duction had been made, that the reve-
nue. was insufficient to run the govern
ment when economically administered,
there remains one sure, safe and easy
method of providing for the deficiency
that is by the imposition of graded
| income tax. Wherever this form Of
| taxation has been tried it has never
| failed to produce the desired results.
| 1t is always popular with the masses
because it's burden falls exactly where
it can be the most easily borne.
A tax, say of twenty cents on the
| hundred dollars on all annual incomes
above $4,000 is estimated to produce
from forty to fifty million dallars, and
we venture to say that no one would
suffer by being obliged to pay so small
sum in support of the general govern
ment. Many years experience has
shown that it is easier and less expen-
sive to collect than almost any other
form of taxation. 1t is urged by those
who oppose this tax, that indirect tax
alton is less Objectionable because it
being collected in small sums and at no
particular time it is more easily borne
by those who pay it. We reply that
the persons from whom we propose to
collect this tax will not feel it at all.
Those whose incomes amount to 81, 600
and upward, could hardly complain
with reason because they were called
upon to pay two dollars per thousand
toward the support of their govern
ment.
There can be no valid reason urged
why the legatees of such colossal for
tunes as those of the AstOr's, Wander
bilt's and Jay Gould's should not con-
tribute literally toward the support of
that government which has enabled
them to accumulate such vast boards of
unearned wealth which they have left
to their families.
| Hundreds of millions of dollars are
controlled by three or four families,
upon which not penny of taxes is
ever paid. Let US get at and tax this
wealth; in all justice it should pay a
liberal share of the burden of taxation,
and the government must see to it that
it is collected when due. A very large
proportion of the wealthiest families
spend most of their time abroad, only
coming over occasionally to collect the
interest on their bonds and stocks.
Not penny of this money should leave
the country until it had paid its share
of the enormous burdens so largely
borne by the common people. Let as
tax the millionaireS, and the absentees
heavily. City Sentinel.