Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-12

Az N an Income Tax.

| we have not much faith In the strength
| OF the proposition to raise large sum OF
money annually for the support OF the
United States Government by ievying an
income tax Men OF large incomes are
generally men OF large influence" and can
accomplish schemes which all the impccn-
Nous men In the land could not accom-
plish. The demand for the repeal OF the
| Sherman silver-law went up to Washing
| ton from the length and breadth OF the
land and was needed by Congress, though
| It may be pretty safely assumed that not
one voter IN ten had any part in making
that demand. So though once at least a
week the report IL sent out TO the country
from Washington that Congress Is going TO
| levy an income tax, we have not been
ready TO credit that report. OF one thing
we are perfectly certain, and this Is that
no income tax Will be imposed II the
money needed for the support of the gov
eminent can be raised In any other way
Mr.. Hall, OF Missouri. made recently
| speech on this interesting subject before
the Ways and Means Committee of the
National House OF Representatives. in
which speech he discussed the justice and
efficiency OF an income tax. and quoted
authorities on the subject at much length.
IL occasion should offer we may hereafter
repeat some Of Mr.. Halls arguments, but
not now. We recolect the fable Of the
farmer and the birds. When Congress
gives proof that 1t seriously purposes to
levy an income tax we shall be ready
to discuss the proposition. For the pres
ent we content ourselves with reproducing
the following striking paragraphs from
Mr.. Halls speech. lie says:
There was in 1889 S630DO,0O0. or about
one dollar per capita, taken from the con-
sumers Of wool and woOllen goods, cotton
and cotton goods, and iron and steel goods
for the purpose OF revenue for tho United
States Government by the tariff tax.
believe that II will be safe 10 say that in
order 10 secure this revenue of S63,WOVO
II cost the people Of the United States
$4,000 O00 the balance, 1887 10000. being
paid as a bounty by the people TO the
monopoly manufacturing establishments
under this protective tariff system. In
other words, for every dollar placed in
the Treasury OF the United States there
was 81 put into the pockets Of the pro-
teCteu manufacturers on account OF the
tariff tax on the articles above cited.
Now, If we had had an income tax that
would have yielded SG3.OOOO00, and the
consumers OF cotton goods. woOllen goods.
iron and steel manufactures of the United
States could have been saved 100000
yearly-dn amount almost equal TO the
State, county, and local tax Of nearly
every State in the Union combined.
"Mr. Thomas G. Sherman who appeared
before your committee few weeks ago,
estimates in an article in the September
Forum OF 1859 that 1900 persons In the
United States own 81 ,5Oe,OO0,0D0 of pro-
perty. Putting the income upon this pro-
perty at any reasonable figure that you
may choose 10 make and then putting a
reasonable income tax upon that income.
see the amount OF revenue that would be
raised 10 this government from a body
Of people who would not feel the weight.
ana see the immense load and burden
that would be lifted from the shoulders
Of the grooming millions Of laborins people
Of the United States"