St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-25
WHY TITS POPULAR.

If the GLOBE was governed only
by desire to be Oh the popu-
lar side of public questions it would
espouse the imposition of a tax on in
comes with very liberal exemptions, for
there is no question that it is form of
taxation which finds high favor in the
popular mind-that is, in the mind of the
larger number of citizens. While this
fact is not sufficient to convince us of its
wisdom or its justice. it suggests an in
Quiry into the cause of this general
favor fer tax which has SO many in
herent defects.
1t may be true in some measure that
the major portion of mankind will look
with favor Oh any plan which Will leave
them free from a tax and put it on
others. in spite of many centuries of
moral teaching, we have not yet attained
that sense of justice which will hold in
check the impulses sourcing in selfish
ness, and we can all look with equanimity
Oh the bearing of our burdens by others.
But we do not believe that this is the
chief source of the support given to a
tax which was borne In 1868 by one
fortieth of the population and would
now be borne by about the same share;
it is not this which makes this income
tax popular.
So far from finding the root in desire
to do injustice. to lay burdens unequally
we believe it is due to keen sense of
justice and deep-seated and we'll
grounded belief that burdens are now,
under our present system, une qualiy
borne; that they are evaded by the very
class whom an income tax would reach,
and that the tax would tend to correct
inequalities now existing. The popular
mind is saturated with the conviction
that the rich manage to evade taxation
to degree which amounts to practical
exemptions; that they regard all tax
alton as wrong, and the evasion of it,
even if 1t involve the commission of
perjury, as being not only right, but
juStifiable act of self-defe nse.
The most casual inspection of the as
sessment rolls of any community by one
at all cOnYersant with the financial
standing of those on the lists affords
convincing proof of this fact; and so IA
miliar fact is it that it has grown to be
dCCSpISu dts q iudLlcl vi COURSE that no
law can compel the wealthy to bear
their share of the public burdens, and
those on whom the evaded portion falls,
because their possessions are of kind
not capable of being hidden, submit
with smothered Indignation, mute from
keen sense of the useleSsness of pro-
test, but with sharp sense of the in
justice of which they are the helpless
victims. Occasionally there is an out
break of this feeling, ana once in a while
there is spasm OF public sentiment,
under the pressure OF which the local
officers make efforts to bring the hidden
wealth to the tax roll; but the spasm
passes away, and the usual adjustment
OF the load takes its course, easing it off
the shoulders best able to carry it and
piling it on to those least able.
1t is this that makes the income tax
popular. It is this consciousness that
Wealth evades taxation: this indigna-
ton at its sordid selfshness; this desire
to see it obliged to pay tribute in full
measure; this impulse to have justice
done, which lies at the root OF the gen.
eral favor which meets the proposition
to levy tax on incomes over a limit
which indicates the wealth of the citizen.
For this the rich have themselves to