The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-24

From time 10 time n suggestion ~ hiahe'
sometimes I'm Congress, sometimes In
the press. that the money necessary Tor
having ncnsions shall be raised by I'M
posine an income tax. The latest form
this suggestion has taken proceeds from
the St. Louis Republic. which demands
that the fund shall be raised by a tax
on the income OF all persons whose IN
comes exceed $1,000. Propositions Of
this sort are always taking 20 many per-
sons. and Il IS. therefore, well that they
sbould be examined on their merits as
soon as they appear.
An income tax is necessarily an odious
one in it's nature. 1t sets impairment
strangers TO prying into the private
affairs OF the citizens In ways that are
most exasperating TO the honest man.
and being a tax which the dishonest man
can always avoid. the result is that
honest men pay It, while rascals enjoy
their income and escape 1t. 1t encour-
ages perjury. while placing its burdens
on good citizens, and exemptng dishoh-
est ones. An income tax is one. there
fore. which should never be resorted TO-
II the money needed can be raised by
any other reasonable method.
But the proposition brought forward
by the st. Louis Republic is one that
not TO be thought Of under any circum-
stances. Why should a man having an
income Of $4,000 be required to pay tax
which Is not required OF man having
an income Of $500? The one who has
the income Of 1880 has exactly the same
rights and privileges under the law that
me one having the income Of $4,000 en-
lows. He is in every sense as full
citizen of the Government, and ne re-
celvcs exactly the same measure OF pro-
lection and consideration from the Gov
ernment. Upon what principle then
will YOU impose upon one burden for
the support Of the Government that the
other is exempted from?
The only principle upon which this
may be done. and it is obviously the prin-
ciple in the Republics mind, is that the
rich" should be made TO bear heavier
burdens than 1.-The poor" But who are
"the rich" and who are "the poor?'
is a man enjoying an income Of $4,000
TO step up into the class Of "the rich,
while the one whose income is 1898 is
10 remain in the class Of 'the poor?'
Where, then, will the dividing line be-
tween "the rich" and the poor be
drawn? 1t is obvious that any attempt
TO draw such a line would be the most
absurd enterprise that could possibly be
undertaken.
There is but one principle upon which
taxation can be imposed, whether it
be income or other taxation. and that is
to make ali men pay ratably, according
TO what they possess. This principle
requires the rich man TO contribute to-
wards government sum proportioned to
the benefits that he receives from govern
ment. and it requires the same thing
from the poor man, but It requires from
him nothing more. In this way justice
is done, and no man has imposed upon
him a punishment merely because he
giles Of life to meet with SUCCESS.
The Hon. Percy Daniels, Populist Lieu
enant-Governor Of Kansas, has seen
the Republics proposition, and has gone
it several better" He proposes forming
Graduated Estate Clubs" all over the
country for the purpose. as he tells US,
"of educating the people in his method Of
raising revenues, and at the same time
striking a blow at concentrated wealth"
The scheme Of the Hon. Daniels. as he
tells US in his prospectus, is to levy
tax on incomes as follows: one per cent.
on incomes of $1,000, 900 to $4,000 three
per cent. on incomes OF 100000 TO S.,
10000, eight per cent. on $5,OO0OO to SlO
0o0.000 and eighteen per cent. on all over
$4,000 900. According to his arithmetic,
this will create revenue OF about 5000,
100000
The running expenses Of the Govern
ment are about 500, 900, 900 a year. so that
the Hon. Daniels would raise sum each
year sufficient to pay all the expenses
of the Government. and have net sur
plus of 81 600, 600 900 to divide out amongst
the people, which would be something
like twenty-five dollars to each man.
woman and child in the country.
This would not furnish each individual
with an income sufficient to maintain him
or her in very elaborate splendor but 1t
would be a beginning in the way Of
showing what 1t is possible to do towards
camping the masses upon the rich. If
they can be so easily taxed into paying
an annual income of twenty-five dollars
TO each individual in the country, the
principal can, of course. be extended so
as TO make that twenty-five dollars any
sum that may be required.
Between the plan Of the Republic and
that of Populist Daniels. give us Daniels
every time.
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FARMERS AND SILVER.
The Philadelphia Record in an article
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