Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-27

An Income Tax and Tariff Reform.


The Atlanta Constitution. "a we said IN
our last issue, takes the ground that 1t we
IN the United States adopt the English
system OF free trade we must also adopt
the English system of levyine an income
tax. and the DISPATCH added to this state
mept the prediction that if 1t were under
stood that incomes were 70 be taxed az
consequence OF tariff reform not much
more concerning free trade would be heard
from the Mugwumps and assistant Repub'
hcans of the North. The number of per-
sons who favor tax on incomes exceed
ing $4,000 il not small. but they are
engaged in q hopeless undertaking.
Hon. WILLIAM A. JONES, of this State,
boldly avows that he favors such
a tax. In his letter in the DISPATCH
Of Sunday after saying that he Is first ana
foremost in favor of the repeal OF the Mo
KINI.RY tariff law. he adds that this legis.a-
ton should be accompanied by an
income-tax measure 10 provide against
the contingency Of decreased revenue
II will be seen that Mr.. JONES takes
substantially the same ground with that
occupied by our Atlanta contemporary
Free trade and the taxation OF incomes
are not coupled by Mr.. JoSEs but this
coupling Is suggested at onco by his
declaration that when the hand OF mo-
nopoly has boen removed from the public
throat the way will be lclear for the con-
sderatlon of the currency question"
How does Mr.. CLEVELAND stand affected
l.,
when be is at his home in New York, Is
such as to justify the suppostion that he
Is opposed to such a tax. We have not
looked into the matter carefully, but We
think it may be set down as certain that If
law imposing a graduate tax upon al
incomes exceeding $4,000 were enacted
New York city would. under such law,
pay more money into the national Urea
sury than all the southern States together.
The number of fat incomes in that city Is
very large. Boston, too, would contribute
much TO the support of the government
if such law were passed. In fact, Boston
has, we suppose, more accumulated
wealth in proportion TO population than
New York city. Her wealthy citizens
ADAMsEs 10 the present time. But Boston
aud New York will cry out for heavy Gus
toms-duties in preference to heavy III
come tax. and for a tax upon sugar, coffee.
and tea. rather than upon accumulated
wealth. A free breakfast table" VII!
have no attractions for those cities when
they learn that along with the free break
fast table there is to be free handling OF
the gold dollars now living i'll Boston anI
New York banks and elsewhere to the
credit of free-traders. muewumps, and
tarid-reformers of every description.
Mr.. CLKvELAND's environment when AZ
home justifies. we repeat, the supposltion
that he does not look with q favorable eve
upon the proposition to enact an income
tax law. This, however, though, as we
have said, it is mere surmise, is justified
by the fact that he has uttered not one
word on the subject. 80 far as we know.
though the Populists carried several States
as against him in the presidential election
of last year on that issue. On that Ques-
ton and on the question of repeating the
law taxing the circulating notes of State
banks he has preserved silence which
would seem TO indicate. or at least might in
dicate. that he has not yet made up his mind
or those two interesting and important
projected measures. But If rs once reaches
tho conclusion that incomes ought to be
taxed he will make known t1at conclusion
TO ali the world. as he will make known
the fact If lie comes to the conclusion that
the tax on the circulating nO;lj OF State
banks ought 20 be abolishe J. As to the
income tax it may be SAID that Virginia
would have TO paw very small part of It,
Her State law taxing all incomes over $500
yields very little revenue. A Federal law
taxing only such incomes as exceed $4,000
would DO operative upon but very small
number of persons in this State.