The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-17
Income Tax and Tariff Refor m

1
are copying, with approval, remarks
made by the New York Sun in reference
to the Democratic platform and the obi
cations it imposes on the Democratic
party. The brightness of the San is not
disputed, but it is to be understood that
| 1t shines-for protection and is sometimes
burning hot against some of the princi-
pies and purposes OF the party to which it
is reckoned TO belong. and blistering on
some leaders of the party who are dis
liked by its editor.
| The plank in the platform which the
| San has been discoursing about, is that
which declares that the federal govern
ment has no constitutional power to i'm
pose and collect tariff duties except for
the purpose of revenue only; and that
such taxes should be limited to the neces-
stiles of the government when honestly
and economically administered. This
the SIN calls laying down ''a principle
entirely new.'' but it wants the platform
carried out ''fully, fairly, Economically
faithfully, and announces that 'this is
the one special and principal source OF
revenue recognized and intended by the
Democracy.
Allthat is intended as basis on which
to found a decided objection to the impo-
sition OF an income tax, which in one
place 1t calls "a noyeity,' and in an
other ga form of taxation familiar to the
people as feature of civil war The
.Sun considers such tax irreeoncilable
with the tariff plank in the Democratic
platform.
The HERALD does not propose, at
present by any means, TO take up the cud-
gels in behalf of an income tax, which is
no doubt obnoxious to number of very
worthy and also wealthy people. But it
is not announced yet, by anyone author
lied to speak for the administration or
for the party, that an income tax is to be
introduced. 1t will be time enough to
discuss the necessity, propriety and con-
sistency OF such tax when there is some
ground for expecting an attempt to i'm
pose it. Like other questions, a great
deal may be said on both sides.
But what is there about it that is I'M
democratic? And wherein would it con-
tiict with the tariff plank of the party
platform? We do not see that tax on
incomes above given amount would be
contrary to any fundamental principle of
the Democratic party. 1t would be
uniform, general, for public purpose
and not oppressive.
1t would be for revenue only. 1t would
not be levied except to meet the necessi-
ties of the government. The economical
administration of affairs would not be al
fected by the fact that the revenue was
partly derived from an income tax. If,
in the interest of tariff reform. to carry
out the pledge IN the platform, it is found
necessary to make such reduction of
tariff duties as would, for the time being,
reduce the revenue, there would be moth
ing in the imposition OF tax upon in
comes incompatible with any principle
or declaration of the party or its platform
of 1892.
The collection of taxes for revenue is
not limited to tariff duties. But it is an
nounced that such taxes shall be solely
for revenue. That is, they shall not be
levied for the purpose of benefiting any
special class. The object shall be public
not private. The tariff plank limits the
purpose to which revenue shall be ap-
piled, not the methods by which the
revenue shall be raised. 1t says that
tariff duties shall be used for revenue
only, but does not say that no other than
tariff taxes shall be collected. This is 81
distinction with wide difference. and
the San has become dazzled with the rays
of its own burning enthusiasm for pro-
lection, and has unduly excited its Re-
publican admirers SO that they confound
the two ideas.
There may be no income tax attempted.
If the question should be brought for
ward in the way of legislation its wisdom
or unwisdom may then be debated, but
that it is not irreconcilable with Demo-
cratic doctrine and the Democratic plat
form, we think everybody can see if free
from the glamour of the protective
''Sun" shine that radlates from New
York city