Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-08-24
SEARCHING FOR An uH0PPREsslvE AND
lNOFFENSivE TAX

tuStt tuG AlGSeO 0L6G4S 1CK6ClOuS
Europe ''have been instructed to study
and report on existing systems of taxa
ton, in order that the Washington gov
eminent may select the least oppres-
sive and offensive to cover the deficit
which will result from the reform of
the tariff" Why should we go to Eu-
rope in search of it? It has heretofore
been our boast that we did all things
better here than in that country. The
people of Europe are so tax-ridden that
hundreds of thousands have left there
and come to this country to escape
them. Has President Cleveland asked
that this information be procured? And
has Assistant Secretary of State Quincy
used the means spoken Of to get it for
the president? He need not have gone
SO far away from home for this inform
alton. He could have called on Clinton
Furnish, of the bureau of South Amer
lean Republics, for an opinion; on Henry
Robinson, statistician of the agricul-
tural department.; on Edward B. Whit
ney, first assistant attorney-general; on
General Don M. Dickin-
son; ON Congressman John De Witt
Warner; Congressman Tom L. John
son; Congressman Michael d. Har-
ter; Congressman James G. Mcguire;
Congressman Caminetti; Congressman
Simpson, of Kansas, or on Senator Call,
Of Florida It seems funny that our gov
eminent should have Europe searched
for"the least oppressive and offensive"
system Of taxation.
There is only one tax that can DO laid
without being Oppressive and often
sive"-only one that can be laid with
equal justice only one that will stimu-
late industry and lift the burdens of
production. Mr.. Quincy knows what
that tax is, and if the president does not
know he ought to tell him. There is not
tax laid in Europe that is not ''oppres-
sive and offensive" There is not q tax
at present laid in this country that is not
the same. They all bear heavily on our
workers and manufacturers. One re-
tards the building of houses, one makes
the cost of necessaries higher than they
should be to the consumer; one drives
capital, which could be used in stimu-
lating enterprise and production, into
bank or safe deposit vaults, or from
place to place like a hunted dog. One
causes men to lie about their earnings
or incomes, thus making them perjur-
ers. Our present systems of taxation
stand in the way of our progress Pro-
ducers, merchants, storekeepers, work
ingmen, farmers-men whose stock of
wealth must be exposed to the eye of
the tax gatherers-are the only ones
who can not escape full taxation. The
harder they work, the more they pro-
duce, the more goods they sell, the
higher they are taxed. The one object
of taxation seems to be to crush pro-
ductive industry in all its forms. This
class of taxes is laid more heavily in
Europe than it is here; therefore it is
useless to waste the time of our legisla-
tors there in hunting for taxation
will-o'the-wisp.
Does the president wish to find tax
that shall be 'sthe least oppressive and
offensive" through which ''to cover the
deficit which will result from the re-
form of the TARIFF" Then let him call
into council the names we have given
above. If he wants to call to it distin-
guished men in private 1ife-men who
have studied the question from the
ground up-let him invite Francis d.
Walker, Edward Atkinson, Henry
George, Thomas g. Shearman and 9TH
ers of our notable students of public
affairs.
All public misunderstanding per-
haps, that of office seel<ing-could with
advantage wait until from the consen-
sus of opinion of such council the
president had drawn a conclusion. We
feel that he would reach but one con-
clusion-that all our present forms of
taxation are oppressive and offensive"
and that there is but one tax that can
be laid with justice on all the citizens
of this republic. We say we feel that
the president could reach but one con-
clusion-we know he can reach but one,
for it has stood every test that has been
applied to it-scholastic, theoretical and
practical-for fifteen years. 1t is the
tax on. land values.-National Union
Printer.
Charles Francis Adams Before the
Massachusetts Legislature.
As an instance Of how your laws
stand, will put case; some property
shares in a corporation--were bought.
First, the property was taxed in Illinois;
in the second place, the title deed was
taxed in Massachusetts, upon its mar
ket value. Thinking saw way to
develop my own interests as well as
those of Massachusetts, because / can
not develop my own interests without
developing those of Massachusetts,.
but not having the money necessary to
carry it out. / went to q man and pro-
r,osed that he ShOuld lend the Amount