Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-01
INTERESTING SUGG ESTIONS.


present beneht to the revenues. II a tax
was imposed on the stocks In bond most
Of the whisky would be taken out Of the
bonded warehouses before the law would
take effect The tax Of 90 cents q gallon
has operated very we'll and our experience
with q higher tax was very unfortunate.
resulting in the most widespread system Of
fraud ever known to the country. ! think
Congress should hesitate to increase that
tax fn time Of peace. The present tax on
beer and domestic tobacco are fairly rea-
sonable. Both Of these articles are very
largely used by the masses Of our people.
II they are to be classed as Injuries, which
] think they should not be 50 classified.
being articles Of alMost universal use. but
even they are 70 Be 80 classed. they
are about the only luxuries the laboring
people Of our country have. I do not think
that the condition of our affairs would
Justify an increased taxation on either.
An ircoms tax. 1t seems to me. is the
most reasonable mode Of raising the neces-
sary amount Of revenue. The proposed
revenue tariff bill. which the country is
now considsring. will. Of course, result in
the present internal revenue laws would
result In q deficit of some $40. 900 or
$oO.O0o0O0 ON the present basis Of expendi
lures.
There are practically three modes by
which the deficit could be made up: By
issuing bonds. and thus increasing the pub
lie debt: by an income tax. which would
realize from $5OOOO,OOO to $75.OOO,OOO or by
q reduction of expenditures. In regard to
the bond issue. I do not believe any politi-
cal party would survive a material enlarge
msnt Of the public debt In time of peace.
hope that that will not be attempted at
III g. NIus
masses Of our people believe that the en-
barraasment Of our treasury Is attributed.
not to insufficient revenues, but an indefens-
tble and lavish expenditure Of public money.
If the expenditures of our government
are kept up to their present rate. l think
the increased revenue required should be
provided by an income tax. 1t Is q Just
and equitable method Of raising revenue.
The burden falls upon persons most able to
bear 1t 1t falls exclusively upon ample es-
tates instead Of upon the prime necessities
Of human life. 1t Is manifest now that our
taxes are mostly raised on the labor Of the
country and not on the great estates which
have been so enormously increased of late
years and that too. mainly through favor
itism of classes in legislation. The govern
ment Is mainly employed in the protection
OF the rights Of property. The owners Of
ample estates cannot complain. Very ample
revenues can be raised through an income
people. The act of 1862. the war measure.
exempted only incomes below $500. We
could well AFFORD to extend the exemption
with a very moderate rate Of tax the rev
enues would be ample. Many persons favor
one rate on all estates. / think the larger
the net income Of a citizen may be the
larger rate Of taxation should be imposed.
The Main Objection.
The main objection to an income tax
which I have heard urged is that it is
Necessarily inquisitorial and compeis the
citizen to expose the state Of his affairs
but this II true Of all methods on assessing
property for taxation. Every state in the
Union has an inQuisitorial system and calls
upon the citizen to expose the condition of
his estate and affairs, so that he may bear
the proper rate Of taxation. / think there
Is nothing In the suggestion of an inQuisi-
tortal character Of this tax, and the just
ness and fairness of a reasonable income
tax cannot well be denied. 1t has always
been plain that an income tax was unpop-
ular. and all taxes are undoubtedly unpop-
ular with those who are to bear the bur-
dens. but think the great body of our peo-
pie have always believed that when large
revenues had to be raised that the wealth
Of the country through an income tax
should bear q proportonate rate of the
burden. But permit me- however. to sug-
Gsst that there ts in my mind at this time
an unanSwerable argument In favor of q
reasonable income tax. 1t is a wholesome
tax. and such a tax, think would work
q reform In our government that ought to
now be considered imperative AS matters
are now. as far az federal government is
coneernsd. the pressure for excessive ex-
penottures OF public money comes mainly
from citizens of ample estates. Except the
money expended for the payment Of men,
sions the great body Of the money drawn
from al our people by taxation innures to
the bsneft OF q veiy small number, as will
be readily seen. 50 that the countless in
nusnces which have been brought to bear
upon Congress to Increase the public ex-
h0~ ofvHlxr
cittzens of ample means. who are benefited
by the lavish expenditure of public money.
The Great Private Estates.
II the great private estates of the coun-
Gy paid a tax In proportion to the value
OF their estates for federaP purposes, these
cttssnA instead of urging extravaganza In
government, would become interested in
restoring our government to what 1t was
In former years. The frugal system of our
federal government Is fast going beyond
the limits intended by the founders OF the
governnent. Instead of being the most
LoSal OF All the governments. as 1t was
ourng It's nrst three-Quarters Of a century,
II is rapidly becoming most lavish and
0oavasant- Citizens of ample means who
OF things. cannot complain II called upon
20 meet reasonable portion Of the expendi-
cures OF the government. 1t Is common to
Stdloots tne enormous increase of expendi-
Kew years to the increase of the pension
Ust put an examination Of our appropria-
uon oills will disclose the fact that the
Increase has occurred all along the line
tnat the increase Of the pension list alone
would not have created any embarrass-
ment whatever at this time Had that
oeen the only source Of increase there
would be a large surplus in the treasury
ma me reduction or the tariff revenues
would nave created no embarrassment,
Whatever. There is one mode however
OF meeting the present embarrassments
which goes to the root of the evil of our
ume, ana tnat Is the reduction of our pub
nc expenditures With the pension list as it is
sio as It Is likely to be under the present
laws. perhaps S1S5, 600 900 a wear the entire
sApenseS s. OF IL our government ought not to
heduce the Expenditures.
IF the present democratic Congress
~aaaA nov wholly responsible for tn,