The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1893-01-06
p1KAqTON.

g might even recall The history OF
EARLIER times and read when Greco,
.ad then Rome gave laws 10 thewofld
1nr intention u, however, 10 contin,
ourselves 10 i few remarks partinen
this country aud this time.
the poor man with a large family
whose income Is, say. $500 per annnu,
and Ell consumed in the purchase Of
the nesessaries Of life, pays, indirectly
. be sure, eitherto thegeneral govern
mens or to The manufacturer in the
~ increased cost Of goods and wares
90 account Of taxing laws a sum no
ieaa than one hundred and twenty. five
iollars. Many q man with an income
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000, being
economically dIpposed and having !
email family, pays but q srifle more il
taxes than his poorer brother. Th.
schemes and devices by which therici
avoid taxation are not open to ths
poor man who mnst stand up 10 the
rack and take his medicine soto speat
aolsas golens.
There is a wide spread and urgen'
demand that measures be taken tc
make the wealth Of the country bear
something like it's just proportion Of
the burden Of taxation. AS the year,
roll BY and the rich grow richer and
the poor poorer the inequalities o.
mr. taxing system are more strlkingl.
.ppafent.
Il Is 40 undouhted fact that H.,
aggregate wealth Of the country T.
spidly increasing, and this is ffh'
prosperity Of which tbe P'esiden
Ike so glfbly; hut the bpntfieiarIe'
ire few. It is startling fact and "n
mt pleasant to contemplate, ihat on
'tWo.hnndred and sixtieth Of the pnp"'
lation possesses ihreefuurtbs Of ~"
nations entire wealth. Let this pro
cess eontiune few ye,rs longer an'
he masses Of the people viii live in i,
.taie of bondage TO fortunate fs"
Who will possess all the wealth.
The most potent factor in producing
his state If sffaiTs has been onr taxinr
.ysttm which has virtually exrmp,er
he rich firm taxation and placed tn
,nFdeu npou The poor. A. we sale
Al the otilset, This Inequality in tag
alton has always existed, and ib'
framing Of q law which shall remeds
be sgil is one Of the most d ffienl
feats 10 political economy. Taxes lai'
npon merchandise of all kinds ar
',ventually paid by the consumers il
very instance and the only tax lhat
il would be impossible TO shift upor
the shoulders Of the poor man, j
appears TO us is a tar on incomes.
Such tax wonld come from thosI
best able to pay it. We believe iba
nine.tenths of all the people Of tb'
country are 10 favor Of such tax ant
while many would seek TO eVade th,
operation Of such law and some suc
ceasfully, we are Of the opinion that !
law conld be 90 framed that il Wonl,
be no easy matter 10 escape ito pro
visions. 1t will be remembered tina
iuriag the late civil war such a tai
was collected and for some yeara there
after, al first from all incomes exceed
ing 5000 foot $1,000 as stated by tb
Pieayane a few days since), and late
only upon incomes exceeding $1,000
OF course snch a law was and wonl'
again be very unpopular with th
wealthy class and il was the none,
power which demanded aud finall,
Effected It's repeal.
We would be in favor Of exemptlni
~ incomes lees than, .say $4,000, an
this would exempt pineteentwennetb
4 The adult population, any one o
whom wonld be only too glad 10 pa
The tax oonld they be assnred Of q
ncoms beyond the $4,000 limit.
/ There il q sense ~ jaslnaas and &
eas 10 an income tax which appsal
~ every right thinking man. H.
only is the wealthy class better ablet
stand the burden Il taxstion, bnt lha
lass receive more Of the benefits th'
re derived from stable and p,olee
ng government, from the fact shs
they have more A. stake. The coi
stMbalary 81 Tie rural dislrieta, HI
pslie4 lores 81 orr towns and Cite
the standing armg and The mliisia, D
caaris Of The land and, in fret, al i
machinery Of government i niue
more frequently invoked for the n
,seuon 81 the Eeei,lay IN their person
And prepsFly than lhe poor, and assl
principle d right sind jus'iee Raul
b sabssrsrd BY ltfllng fhe burds
from The backs If she toillIg mass'
apa plscing Il where 4 by figtt }
longs Il behooVes she mdlienalres /
the country 70 panse and conaid'
whether sven self interest does p
aaFFant them 10 withholding The
opppaisian 20 an inoome tag
A. this ingquslisy Of wesllh
hieh we haze euokan becomes MOI