New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-26
TIE INCOME TAX.

With really painful socmnity Democratic
journals are denying the statement published
in Western papers that Mr.. Cleveland has de-
cided to recommend the imposition of an in
come tax and the repeal of the 10 per cent
fax on State bank circulation. 1t IS admitted
that Western and Southern members OF Con-
oress have vigorously urged the President to
make these recommendation, but it is affirmed
with almost owlsh gravity that these gentle
men have evidently mistaken the silence OF
the President. or rather his failure to disap-
proye their arguments and recommendations,
for acoujescence. The President has
not definitely decided to recommend the restOa-
ton of the income tax
This is particularly funny, because it implies
n dim notion that the Presidents Recommended
ton has all the effect Of an enactment by Con-
eress If his great intellect can be brought to
proijose a measure that will be equivalent to
its adoption. some of his friends apparently
s,ppose. 1t is an inadmissible and impossible
thought that a Democratic Congress might
disregard Mr. Cleveland's Recommendation, and
all that advocates Of measure need to do is
to get him definitely decided to recommend
it. Our forms are still the forms of free gov
eminent, but the substance is a despOtism more
complete than that of the Car OF Russia, II
Mr. Cleveland's admirers are right. 1t IS
strange that these gentlemen overlook the
events of last winter. There was House OF
Representatives more strongly Democratic than
the one which will assemble this year, and TO
this phenomenally Democratic House the Pres
idert sent not mere recommendation, but
the most earnest personal appeal that could
be made, several times repeated, and backed
by all the influence of his near friends. lie
wanted the Sherman act repealed before Con-
gress adjourned, and urged that it was in the
last degree important in order to avoid finan-
ca disasters during the first Democratic Ad-
ministration for thirty-two years. Yet an over
whelmingly Democratic House treated his ur-
gent appeals with contempt. His hostility to
silver coinage was met by his friends in Con-
gress with intense and passionate Indignation.
1t NAV be that the Car business will not meet
with greater success when the next Congress
assemblies.
As to the income tax. Democratic opinion
does net seem to be distinctly formed. The
Baltimore American" argues with much force
that such a tax is unwise and unfair, and would
expose the party to disaster. "Tne st. Louis
Republic thinks That any tax on incomes lower
than $4,000 year would certainly result
in the defeat of the party responsible for It,"
but imagines that as an emergency tax to cover
the expenses OF pensions, tax on large in
comes would be sustained. 1t seems prob
able that some such experiment will be advo-
Gated by most of the Presidents Western and
Southern friends, because there is no other way
ia ro1r limo IN,
the demands of the Free Traders and the I'M
porting interests. Reckless and irresponsible
members might vote to reduce duties very much
at random, not caring whether the resulting
revenue sufficed for the expenses of the Gov
ernment But shrcwder and more patriotic
men are aware that no patty can afford to
cripple the public service or to destroy the
public credit by leaving the Government with
out adequate revenues The attempt to put
taxes on sugar, tea and coffee is likely to be
defeated by the votes of Western and Southern
Democrats. Then Congress will be forced to
choose between failure of tariff reduction and
an income tax. The notion of many Southern
Democrats is that they can make pensions
odous and eventually get them repealed. by
imposing a separate and most offensive tax for
the express purpose of covering pension ex-
penses. Under the circumstances, it is by no
means unlikely that this course may be adopt
cd, although there is some doubt whether
recommendation by President Cleveland would
not hinder more than it would help measure
in the next Congress. AS to public opinion
regarding such measure, If the Democrats
are good enough to adopt it, we shall SEQ
little later.