New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-03
IMMORAL TAXATION.

The noverful protest Of business men OF New
yor,, acainst the income tax gave after all only
q faint impression of the strength ana unahih-
itv of opposition here 10 that measure l's
shameful scctionalism and injustice, It's inter-
tional plundering of this centre OF the Naton
commerce In order that distant sections might
escape part of the cost Of government, ana us
intocrabe injustice to insurance ana other cor
porations in which the savings OF the mill
ions are invested were exposed. If such
nrotest representing not only the largest city
I'm the country, hut the unanimous opinion OF
business men In several adjacent States mas
no weight with a Congress which processes 10
seek the interests of the people, 1t must new
tablv be inferred that other and less honorable
motives govern its action.
There IS n grave objection TO the income tax
unon which business men, when discussing It's
financial consequences. naturally place niue
stress 1t is in the highest and truest sense an
immoral and dcmoralzlng measure. IL Is oitch
said. and with truth. that 1t offers premium
on lying and perjury. No law ought 10 increase
unnecessarily the temptations 70 crime or 10
dishonesty. but this measure must always nave
that influence The men who can cvadc such
tax. by any distortion Of facts or misrepreseh'd-
tiou are the more strongly tempted 10 DO so
becouso the fax IS known 10 be unnecessary for
tho sunnort Of Government, and the product OF
sectional yindictiveness and envy. Experience
IN other countries. as well as In the United
States during and after the civil war; mas
taught how powerfully such tax Temps 10
evasion and false swearing. The consequences
as respects the collection OF other taxes by the
Government are often overlooked. When mill
ions of citizens are brought into such state
of mind toward the Government and It's reve-
nues that they wish to beat II II they can, Ihe
WAYS are not hard TO find. and the erect upon
the public revenue and the public morals Is
always disastrous There IS not a single cluzch
who travels abroad, even though he crosses 'lc
Canadian border, who has not the power 20 dc-
fraud the Government to a considerable extent
and TO profit thereby, and all the machinery lor
detection Of fraud becomes powerless wheh II
IS the temper Of the people 10 treat the eXac-
tons Of Government as unfair unreasonable
| and deserving evasion.
The demoralzing influence OF such a tax upon
thrift and enterprise was strongly urged AZ
the great meeting, and yet there are compare
| lively few who realize how essential 1t Is 10
the welfare OF the people and TO the National
| prosperity that thrift and savings should be
steadily encouraged. Why IS 1t that the great
strikes and outbreaks OF lawless. violence hard
" ever occur in localities where savings banks
and other institutions for accommodating the
savings Of the workers abound and are well
patrOnzed? The encouragement OF thrift H. III
fact. encouragement Of peace and social order.
IL helps honest industry and abates discomfort
1t mutiplics happy and law-abiding citizens OF
a free Nation, and suppresses Anarchists and
revoluuonists. The very nature of the Income
tax is thus at war with all that IS most helpful
and hopeful In the Nations life and character.