The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-10

In these latter days the distinctions be-
tween the functions and prerosatives OF
the executive department on the one
hand and the legislative department on
the other do not seem 10 be always OBJ
served. The truth is that the first in
formation which Congress had of the al
legged details OF the proposed bin was IN
the message itself
But the strangest part OF the unpre-
cedented proceedings was that in fact
at the very date OF the message. to Wit
December l. 1888, neither the full Com
mittee Of Ways and Means nor the
Democratic members thereof had agreed
upon any income tax or upon other in
ternal taxation.
But neither the President nor the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury had advocated
general income tax. but only a tax on
incomes derived from corporations. But
a Federal income tax. whether limited
as suggested by the President and the
Secretary of the Treasury or general
as provided in this bill, is equally ob-
iectionahle.
1T WOULD DUPLICATE STATE TAXATION.
New Torlrs opposition % the tax was
based on the fact that in that state
and In several other States. a franchise
tax b. imnCscd upon the earnings OF cer-
tain corporations and an income tax,
such as is proposed in this measure.
would duplicate the taxation ALREADY
imposed and compel the states TO aoan-
don their State taxation This Is a most
important and serious objection % this
feature Of the bill An income tax was
objectionable because. from lis very ma
ture. II must be- inquisiiorial in ITS ma
ture and collection. The senior senator
from Indiana CNlr. Voorhees, calls ms
allegation rnoi~y and res)nndii5
charge" Let me tell him that 81 Is not
half so noisy as the constant vitupera-
tons which we bear on every nan"
from the blatant demagogues who are
abroad i'm the land loadly inyelghirg
AGAINST the wealth OF me ountry. ara
impudently demanding s conhscaiion
through every means which their devil
ish ingenuity can invent
The fact that in a few states or tne
Union tax laws have been adopted "hleH
unnecessarily rry into the Taxpayer 5 pri-
vate affairs and are unusually harsh ana
offensive furnishes no rsument why tney
should be selected as models for the Whoie
United States They are exceptional IN
their character and should not be toi-
lowed.
Neither does the circumstance that the
Government ln the collection OF oui GUS
toms duties insists upon the Inspection
of the baggage of passengers entering 'he
country I'm order 90 prevent frauds upon
the revenue-and sometimes searches tneir
persons-an0rd any Justification for the
enactment Of an income tax. the collection
Of which must largely depend upon M
auisit0nal proceedings One procedui
Is necessary and unavodabie the othef
is not
EVERY ONE Is INTERESTED.
The public should not be- misled into
the belief that only those whose incomes
exceed $4,000 are affected by this Dlt.
That is q mistaken idea.
Ia the arst place an those having M
comes less than $1,000. but more thah
Sc 500. are put 10 the annoyance of max
lne sworn returns. and they neglect u AZ
their peril.
lin the second place. il may be reasona-
blv apprehendel that some portion or
he tax will reimburse itself by am in-
crease OF rents where tine income was
derived from that source. So poor teaan >
will be- affected in some degree as Ven
as the ril'r landlords The Bill seriously
affects the rights and interests cf Ounn-
ins and loan associations throughout the
country incorporated under state laws.
The Senate amendments do not cure the
defects complained or.
Inquirins as 20 the source OF the de-
mand. d. sail that nothing was heard IN
its behalf CD the part of either OF the
TWO great political parties ln tne cam
paiqu of 1892 Neither the Republican nor
Democratic platform proposed any sueh
method OF raising revenues. NO promi-
uent Democrat or Republican suggested
any such measure lts approval was lln-
tied 10 the platform of the newiy-iofmea
Populist party. and iis advocacy was
restricted 90 P0pulist orators.
He protested against the Democratic
party being made tail 90 the fopu,ist
kite. and denied the right Of Demo-
cratic C0ugre-s 10 make new principles
for the party not sanctioned hy its repre-
sentatives in national convention duly as-
sembled. For one he repudiated any such
doctrine.
n was his belief that the complete sub
stituti0n of internal. direct or income
taxes for tariff taxes would prove ut
terlv rriinous 20 the business interests
abroad a partial substitution at this
time would be proportionately disastrous.
SUICIDAL POLICY.
This bill proposes O suicidal policy when
IL seeks by It's extreme provisions 90 ois-
card rulnous reasonable tariu duties
create "A deficiency IN necessary revenues,
simply for the purpose Of anordlns an
0Dportunitv or excuse for the suDsuu-
ton Of an income tax. There Is an ann
pie field for genuine tariff reform with
out resort 20 such an unWise and da4-
gercus experiment.
The substitution OF internal or direct
taxes for custom house taxation meant The
reduction Of the wages of American work.
ing men 10 the European standards. 1t
meant the degradation Of American labor
il meant the deprivation 20 our work
men Of the comforts and luxuries Of life
10 which they have been accustomed.
In outlining his position he said that
not one dollar Of tariff taxation should be
imposed, except what is necessary for
the needs of the Government. economical
ly administered. but whatever those needs
are. the necessary revenues therefor
should be supplied from tariff taxation
and that alone save and except the taxa
ton upon liquors. oleomargarine and TO-
bacco. TO which 1ne country has Ions
been accustomed. and which, for obvious
reasons. need not be disturbed.
SECTIONAL DIscRnrISATIoy.
To show the sectional discrimination or
the tax. he referred TO the income TAX
of 1sss-'7s. which extorted from the peo-
,,ls an oocreeata sum OF 1871. 20 $3.50. cf
MS suno the Eastern States paid is per
cent. the Middle States SO per cent and
together they paid II per cent New
YORK alone paid 30 per cent. IL has not
been claimed that these perceatages WI"
he materially changed if this bill pc
comes law. These figures spoke louder
Than words. They we're significant OF the
selfish purposes Of the bill. the real mo
tives behind Il. and the source or sec