The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-02-23
Friday. Feb. 23, 1894.
Income Tax.

claim 10 De the only simon pure disciples OF
Henry George object to all taxes that touch
personal property they claim, and all taxes
derived from any other source whatever than
rent of land, they contend is tax on indus
try or the products of industry. The rent
of land they claim-and We are not going TO
dispute the claim-is the creation of society,
and should be taken for the use of society,
which is for the use of the public, or to
defray the expense of government. They
stop here, declaring theory and the funda.
mental system of that theory will permit
them to go no further. That the rent OF
land is the only unearned increment pos
sible. That accumulations from all other
sources are the gains attributable to personal
effort, and as such are sacred as property
which society should not touch.
Now we entertain very different views on
this subject of 'unearned increment" and
Opportunities" The man who accumulates
$4,000 annually has opportunities in almost
every instance superior to the man who can
secure but ST. 900; and in niue cases out Of
ten, fnot ninety nine out Of hundred, he
has no more ability in any way than the
man who can make his income reach no
more than one thousand dollars. The former
enjoys opportunities which he may have
inherited, he may have dropped into them
by accident, he may have purchased them,
or being more shrewd and grasping secured
his opportunities at a sacrifice 10 some extent
OF honesty or conscience. 1t matters not
how be came by those superior opportunities
which avail him so much more than his less
fortunate neighbor. Government protects
him in their possession, and they are val
liable wholly because Of society. Society
creates the landlords rent. Society makes
the other mans profits possible. BY his
personal effort he contributes no more to the
wealth, morals or the betterment of society
than his thousand dollar neighbor, and
frequently in the opinion of society" not
nearly SO much.
Here we find creation by society, an
opportunity afforded and protected by society
ten times as valuable as that OF a member of
the community, equally worthy, equally
valuable to the welfare of that community.
Shall not he contribute to that community
for such valuable opportunities as fully and
In an equal measure of justice as the landlord
whose rents are due to the same community?
1t Is difficult to see why justice does not
demand portion of that surplus wealth,
which society has placed him in the way of
ACCOMPLISHING above his fellows. A generous
sum is exempt from taxation which is
dedicated to the sacred purpose Of his and
those depending on him, for comfortable
livelihood which 1t does not touch, and only
demands a light per cent of that which
superior opportunity has enabled him to
take from the community. This is one
phase Of an income tax, which on the
ground Of justice, challenges denial.
There are other equally strong reasons
why surplus wealth should be taxed by an
income tar. The annual earnings which
how from accumulated wealth come largely
through the power that concentrated wealth
exerts on the community, and not from any
extraordinary efforts or superior natural
endowment Of its possessor. Much of the
income derived from concentrated wealth is
the result OF usury or the drawing of interest
or dividends by concentrated capital from
the wealth created by personal industry Of
the community. and is an increment as
clearly unearned as rent on land. All
interest derived from the hired use Of capi-
tal is practically the same as rent for the
nee Of land, the only fundamental difference
being purely theoretical. A clear title is
claimed for accumulated capital in the form
Of personal property, while ownership title
Il denied 10 the case OF land. But il IS the
communllY which creates profit, interest
and rent from all Without the community
the interest and profit from concentrated
capital woald b. impossible as Fenl Of land.
The nseds d the community are the absolute
ceaioss Of both, and not any personal
saraiag saous on the part Of either land
lord o. personal capital lord.
suFplus lneoms derived FROM speculation,
and The anmsroas other influences exerted
~ he poser Of aecsmulaled capital. tends
70 baiid colossal iorians-, vhich are admit
ted b - go osly a. Injury 10 the welfaFe
81 sesistg, bst eaasiant lsech on the accum-
uaatioua Of psssoaai sforu Of others, and
sappsF % shs ksaadalious u liberty. Colos-
al hssnass are eonslaosiy drawing lrom the
uantg sarnia9a Of The poor BY indirssl
meshoas. SOD addiug W the ovsrEFowu
smaseaasiona ~ he rich. and 90 ineome tan
90 aaeh anmmal aesusnulalions Fiass above a
mass maaaas u sguigy 10 laEagioa ior the
sappass u xgxssamsnt, bai also rests upou
fhs ssu~nsi a puhi,s saisty. All accama-
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