The sun., 1894-01-04
WILSON ON THn INCOME TAX.
Equitable In Theory, iss says. hut Distssts-
fui and Hsrd 60 Earorce.

fui and Hard 60 Enrores.
The North American Reuie,o for January con-
tains a paper on the Income Tax" by the
Hon. William l. Wilson, Chairman OF the Ways
and Means Com mmittee, from which the fol-
lowing IL an extract;
The place OF the income tax in the English
system has been stated by Mr. Noble in his
National Finance as follows: The enor-
nous service which II has rendered In tho
liberation Of trade from multitude OF onerous
and oppressive burdens has been already re-
ferred to. Its existence has rendered possible
the great reform OF our svatem OF indirect tax
alton. which has been the foundation OF our
modern commercial progress II has the
transcendent merit over duties OF customs
and excise that II does not Interfere with the
processes OF industry or the course OF trade.
and that the whole amount which II costs the
taxpayer is devoted to the service OF the
State. It is, at present. almost the only inn
post by means OF which any substantial con-
tribution Ia levied from tho increasing wealth
Of the country; and it's repeal without any ef-
fective substitute would sRgravate the press
ure Of taxation upon those classes which are
least able TO bear the burden. 1t has it's ine-
qualities. but they are by no means SO flaRraut
and unjust as the Inequalities OF indirect
:. But despite, these, strong arguments In
81 an s % a TpS the
thSrs ARE S.o,s SoSnts whSh
from the very natural objection OF those who
might have to pay such tax. its administra-
asperating and some detnoralizinR incidents.
Our people have SO long and so generally been
sonal incomes. and even from any personal
contact with Federal tax collectors, that they
SS eS 81 Which
sally evaded. personal income tax would
upon conscience. And, finally. In a country OF
the large geographical Dimensions Of the
smooth aud effective working order, the. neces-
ssry machinery for It's thorough collection"
paper @ sP Reed si on the wilson fss
bill. Mr.: Reed says in part:
said cesr Il sn or to be
only. since 1t reduces the reyenue Of the coun-
try probably seyshty-nve millions Of dollars. so
nish us any aid in determining what the loss
will DO. II there be any gain to be anticipated
from Increased importations. which win Just Just
30 much diminish American protection
labor 0Sf fho 'rafn Iii csnuos csm i.Gm
She merit IL there be any. OF free trade
scteG and s01 cut T Of pss from 70 protecton many iS
dustrieS which were at least as deserving as
those which are to survive. In its struggIeto
devised In the main by Southern mon. has so
stricken tho undeveloped regions OF this coun-
try that the South is more likely than any
other part OF US to prominently suffer by
their efforts.
"The'time was when the West felt toward
protection much as tho South does now but
with Illinois as the third m an ufacturing State
In the Union. the West beyond the Mississippi
10 looking forward to the day when tho more
their resources also. In like manner the wise
business men OF tho South are looking for
ward last year. Tho bill cannot claim any
merit as a fulnlment of the platform OF the
Democratic party since that platform de-
tion be robbery then this bill 10 rob berry on a
sliding scale. In ono instance. at least, the
bill involves moro unblushing misuse OF pub
lie funds than was ever charged upon its
predecessors. even in those impassion6d
harangues over the horrors OF taxed trace |
Chains which illuminated my earlier days In