The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-23

The Democratic majority OF the COM
mittee Of ways and means has resolved
upon the enactment of the income tax.
This was TO be expected, for since the
Wilson tariff bill creates . deficiency OF
some SIS. 600 600 the trainers Of the Wilson
deficiency bill insist on an income tax for
revenue. Instead of framing tariff for
revenue only the Democratic tariff and
revenue reformers in congress have sub
mitsed . deficiency bill To make up for
this deficiency these Democratic tariff and
revenue reformers have adopted the Popu-
list sociaiistic device Of an inecms tax, .
tax that il 20 generally odious that even
the Tammany Hall Democracy has by
resolutions denounced it as IAN act of
superlstive political folly and injustice.
The absurdisy of the Democratic position
is evident when We find Bourke Cochran.
Of New York, supporting the Wilson tariff
the income tar. Mr. Cochran must Of
course see that the Wilson tariff bill, being
q deficiency and not revenue bill. CON-
psiled its author to resort TO the income
tar to make up for the deficiency deiiber-
atsly created under the Wilson bill. Mr..
Cochran knows that nothing but the repu-
diation Of the pledge Of the Chicago plat
form to enact tariff for revenue only made
this deficiency tariff possible and this
adoption of the idiot promise Of the Popu-
list platform necessary.
If Mr. Cochran and the Northern Demo-
Gratis who represent protection states had
insisted upon fair tariff in absolute ex-
ecution Of the pledge of the Chicago plat
form there would have been enacted
tariff for revenue only, which at all events
would not have been q deficiency tariff,
and there would have been no chance, no
excuse for enacting the Popuiist device Of
an income tax. Mr.. Cochran, if he sin
cerely meant to keep the tariff promise of
the platform, should never have consented
to the framing Of . dsfciency-crsating
tariff bill, for its creation implied resort
to an income tar. IL the Democracy in
congress are not bound by the tariff plank
in the Chicago platform then certainly
they have q right to adopt and enact the
idiotic sound and socialistic fury of the
Populist brain.
If Cochran can swallow the Wilson tariff
deficiency bill, why should he make wry
faces over the adoption and enactment of
the Populist proposition Of an income tax.
This tax is unequal and inequitabls. 1t is
an attempt to compel the rich by law to
pay for the support of the government.
while the poor are allowed to enjoy its
benefits for nothing; it 10 discriminating
class legislation directed against the IN
dustrious. thrifty and prosperous members
OF society for the benefit OF the incompe-
tent. idle and thriftless; 1t il fairly de-
scribed ~ of the same nature - the Stree
silver" agitation. which was an attempt on
the part of debtors to rob creditors.
Matthew Marshall in tho New York Sun
says of this tax:
Unless 1t be established that citizens
with incomes of less than 81. 200 wear re-
ceive no benefit from the national govern
ment, they should not be relieved, even
in part. from their proportionate burden
of taxes. Ii cannot De seriously contended
that poor man receives less personal pro-
lection than a rich one from the army aud
navy of the United States, or derives less
benefit from the Federal courts and from
Federal legislation. Usually, too, he has
some property. ii not much, which. accord
ing to its amount. profits by all the meas
ures taken for the nations welfare. His
earnings, too, are as much his income as If
they were the rents of real estate, the in
terest on money, or me gains OF mercan-
tile, manufacturing and mining business.
To exempt them from their due share of
the nations taxes is to make an unfair
discrimination In his favor.
The proposed tax upon incomes would
also bear unequally upon the rich. 1t
would take from the earnings of profess
sionai men, and of capital actively en-
ployed by its owners. but would let go free
unproduoiive real estate, which Is rising
IN value through the improvement of the
locality in which il is situated. Hence IL
would be q penalty upon industry and
enterprise and premium upon apathetic
Incidence. The man who invests his
capital in undertakings which give en-
ployment TO his fellow men aud benefits
the whole community is To be punished by
fine of part of his earnings, while he who
merely waits upon time and reaps the re-
ward Of the labor of others is to escape"