The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-11
Senator Hill on the Income Tax.

We do not believe that any thoughtful
and candid man. whether he be Democrat
or Republican, can read without admira-
ton and approval the speech delivered on
Monday In tho Senate of the United States
by the senior Senator from the State of New
York. To appreciate that memorable de-
liverance 1t Is simply necessary to be a man
OF common sense and a patriot.
The details Of the Tariff bill, which Is now
before the Senate. were reserved for careful
scrutiny at another time. Senator HILL con-
filming himself on Monday for the most part
to discussion Of the projected income tax.
and presenting against 1t an array Of argu-
ments whose combined effect Is overwhelm-
ing. His objections to the proposed impost
may be classed under the following heads
1t is unsanctioned by either OF the great
political parties, but. on the contrary. has
been condemned by both Of them; 1t would
be grossly inequitable In Its incidence and
oppressive In its operation: 1t would be dan
gerously centralizing In its tendency: It is
Enthusiastically socialisticy and finally 1t Ii
unnecessary. the Tariff bill providing an
adequate revenue without 1t.
In the history OF the United States an in
come tax has never been imposed by the
Federal Government. except under the ire
mendous strain Of the civil war. after the
close Of which this mode Of raising revenue
was denounced by Democrats and discarded
by Republicans. There has been since no
change Of attitude on the part OF either Of
the great political parties. 30 far as
any authentic and binding declaration OF
principles and intentions IL concerned.
Senator HILL points out that nothing was
heard from Democrats or Republicans on
behalf OF an income tax during the cam
paign Of 1892. Neither the Republican nor
the Democratic platform proposed any such
method of raising Federal revenues. The ap-
prova OF such method was limited to the
platform OF the newly formed Popullst party.
and the advocacy ofit was restricted to Pop
ulist orators. These facts being incontro-
vertible. Senator HILL protests against the
Democratic party being made the tail of
the Populist kite. He denies the right OF .
Democratic President to suggest. or of q
Democratic Congress to formulate. new
principles for the Democratic party un-
sanctioned by Its representatives In ma
tional convention duly assembled.
For many reasons. which are specified by
the Senator. the Incidence OF the projected
income tax would be hagrantly unequal
and ineQuitable. In the first place. the
taxable minimum. being ostensibly placed
ct q. 900 year. leaves untaxed the bulk OF
| the national wealth. because. II We assume
| five per cent. to be the average rate OF in
terest procurable. $4,000 year represents
an accumulated capital OF $4,000. The pro-
posed exemption limit Is five times higher
than the highest fixed in any European
| State where an income tax Is levied. 1t
should further be noted that the projected
tax bears most heavily In those cases
where the $4,000 or upward REPRESENTS the
professional earnings OF the victim. Where
| the income Is derived from real estate
| the loss incurred through the tax will. as
| experience has shown. be TO a considerable
extent onset by an increase OF rents.
| Where the income accrues from money In
vested In manufacturing. the tax will be
met by the subtraction OF an equivalent
amount from the wages paid to working
men. 1t Is professional men and those In
receipt OF saiAr.es who will find It impossi.
| BILE to distribute the burden OF the income
tAx. The same inability TO secure partial
relief from the burden will be experienced
by those whose savings or whose sole re-
sources. although these may yield but 9
few hundred dollars year. consist Of stock
In corporations. Not even building Ssso
Citations. In which workngmen mainly arr
interested. have been effectually secured By
the Senate amendments against the Grip
ping operation of the proposed income tax
As to the extraordinary inquisitorial pow
ers which would be vested In Federal ON
eials. Senator HILL finds it easy to demon
strate that these would prove intolersblI
odious and sntAgonistic to . citizens RICH
OF privacy. which should be sacred undel
democratic institutions.
A consideration OF the machinery b.
which the proposed impOst would be col
lected. leads directly TO the proof Of It's cen
tralidng tendency. From this point o
view the Federal election laws. which hay'
now been swept from the statute book. wer
Insignificant sncroaehments on the reserves
rights OF the States. II would be well 70
our Democratic brethren In the SOutherl
states u reflect bstinlss On the use Tia