The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-01-23
TuE GRADUATED INCOME TAX.

bv anv means, though the plan sug
nos+sd ia doubtless an improvements.
The present Congress made a great
noise some weeks ago about the neces-
oitv for such a law, but it is likely that
the money power has succeeded In
s~+onning legislation in that direction
The income tax has been tried in the
limited States and proved very salts
factory as a means of raising revenue.
The law was finally repealed, we be
lieve. in 1887. Since the war the num-
Der of people who have immense IN
comes has increased greatly, and the
income tax is a necessity. Naturally
those who would have to pay the tax
are opposed to it, but such opposition
should not deter our lawmakers.
A miserable makeshift" is not what
The people want. They want a law
hat cannot easily be evaded, a law
that reaches only those who are able
10 nav the tax-the richer the man
the higher the tax. Those who are for
tlnate enough TO have a large income
ought to be willing to pay taxes IN pro
portion.
Some weeks ago the Secretary OF
State submitted a number of questions
to the United States Consuls in foreign
countries where an income tax has
been collected. The Consuls have an
swered, giving full particulars. Their
replies have been placed before Con
gress and published in the Congress
sionaI Record. We CLEAN a number of
facts for general information. In 1898
an income tax law went into operation
in England. It vas repealed in 1916
and reimp0sed in 1912 and has been IN
force since. The first year a tax was
imposed on all having an income above
1850 per annum. In this way the tax
for the first year amounted to $685.
$50 The law has been amended many
times since. bat has never been a strict
ly graduated income tax, hence has
never been what we want now. Prus-
STA passed an income tax law IN 1851.
1t was changed several times. The
present law, which is a graduated one,
has been in force two years and seems
to be satisfactory. A small tax is I'M
posed upon all having an income above
900 marks ($225), the larger the income
the higher the tax. Bavaria has a sim
liar law which has been in force since
184S. Baden has had a similar law
since 1885. Bremen has had the law
since 1848, the tax ranging from 1 to
At per cent. Austria has been collect
ing an income tax since the year 1900,
except from 1929 to 1849. The amount
derived from incomes in 1892 raj about
$40, 600, 600. Italy has had a similar
law for some years. The amount de-
about $45, 600, 600. Switzerland has the
most democratic government of any
country in the world. She has none
of the millionaire or pauper class.
Peace and contentment abounds. A
panic" is unknown. Her people are
satisfied and rarely ever leave home
for any other country. This state of
affairs has existed many years, and
with the establishment of such an ideal
government of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none" came the
initiative and referendum" and a
graduated income tax, both being a
part of the platform so steadfastly sup
ported by Alliancemen in this country.
In each of the above countries there
are rigid laws to enforce the collection
of an income tax. Prosperity does not
in all of them. royalty" has
too much freedom under a monarchial
form of government. Royalty" has
too much freedom here, but if the en-
tire Alliance platform was enacted
into law, and the laws properly en-
forced, royalty" would have to take
a back seat in these United States.