The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-07-12
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INCOME TAX.
BY MEMBER OF CLASS -.

A bill pending in the United States Senate,
taxing incomes amounting to four thousand dol
lars or more. is. in our opinion. one of the most
just measures before that body. While it is true
that the measure would effect New York and
other eastern states more than other sections
which are not so wealthy. still it is but justice
for the expenses of the government to be paid
from the surplus wealth of individuals, rather
than to tax those who have no surplus.
We find quite an array of politicians against
it. but as we use oil to make machinery run
with less friction. does the oil of capital cause
the politician, in too many instances, to bow to
the will of a minority in framing laws for our
whole country The cry of the eastern politician.
that this measure is scheme of the "bOom-cOl-
lapsed west and SOUTH and other like express
sons. fails to convince the ordinary mind that
such is the case. 1t has been the policy of all
enlightened countries to tax the whole for the
| common school system. All alike shared the
| taxation whether or not any benefit was de-
rived by the individual. In other words, it has
| been held to be a sound principle to tax the
| individual for the benefit of the whole, although
the said individual profits not directly by the
said taxation.
| We think it but justice for those whom for
tune has smiled upon to pay a larger burden of
| the expense of government than those who are
not so fortunate.
-Four thousand dollars income annually is the
minimum income taxed. which amount must be
conceded, by reasonable mind, large enough
not to be seriously injured by a tax of fifteen
cents the hundred dollars. In England,
where the amount of one hundred and fifty
pounds or more of income is taxed we see quite
a discrepancy when compared with our Amer
lean bill, but as England is much cheaper
country to live in and as wages are much lower
there than in the United States, and as our laws
are more liberal, the discrepancy is not so great
as it first seems. In a congressional election
held recently in the state of Louisiana this
question submitted to the voters for the first
time we think in our history. The sesult was
in favor of the bill by Il vote of forty to one.
Probably twO-thirds of the popular vote of the
United States would be in it's favor. The pres
eat congress, however. not elected on this
issue; neither did the republican or democratic
parties have such a feature in their nationa
platforms. With Il few exceptions, the dem
ocratic and populist parties favor it, while thu
republican party oppose it. The opposition uses
as tenable grounds, the assertion that the bill il
class legislation. The democrats answer b!
saying that if this bill be class legislation, thu
tax on malt and distilled liquors and tobacco
certainly makes class distinction, to tax salt
articles and manufacturers and tax no Others
these articles being manufactured at home
without being taken through a custom house
Or as we have said in the beginning, to tax on
v man to educate anOtherS children 1t can b
I clearly seen that many of our laws tax dstinc
| classes. The income tax will reach many cOrpC
\ rations which have heretofore protited by Oh
: system of government without aiding it wit
revenue. We read in our press reports wher
the bright and beautiful Misses Flood, McKa
and Vanderbilt and others of America
: daughters representing something like 5000
600 in their own right, are recuperating /
u Europe. baSkingin the smiles of threadbare Ell
glish lords. DagO counts and Polish princes, IT
moved by TWO or three generations. TheS
would assist their poor American cousins to bea
+ the burden of government taxation. The gree
S of the wealthy may be seen by the following tru
n statement: Jay Gould paid taxes on ,OO(
at his death his estate was appraised by his e.
q ecutors at $7O.OOO,OOO: forthwith, the tax commits
s sioners raised the tax valuation to 100000
l. The heirs became very indignant and moved
other states in order to claim citizenship an
avoid paying taxes upon just one seventh
!. their property. A poor farmer must on HI
r. eighty-acre farm pay the taxes or give up h
d land. A poor mechanic must pay taxes on n
Al small hOmestead-and still we are told, by me
" whom we pay five thousand dollars Il year to
i to congress. that it is 'clasS legislation" TO ia
u incomes amounting to $4,000 or more annuan