New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-02
which Is tax upon. honesty and premium upon
0nes' WHAT MIGHT BE DONE.


the United States TO make good the temporary de-
1clency in the revenue A Slight increase In the
tax upon distilled spirits and tobacco and any sight
tax on fermented liquors would more than yie'd
revenue enough TO all fiscal r-quremens OF the
Government. and that without the addition OF a ooi-
The proposed tax Is sectional in character; 70
per cent OF 1t will probably have to be pad east o,
the Alleghanies and north OF the Virginia line; IL
has It's origin in PopustCommunistc views OF me
social organization. 1t is child OF spite ana Is In
revenge for fidelity to principles of sound cureney
of the sections of the country ooundee by [ne ~
south, the ocean and Mississippi on the east and
cessf,l collection so drastic and complete an investi-
CATION into personal and private affairs as TO DC
offceholders with Irresistible motives 10 corruption
of both Government and people, and produce new
people toward their Government It puts premium
upon dishonesty The conscientious and high-minded
man will nav the tax however oGous and irritating
it may be. and the dishonest man Will evade ".
UNFAIR. THOUGH APPARENTLY FAIR.
1t is also the unfairest tax, although seemingly
fair How varied the sources Of incomes and
the roots of incomes upon which the tax Is levied
The income Of professional man. even the profits
sof the business man, uncertain from year To
year dependent upon health and conditions OF trade
whereas the incomes derived from investments IN
real estate bonds and mortgages or personal Piop
iirely different footing from the uncertain ana pre-
carous incomes derived from professional ire or
collect. and large percentage OF the whole tax VIII
go to the machinery of its colection-assessors col
our feliow-citzens in the West and South, who
are mainly instrumental in pushing the odious tax
law through Congressional halls. yainly lna s
that by taxing capital they relieve themselves from
some burdens of taxation. and throw them upon
Ntical economy Frightening capital and making
It bear an unjust burden cause shrinkage OF values
fructify the ground and transform metals INTO
articles of commerce and OF use; ralse me ra'e
OF interest the land Of the farmers ana or1ng
about a general of foreclosure and distress
instead OF production and prosperity. Inese en-;
dren OF Impulse have notion that they are .aA I
the rich man by passing an income tax law De-
fusion Of decisions! The rich can always avoia taa
80 quickly takes fright and 50 easily takes nignt
as capital when 1t is attempted TO tax 1t TOO heaVHy'
The power OF assessment and inquisiton connected
with this both discretionary ana arDtrary,
phrase that 1.-The genius Of Liberty repuaiates
everything arbitrary and discretionary ana i rT
should know what proportion or ms proIe,tS ZIG
State demands. Whatever liberty we now possess
in theory. It cannot exist in fact while arbitrary
,assessnients continue"
Labor discomfort. granger agitation; oad crops S
anane cps eTRss cary Inevitably give unwis
business and financial disturbances When the condi-
tions that breed them are no longer operauVe. rne
causes of their enactment disappear; but the party
which under the pressure of spite or sectonaAsn or
temporary outbreak of the communisuc spirit mahrs
Itself responsible for measure Whch ATTACKS
thrift. and which contains so much menace 70 .ne
welfare and prosperity OF the community. measure
which will stand upon the statute book as a monU-
ment of folly when the motives Will have passed
away which caused its enactment WI, ni De e
lesson not only TO It. but to future generations VI
party leaders
WHAT LOUIS WINDMULLER SAID.
Then Louis Windmuller was introduced by
the chairman In part he spoke as follows:
Among the numerous friends see here tonight
reform II our tariff legislation. We have anxously
been waiting for it. since yeaTs We e any o 'Hs ne
DELAY: but we would rather continue 20 suffer than
communify More can be said in condemnation that
could say II were to speak an night 10 Sh e. Inv Nv
most glaring objections.
less than 10000 persons singled out to bear
burden from which it is intended 70 exempt the
remaining 5000 900 AS it is unwitngly proposed 10
tax incomes Of savings banks the thrify idoo i,
Der II is intended 10 reach will not be taxed WIN
any degree OF fairness or equality Saiafied clerks
bankers. merchants and manufacturers can avoid
sheets: of wealth can leave the country as they
nov leave the city to escape personal taxation
nave iesn abandoned but it stn remains the duty OF
the collector 10 examine our private aHars' "hlch
we reluctant to disclose. and when DO not con-
When the Constitution was adopted the power to
levy taxes delegated TO the Federal Government
on condition that they should be uniform through
on ,ne ron t oy the saws in ArcYe l. Sec
ton 2. Paragraph 3: Representatives and direct
taxes shall be appotoned among the several states
which may be Included within this Union according
10 their respective numbers"
PAID cHEERFULLY WHEN NECESSARY.
We paid this unequal tax. Unconstitutional as II
was. without murmur, long as the Government
required the to save the. Union. We would
no: protest agans; II II there were no other
means 70 provide for legitimate expenditure. With
GU, an income tax the revenue insured by he Sen
ate amendments.yea even by the wilson on. ISL
bodied In the tariff for other purpose than 10
.panaer socialism and secure the favor OF Repre-
W tendencies
pass without their assistance 1t would be better 10
our reforners have made compromises with Pro-
tectionists until their achievement looks Ike de-
TO thea rl sbortVe ar legislation or any oher sac
rihce rather than to this violation Of the American
principle OF equality
CHARLTON T. LEWIS'S GOOD POINTS.
Mr.. Thomas then introduced in a few words
Charlton T. Lewis. who behalf OF the life
insurance companies spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
1t seems to me that who are here tonight need
but little argument to convince ourselves Of the
What we are really here for is to express plainly
and emphatically our feeling, our Indignation that
this absurdty this piece OF OPPRESSION this out
rageous legislative proposal secuted by the voice OF
In every CIVILIZED nation
The income tax was invented by William Pitt in
Not a statesman has defended 1t a permanent
measure and even Gladstone has given up the task
pediency. He IT who set forth Its Inequalities
and said. Therefore, propose that abandon IT.
What IS that British income tax that he should
abandon It? Is It the same kind Of tax as tina
which the Senators at Washington propose 10
fasten on US? Not bit Of il, In Great Britain the
measure has been studied with care and panstakns
earnestness. They have tried TO develop II as TO
do away far possible with It's inequalities.
But now look az the measure proposed on the other
hand. for US. IT is far different one. And
pecally in respect OF its effect life insurance
policy holders does the income show the utter
want OF justice the part OF those who have
ceived It, In Great Britain, firstly. the income tax
IS not imposed life insurance companies and,
secondly. when a puts up a certain sum for the
protection Of his family In case he dies that is
deducted from the income which Is taxed Now turn
70 the income-tax clause OF the Wilson bill. How
different Is III We form a life insurance company
10 protect our families. We put up a little money
IN order to make the company stand firmly on its
feet, ana we invest this money. The first thing the
income tax does is to down on these our in
vested funds. and levy per cent tax-in order 10
check the accumulation wherewith widows and