Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-27
will hold them guiltless of all Of

country will hold them guiltiess Of all Of
ferse
do not see that New Jersey or New Yorx
or massachusetts has any ground for COM
plant on account OF the proposed income
tax that Is not common to every other
state. 1t is constitutional mode Of TAXATION
as the Supreme Court has decided nv fhe
unanimous voice Of a full bench. II oper-
or localities. The income Of the resident az
LOUISIANA or Texas or Illinois Is taxed in
the same way and by the same rule that
tne residents OF New York or New Jersey
or Massachusetts are taxed whatever
may be said against the taxation Of incovns
IL cannot be denied that Dr. wayland was
correct when he said: Theoretically. this
Is the most equitable of all taxes. since 1,
abilities"
The Tariff an Aid to the Rich. 4.
i have no sympathy with those who nj
tempt to excite prejudice against the rich.
L know II to be a fact that as a general
rule the men of wealth are among our most
reputable and patriotic citizens, and that TO
a very large degree their riches are the re-
suits OF their enterprise, industry ana bust,
ness capacity. But II Is equally true that
In the race for wealth the unequal and dis
eliminating tariff laws under which We
have lived for thirty years have been found
a ready and efficient instrumentality in the
hands OF men Of fortune and enterprise to
ruake unhealthy and abnormal additions to
their wealth, within the lines Of the law
and consistent with the highest persona
integrity. The time has certainly come
when this convenient and efficient instru-
mentality should be dispensed with ana n
may be the time has also come when the
great incomes It has helped to create ought
In common fairness to contribute 70 a mod
crate degree to the relief Of struggling pow
erty against the enhanced prices OF the nee
essaries Of life resulting from discrtrninat-
ing ana indefensible custom house tara
ton. II is Idle to say that an income tar
cannot be collected. Experience will soon
make known the loop holes OF escape and
they viii be closed. just as have been closed
the loop holes through which In the early
days OF our internal revenue system those
who were willing to commit perjury or
fraud, or both. TO escape the payment OF In
ternal taxes.
1 attach little Importance to the COMPLAINT
that this bill does not propose TO tax in
comes down to 800 or 200 as fs done in
some OF the European countries. The In
equality OF an income tax arises from its
imposition upon those whose incomes are
small. and to avoid the danger of such in
equality exemptions are necessary The
claim that there is no necessity for an IN
come tax Is fairly open to dispute. Our
present revenue laws do not supply us with
the funds necessary TO discharge the obiI-
cations and pay the current expenses OF the
government. Who can say that the pro-
posed changes will supply the deficit, inds-
pendent OF the tax on incomes?
Not Free Trade.
The Junior Senator from Massachusetts
Is. submit, premature I'm his fight against
free trade. I see no tendency anywhere
In that direction Those who have taken
the trouble to make the necessary calcula-
tons find that the average duties that
would be imposed BY the Wilson bill. as
II came from the House. are $500 per
centum. and that the average duties under
that bill, with the finance committees
amendments, win be 31.52 per centum.
viii not attempt TO be accurate, but II not
mistaken, Mr.. Clay, the father Of the
American system, regarded 20 TO 10 per
centum duties as distinctly and unmis-
takably protective Considering .he con-
sentative progress In tariff reform the
democracy are content to make, I see no
reason why any one shall fear that free
trade viii be ever Appropriated during
this or the coming generation.
The fact cannot be concealed that TIE
democratic party must pay the penalty Of
having control OF the governm ent during
a period of business distress The public
with or without reason, looks - the Marty
in power for relief. and IL IL is not speedily
given no excuse that relief by legfsla tive
action Is impossible will be received. The
consequent loss OF public confidence must
OC dICCpNcus DuN WIN the Tul 4SsurHnc0
that the loss will be temporary IL we per-
sist In carrying out, IN the face OF all
difficulties and discouragements the pledges
upon which the people intrusted us with
power. 1 have no fears of the political
consequences OF the proposed legislation
Pass the pending bill and we may 20 before
the country with an assurance that no
party that proposes to reverse our action
In reforming the tariff or TO abandon the
income tax and thereby increase tariff tax
alton can secure the Endorsement Of the
people. have no more fears Of New Jer-
sey or New York than Of Kentucky or
Arkansas, so far as tariff reform or the
tax upon incomes are concerned.
The Charge of sectfonalfsm.
1t is a waste Of time to combat those
charges that the pending bill is sectional
or was so intended to be. and 1 need only
refer to the fact to answer the statement
OF the senior Senator from Maine that
where the interests Of the eastern states
are being disregarded Kentucky is 10 be
taken care OF. Kentucky raises practi-
cally all the hemp produced in the United
States. Hemp goes on the free list. Ken
lucky is as deeply interested In the lumber
industry as is Maine, and lumber goes on
the free list. Kentucky has Just COM
menced the work Of developing her ex-
tensive coal field. The House bill Puts
coal on the free list. and the Senate amend
duty from 10 cents per ton to 40 cents per
ton.
Kentucky produces more tobacco than
any other state. yet every man who deals
IN tobacco or manufactures IL for any pur-
pose is taxed under the internal revenue
laws. The tax on Kentucky whisky Is now
40 per cent upon the ordinary cost Of pro-
duction. The pending bill will increase
that tax TO $50 per cent Kentucky has
asked no favors and has received none
her people believe that tariff taxation
should be levied for revenue only" and
are ready and willing to submit TO such
an internal taxation as may be necessary
to enable the federal government TO re-
turn TO the constitutional methods Of i'm
posing custom house duties. Paraphrasing
one OF the provisions of the democratic
platform of 1S76. Kentucky democrats
would so reform the tariff laws as that
they shall no longer degrade American
commerce. Cypress labor. deplete the re-
turns of American agriculture, promote
fraud. foster smuggling. enrich dishonest
officials or bankrupt honest merchants