The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-13
MIR hill ON THE INCOME TAX.

IL J.
v-o NAV quarrel with Senator Hill as
much as we choose for interfering VII"
tho Democratic programme, but none oil
tis critics can successfully reply to his
arguments against such an income 'aA
as has been tackled on to the tarih Dill
That tax is neither more nor less thah
@ nlan TO impose the burdens OF the
Government on the accumulations of
wealth. while men who enjoy incomes
that should fairly be made to bear a
mart Of the expenses Of Government are
exempted from obligations to pay taxes
When Government takes from one citizen
a tribute which it does not exact from
another this is extortion and coniisca-
tion and not taxation. This is exactly
what the proposed income tax does II
levels its shafts at all forms Of accu-
mulated property II lays its hands upon
the saving banks, and thereby indirectly
attacks the poor man and the laboring
man, in whose interest the scheme pro-
fesses to have been devised, and ii taps
the sources of the poor widows mite in
recurring railroad corporations to turn
over to Government part Of what
would otherwise go to her as dividends
on her small holding Of stock
Thus do all unjust measures prove to
be boomerangs. Aimed at the rich, be-
cause they are fortunate, it reacts upon
the poor in whose interest it processes
to have been made.
1t is hard to say what is the real
motive at the back Of this scheme. Mr..
Hill said it was Socialism, and many
others hold the same view. We cannot
believe, though, that such men as Senator
Voorhees, and Professor Wilson would
voluntarily promote Socialists-proposi-
ton of Government if they knew that
it was really one Of that kind. Men of
this sort may be induced TO yield to
the ode minimis" argument, but we feel
sure they would never voluntarily advo-
cate a proposition which they believe
would lead up TO the Government own
ing all property and controlling all en-
Payments That this measure contains
the germ of this theory of Government
is perfectly plain. but Messrs. voorhees,
and Wilson believe they will be able to
control the principle after they have in
voked it and hold it down to the limits
that they have defined for ii. 1t is
vain hope. The principle is one Of the
horse-leech order, which always cries
"eive." 1t can be successfully fought in
but one way and that is by the tactics
of the egg, which concentrates all its
resistance at the barriers Men like
Voorhees, and Wilson think that true
policy consists in "demagogng' a little,
in yielding slightly to the clamor that
the rcor man should be dealt with as
tendefly as possible and that the rich
man should be made to carry a little
lust a little-more than his due share Of
taxation IN order to tighten part Of the
poor mans burden. The Government
should be absolutely impartial. This is
the only safety of rich or poor. Any
sound morals and with all sound prn-
ciples of government. Government is
intended to bear equally on all. giving
advantages TO none. and imposing IN
just burdens upon none. just as that
principle is adhered TO in the framing
of our laws we have a contented a
happy, and prosperous people Just as
that principle is departed from we find
some men getting rich at the expense of
others. who become poorer every day.
The people feel that they are treated I'M
fairly, discomfort arises, Popuiists thrive,
and our money is threatened by the
theory Of quacks. who think stimuants
are solid food. The income tax as franz
ed by the Democratic Congress should
be abandoned. or there will be no end of
the trouble that it will bring on the
country.