The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-02-03
pehate on the Income Tax.

Debate on the Income Tax.
WASHINGTON. D. c., January %, 1884,
Immediately after the House went into COM
mittee Of the whole Mr.. McMillin (Dem.,
Tenn, offered the internal revenue bill, with
the tariff bill. After the bill had been read
Mr.. McMilln spoke in advocacy of it.
He began his speech with a discussion OF
the general tariff question, attacking the Re
publican policy of protection and declaring
that the Democratic party, now in power fol
| the first time in n generation, would reduce
the tariff to a revenue basis. that it would i'm
pose taxes for public purposes and not for
private gains. The law is to be rewritten in
the interests of the government and of the
taxpayers. Proceeding then to the discus
sion of the income tax, Mr.. McMillin said;
1.-THE government of the United States re
quires a vast amount of revenue to carry on
its various operations. A less favored peo
pie could not meet the excessive drain that is
made for the purpose of maintaining 1t. 1t
requires nearly So federal taxes imposed upon
every man, woman and child in the United
States for this purpose. This is raised almost
exclusively from consumption.
''There is a very small part of it that is a
tax upon the wealth of the country. It's i'm
posed by way of taxes upon all the spirits that
enter into the drugs that are given to the people
when sick on all of the spirits that are con
sumed by them; all of the tobacco that is
used in various forms. But this is only a
small portion of it, for the greater part is OBJ
tanned from import duties upon the clothes
the people wear and the things they must
have for their comfort or existence.
''If a man owns $50, 600, 900 or 500, 900, 900
worth of property in the United States, as
some do, ne pays only on what he eats, what
he drinks. what he wears and the other things
he uses.
with this small exception this vast aggre-
CATION of wealth contributes nothing else to
pay the expenses of the general government.
1.-The time has come when this should be
changed, it seems to me. l ask OF any rea'
sonable person whether it is unjust to expect
that small per cent. Of this enormous reve.
nue. shall be placed upon the accumulated
wealth of the country instead of placing all
upon the consumption of the country. Is it
not time that great estates which are pro-
tected by our army, which are defended by
our navy, which are benefited by the various
operations of government, should contribute
in some greater degree to carry on that gov
ernment through which alone they could have
been accumulated or by which they are to be
protected?
1.-THE people of the United States do not
ask that all of it shall be placed on accumu-
lated wealth. 1t is not reasonable or unjust
that "a small part-from SIS, 100000 70 S35,
600, 600-of this money should be collected
from this accumulation. | know, sir, OF no
argument that is at all conclusive or rational
that can be urged against this form oftaxalion.
believe that since it is inaugurated 1t will
not only be a source of revenue, but will be
landed by our people as a very just source
yrbinh n dra nj the vast revenue
that we need.
In concluding, Mr.. McMillin said: las
have already indicated, tariff taxes were very
low prior to the war. Not only were they
increased, but it being presumed that the
manufacturers derived benefits therefrom
there was an internal tax placed on manu-
facturers, so they would contribute some part
of the benefits they received. 1t would seem
from what transpired that legislators studied
how they could remove every tax on luxury,
or the things that could be dispensed with,
and retain and increase every tax on the
necessaries of life. They went at this work
as soon as possible after the war period passed.
There was tax on circuses. 1t was re-
pealed. There was a tax on gift enterprises
1t went. Jugglers were taxed. But these
worthless were among the first to engage
sympathy and be relieved. Lotteries and
lottery. ticket dealers were taxed. But so
great an object of legislative sympathy were
they that this tax was taken off and the tax
on clothes left
Manufacturers were relieved of their tax.
But the duty on the goods they made was
increased. Thus the millions of their bur
dens were taken away. But more millions
were imposed for their benefit. All these
were repealed in 1871. Billiard rooms had
been taxed They, too, were relieved
Pleasure yachts had the tax taken from them.
There was tax on legacies. In 1870 1t
Welded 81 ,G72, $50. SUGGESTIONS were taxed
Welding for the same year 81 ,4l9,242. But
these taxes went to the Treasury, and IN going
gave no bonus to any citizen favored by law.
Hence they were obnoxious and repealed,
and the others left.
s'Sir, if | believed that this law did not
tend in the right direction, would have my
tongue cleave TO the roof of my mouth and my
right hand forget its cunning before would
give nv voice or my vote to this measure.
But believing as | do. that its adoption will
result in a public benefaction, my whole heart
goes forth in its advocacy, and am ready to
stand or fall with the principle of equity
which it carries And may God in His in
finite mercy guide us to do whatever is best
for the preservation of our Union and admin
istration of Justice to the whole people.
Mr.. Hall Dem, NO. also made strong
and earnest plea in favor of it. His remarks
were attennvely listened to and warmly ap,
plauded Mr.. Williams Dem, Miss.,) and
Mr.. Tarsney Dem, No. also supported
the amendment while Messrs. Ray Rep,
N. W Daniels rep, N. 4.,) and Covert
Dem, N. Y.,) opposed 1t.