Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-24
HE INCOME TAX.
1t is no new theory of politi-

1t is no new theory of politi-
cal economy-the income tax.
Mr.. Hall quotes the Hon. John
Sherman, of Ohio, as follows.
''The public mind is not yet
prepared to apply the key of
a genuine revenue reform. A
few years of further experience
will convince the whole body of
our people that system of ma
tional taxes which rests the
whole burden of taxation on con-
sumption and not one cent on
property and income is intrinsi-
cally unjust, While the ex-
penses of the national govern
ment are largely caused by the
protection of property, it is but
ris ht to call property to help
contribute to its payment. It
will not do to say that each per
son consumes in proportion to
his means. This is not true.
Every one must see that the con-
suption of the rich does not bear
the same relation to the consump-
ton of the poor that the income
of the rich does to the wages of
the poor. AS wealth accumu-
lates, this injustice in the funda-
mental basis of our system will
be felt and forced upon the at
tention of Congress-
Mr.. Sherman thus favors the
taxation of 1.-The income of the
rich. - Truly does he say that
a system of taxation WHICH makes
the poor man of a large family
pay Gn the form of custom du-
ties) as much tax as the rich man
calls for a genuine revenue re-
FORM
Mr.. John Stuart Mill, before a
| joint committee of the two
houses of the British Parliament
in 1861, defended not only the
principles of the income tax law,
but advocated the exemption of
enough Of each mans income to
support himself and family. Mr.
Mill is further quoted by Mr.
Hall as follows:
''The supposed hardship OF
compelling people Of disclosing
the amount Of their incomes, in
my opinion, does not amount tC
much. One of the social evils Oh
this country is the practice OF
custom of maintaining or attempt
ing to maintain, to the world, OF
a larger income than one pos
sesses; and it would be far better
for the interest of those who
yield to this weakness if the ex.
tent of their means were univer-
sally and exactly known and the
temptation removed of expend
ing more than they can actually
afford, or stinting real wants in
order to make a false show ex.
ternally." Another of England's Is
ablest writer's says: 1.-The inc
quality which is caused by this
power of evasion is not, by many
so much objected to as, what
they allege, the general immor-
ality which will be produced by
! this taxation. It Is, for instance,
maintained that the income tax
places SO great a reward on per
jury that men who would other
wise be honorable are tempted
to deceive the government.
hardly think, however, that
statesmen ought to pay much at
F tention to such an argument
The honesty of such individuals
who are so easily led away from
the paths Of virtue and honor, is
scarcely worth the fostering care
of government. Every pre-
caution should, of course, be
taken to detect and punish those
who make false returns, because
the burdens which they escape is
, thrown upon the rest of the com
! munity. Let us, however, hope
that the general honesty of the
nation is progressing: and tha
therefore the force, if any, o.
the objection against the income
, tax, which we have just noted
is each year diminishing,