Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-01-19
WEALTH rs WHAT PRODUCES
WEALTH.

In considering the general principles that
underlie the subject oil taxation, the SEN
TINEL said, last week, possessions protected
BY the law should sustain the law" This
dictum, we take il, furnishes key for the
solution of many problems that tax.evaders
busy themselves propounding with more
vehemence than ingenuousness. More than
half the usual effort seems TO be To befog.
Why things should not be taxed is full
often considered with more solicitude than
why things should be taxed. With many
Legislators and with quite "a many legisla.
ture. makers, the quest is for rule that will
provide plausible exemptions, rather than
rule that will make exemptions difficult.
Strict observance OF the rule we lay down
would not foster such enterprise, but would
nevertheless discover ii about as near the
golden rule as finite man is apt TO climb.
It might not please the bondholder, but Il
would please all beside him, when bonds
came up for consideration. 1t would not be
q savory plum for the monopolist, but Il
would ind earnest advocates in those who
have monopoly Of poverty. 1t might dis.
gust the absentee landlord who poses as
millionaire mortgage, but il would be CRATE.
full to the palate Of the weary deliver in the
earth's bowels for treasure that only ever
present effort can secure. And, withal, 1t
must be admitted that IL would with rare
correctness be doing to Others what ye
would that others In like circumstances
should do to you
Possessions protected by the law should
sustain the law or course, this is not de
MED Of tangible possessions; or, If IL is, the
denial is never made by the possessor Of
intangibles. Nor does the possessor Of
what everybody sees aud recognizes, seri
ously question the propriety Of paying bis
share Of the burdens. His grievance is with
what Is made to be his share. He fails 10
appreciate the formula OF legislation that
makes him dig, and brave sunshine that
wilhers, and storm that deluges, and pest-
lence that stalketh Vt MONDAY, and frost that
bites at nightfall, and disease 10 his cattle
aud cspricious markets for his crops, 10 pay
taxes for the support Of law, while the holder
Of millions of the intangible sits at ease in
cushioned arm chair, knocking when his fear
cometh, and laughing vt his calamity. Nor
would the mocker mock quite 20 freely II be
fully appreciated that he has what he has,
only because the law sustans him 10 its
possession. II is the business Of healthful
Legislation TO make him appreciate this fact
by realization OF its truth. Withdrawal
summary way Of meeting his case; but only
necessity could justify such harshness, and
fortunately this Is not necessary. Heslthiul
legislation wrongs no one-harms no one.
II is such legislation, dehowering the statute
bmks every where, rs grips with an iron
hand uns class of possessions, and passes
with delerential salasm another and more
desirable, more independent. more certain
class OF possessions, that does wrong and
does harm. The escape from taxation Of
the something that produces wealth, above
the earth aud supported by the earth" yet
not the earth or part Of II, is the canker
thai CAtS TIC NuSioO VIC bNdy POutiS W otS
regating burdens on the weakest shoulders,
and rousing rancor 10 resolute hearts. Every
sufferer agrees as to its existence few can
agree a. to it's remedy Would not intelli
gent application of the rule we defer to pre-
scribe II II
Let us test 1t by an illustration or two:-
Waving the Henry George theory ola sin
gle tax as impracticable, II not absolutely
hereto. recognizing the soil with its I'm.
provements OF houses and orchards and
horses aud cattle and all that man can see,
or seeing can enjoy, as proper subjects Of
tribute To the bcnehcent laws that ensure
them to their possessors, we approach with
the awe that custom, acquiescent 10 the fat
tering yoke, has fitted TO our necks, the
question Of what should not be taxed-of
who should be exempted from the obliga
ton to do citizens duty. II II were not
that obsequious custom has made US all ia.
miliar with Its paradoxes, we should be in
credulous II told that they who can best
bear the burden are they who are generally
released from it. But the paradox ceases 10
puzzle in the face OF indisputable fact. The
man who has most to pay with, who is under
the greatest obligations 10 the law that makes
bis condition possible, and has most TO pay
for the enjoyment Of, Is he who resists the
most stubbornly and fences the most Gun.
ningly. He exhausis the ingenuities of
sophisiry to find avenues vt escape, and, ,
even with csjolery that temp,s and frowns
that frighteu, invades legislative halls to
wrong his fellows Tor his own behoof
"Whatever produces wealth is wealth."
Does he admit il Does he not deny il with
Berkeleyan questioning OF the substance
Of what TO him is most substantial? Mark
how, driven IRON refuge to refuge 10 his
Efforts to hide from just tribute his miser's
store Of stocks and bonds, and promises to
pay, he finally takes Judgment behind the
quaint suggestion thst these are only levi
dences Of debit aud that she tax on what
gives them worth is already payable from
other sources. Transported with this tri.
nmphant exile from true citizenship, mark
his defiant chsllenge-"tax me if you dare
collect the tribute Il you can /; find my wealth
or acquit me Of its possession" Aud law.
makers are expected to aud do accept such
subterlnge as verify. They blink the ken Of
their own optics, ignore the touch of their
\ own senses, defy the monitions Of blind
iailice aud iatuously admit that what is /,
not, 81 the iutoleraut nod Of such heresy
"Nuthing on earth but the soil?" What Of
those myriads of miles Of railroads, and the
rolling stock that thrills their life2 What O
those magnificent factories. and the power,
they exhibit What of those wire couduits
thai make the ninptAenth centarv Glad M