Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-01-12
FREE TRADE AND DIRECT TAX.

AS ulsCubSlOH Ol Tue taIlu qucstioh M
vances conviction deepens among many in
teligent Democrats that their party must
soon begin the work of reforming the en-
tire system of taxation, national and local.
The experience of the ways and means COM
mittee in its preparation of the Wilson bill
demonstrates clearly that not even reve-
nue. tariff can be framed without resort to
some form of direct taxation. In attempt
ing TO fix upon convenient and just meth
cd of direct revenue raising the committee
have contributed appreciably to an already
strong agitation for the abolition of all in
direct taxes, whether levied upon imports
or other means.
So prevalent is the desire for simple and
above board plan of raising public funds
that If vote were taken on the single and
distinct issue of direct versus indirect taxa
ton the majority In favor of the former
method in this country would to-day, we
think, be overwhelming. Only in the choice
of the particular kind of direct taxation
would the popular mind be found unde-
cided
Indirect taxation is one of the heritages of
monarchy of which we must rid ourselves
il popular government is to be perpetuated
on this continent. What is still the device
of kings and old world aristocrats for rob
bling and expressing the common people has
become the potent tool of monopolists for
despoiing capital and labor In this country.
Taxes should be 30 levied that their jus
tice or injustice may be discoverable to the
ordinary mind. Obviously every man is
entitled to know in what way and how
much he pays for running the government
machine. If he must give part Of his
yearly income toward helping men like
Carnegie in his steel business, a bonus to
the sugar growers and to the numerous
other interests now supported by public
money, he should surely be given chance
to look over the account occasionally and
judge whether he can afford to continue the
bonusing of people who are evidently averse
to earning an honest livelihood.
That indirect taxation is growing to be
very unpopular may be indicated by the
multiplication all over the country of or
CARNATIONS that advocate some form or
forms Of direct taxation. Among the best
equipped of these reformers can be classed
the followers OF Henry George. The ques'
ton as to whether ground rent alone should
be the sole source of public revenue is
steadily becoming a subject of wider and
more earnest discussion and, unless all signs
fail, will soon be problem of practical
politics.
1t may be safely said that no body of men
hasdone more toward exposing the monstros-
tiles and injustice lurking in the scheme pc.
litely called taxation than have Mr. George
and his adherents. The single tax on land
values and its necessary accompaniment,
the uEtaxing of all product of labor, is q
proposition which has at least the merit Of
simplicity. To the average mind there can
be no doubt as to the manner of levying the
tax, however varied the opinions may be as
to the effect of such change
One of the radical reforms claimed for it
by its opponents is that it would destroy
monopoly in raw materials. Wages, they
declare, can only be permanently raised and
capital fully and profitably employed by
liberating natural opportunities This prin-
ciple Of freeing raw material from monopoly
tolls, it will be observed, is distinctly in line
with the free raw material schedule of the
new tariff bill. The defenders OF that fea.
ture of the bill truly say that the cheaper
or more accessible raw material is to labor
and capital the more profitable it will be to
all concerned, the consumer included.
1t appears to us that free trade and direct
taxation will play prominent part in the
next national campaign.
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