St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-09
THE TAX.

We have taken no pains to conceal
our opposition to the income tax, nor has
its passage by the house altered our
opinion that while, theoretically. it is
the most just of taxes. in practice it is
one of the most unequal aud unjust.
We ehaYe read with some care tue
speeches delivered for and against the
tax, and, while its advocates have Ger.
tainly the ethical advantage in the ar
gument. they all ignore the practical
difficulties of its enforcement.
The best point made in favor of the
tax was made by Josiah Patterson, of
Tennessee, who said. III substance, that
the tariff tax was an unfelt one, tax
being merged in cost and covered by it;
that men take an interest in the admin
istration of public affairs largely ir pro-
portion to its cost to them; that the
vice of the tariff tax is that no lax col
lectOr reminds men that congress is
spending their money, aud that, if an
income tax is levied, it will draw the at
tentiOn of a large and influential class
of our citizens especially to the expend-
itures of congress, and make them more
critical of it's work.
The most n%nfounded objection to the
tax, one we are surprised to see the
Pioneer Press soberly urge. is that it is
a recognition II creation of classes;
that it will divide off and set apar those
weather. men who are fortunate
enough to enjoy an income over the
minimum fixed. Alexander Hamilton,
who was the father Of Republicahism
as Thomas jefferson was that of the
Democratic party, purposely and frankly
advocated the use Of the taxing and
other powers of the government to Gre
ate a wealthy class who, deriving their
wealth from the government. would be
attached to it and would uphold it. lie
distrusted the common people as heart
lily as Granville did, who regarded them
as ''that vile and mischievous animal
called the people,"
Glasses are created by exemption from
taxation as we'll as by permission given
to tax, either directly or Indirectly.
They are not created by the imposition
of taxes in any proper sense of the
word class; that always implies favor
itism. 1t was simply a question where
the line of division should run; and, if
IL class is created, 1t is composed of
those who are exempt from this tax, not
of those on whom it falls. In the state
of Minnesota all those whose personal
property falls below 500 are exempt.
and yet we have heard no criticism of
this as creating a favored class.
But rebuke of the tax because it forms
a wealthy class i'll this country comes.
it strikes us. with very poor grace from
the mouths or pens of men who have
for thirty years been assiduous i'll the
support of a policy which distinctly
recognizes and favors classes. What is
a protective tariff but class legislation?
What has been its result but the crea-
ton of a class receiving their wealth
from the exercise of governmental
power, and who make public protesta-
tion of their dependence on the govern
ment at every change of the tariff law
either in the direction of increased OF
diminished taxation? Here we have tax.
created classes as sharply drawn and
distinct as ever feudalism produced,
receiving their bounty and privileges
directly from the government, and in
terested Ill and contributing to the con.
tinued control of it by the party tc
which they W their existence.
There IS a grim humor and a rough
justice in a tax levied OH incomes which
denote wealth, which constitute t he
backbone of the measure. With ex.
ceptions SO rare as to be hardly notice
able, these incomes arise out of fort.
unes which have been accumulated by
some use of the government. The i'm
post has served to lay the whole people
under tribute to favored industries, re.
sulting in tie accumulation of immense
fortunes. The internal revenue take,
have had the result Of fostering sucf
monopolies as the match trust, thu
whisky trust. while the lavish grants t.
railways have been the foundation O
fortunes for the promoters of them