Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-02
years ago that the wages of a work.

three years ago that the wages Of a work
ing man or woman, in furnace, factory, OF
delving mine. has ever kept pace with in
creased tariff rates, or indeed had any in
crease at all, on account of high pro-
tective tariff legislation. . If the re-
ward OF labor had ever been increased as
an incident or consequence Of increased
tarim duties on foreign imports, nothing
would be easier or more gracious to the ad-
NocateS and beneficiaries of protection than
to show that fact. The very reverse, how
ever, Is true 1t can never be forgotten
mat the enactment of the Mckinley law in
october. 1880. was followed almost i'm
mediately by reduction Of the wages of
all workers in iron and steel. beginning at
Homestead. in Pennsylvania. under
Carnegie. resulting in bloOdshed and whole
sale murder, and extending to all parts of
the country and to almost every branch of
manufacturing industry"
He then spoke Of the ad valoem system
Is substituted by the bill for the specific
duties. and described the forms as plain
and simple. and not calculated to deceive,
as Is the case with the former.
The Income Tax.
The Senator then discussed the details of
ths bill, and in regard to the income tax
be said that the proposition contained I'm
the pending bill to levy a tax of ner cent
on all net incomes of corporations and of
individuals in excess of $4,000 per annum is
Do just and equitable toward the hard
TnedRer
throughout the entire country that not a
word In It's defense or explanation would
seem necessary here or anywhere aIss
but the narrow and corroding seIfshness
OF -lcnes mas been aroused by this simple
measure of justice tito fierce resentment
am contention. We hear on ali hands the
olctatcrfal voice of iT diyidual and corDOra-
ton wealth demanding that it shall not be
disturbed oy the slightest touch of the tax
gatherer, whatever may be the demands of
the government or the oppression of the
tOilfng masses
In considering an income tax the most
extraordinary and startling fact we dis
cover IS the very small number of people
10 whom II applies. l well remember when
the able Senator from Colorado CMr. Teller
IN $50 declared on this floor that while the
population of the United States would at
that time reach 5000 900. vet at least one
half of the entire wealth "Of this the rich
est country on the globe" was owned by
not more than 100000 of it's inhabitants
The wealth Of the world has in all ages
been condensed into the hands Of the privf-
legged and favored few. who thereby seek to
become the governing class; and this mas
Deen more especially true and striking dur
Ing the last thirty years in this country
than In any other known to history
The Number Effected.
THE commissioner of internal revenue
In recent communication to the ways and
means committee of the House. estimates
the present population of the United States
at not less IMAM and the wealth
Of the country at s65. 900. 900. 900. or an aver
age of $1,000 per capita, if there was an
equal distribution. His further estimate
however, is that so great has been the con-
densatton of capital into the ownership of
small and powerful class that the tax
here proposed on incomes of over $1,000
will reach only about 5000 individuals and
corporations out Of the more than o.. 900 900
who now inhabit this land Of boosted Hber-
~ and equality.
what shall be said of one of the leading
arguments always urged against the enact
lnent of an income tax? We are gravely in
formed that such a tax cannot be collected
because Of the wholesale perjury which in
come owners will commit in order to eVa1e
the law. L was a member of the House
when the income tax law of 1852 WIS re-
pealed- L listened to this plea of infamy at
that time. and it increased the pleasure
with which | voted to keep the law on our
statute books, as il will now to vote to put
II back again. If the criminal classes OF the
country or those of assumed responsibility
can defeat the enactment of laws by threat
ening to commit crime in their violation
then, indeed. have We reached a depth of
degradation far beyond the hand or the
power Of resurrection