The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-05
MORE ABOUT INCOME TAX.

We published yesterday what Mr.
Thomas G.. Sherman had to say about
the inefficiency Of an individual income
tax; and now comes Hon. VIM. L. VIII
son, chairman OF the Committee of Ways
and Means. and gives his views on the
subject TO the North American Review.
The point in Mr. Wilson's statement is
that this tax, in the language OF Mr..
Mills. is "a tax upon conscience" We
bring this subject before the people be-
cause we believe the income tax, as
now laid under our Virginia law. is
vicious in its effects and inefficient IL
not practically useless in its results. and
shotld be either thoroughly overhauled
and re-enacted or entirely abolished.
1t should certainly be abolished If the
United States Government imposes san
income tax. There IS vast difference
between the power Of the Federal
Government, whose arm extends over
every state and reaches all the corpora
tons and property in the whole country
TO enforce an income tax Of some sort.
and that Of a State Government. whose
hand stops short at it's boundary line 1T
will be seen that Mr.. Wilson's argument is
only against the individual income tax
the kind we have here. He says:
The place OF the income tax in the En-
glish system has been stated by Mr.. Noble
In his National Finance as follows: The
enormous service which 1t has rendered in
the liberation Of trade from a multitude Of
onerOus and oppressive burdens has been
already referred TO. It's existence has rem
dered possible the great reform of our
system of indirect taxation, which has
been the foundation of our modern com
mercial progress. IL has the transcendent
merit over duties OF customs and excise
that IL does not interfere with the pro-
cesses OF industry or the course OF trade,
and that the whole amount which IT costs
the taxpayer is devoted to the service OF
the state. II is, at present, almost the only
impost by means OF which any substantial
contribution is levied from the increasing
wealth of the country; and its repeal
without any effective substitute would
eggravate the pressure of taxation upon
those classes which are least able to bear
the burden. IL has It's inequalities, but
they are by no means so fragrant and
unjust as the inequalities OF indirect
taxation
But despite these strong arguments in
favor OF an individual income tax. and the
unquestionable equity OF Its general theory
there are very grave counter reasons,
which rise up before a Legislature which
seeks 20 embody 1t into our Federal tax
system. Aside from the very natural OBJ
lection of those who might have TO pay
such a tax, its administration is necessa-
rily accompanied by some eXasperating
and some demoraliZing incidents. our
people have so long and so generally been
free from any public scrutiny into their
personal incomes, and even from any per-
sonal contact with Federal tax collectors,
that they resent the approach of either.
Moreover, like the personal property tax.
which is so universally eyaded, personal
income tax would easily lend Itself 10
fraud, conceament, and perjury. land
prove. as MIR. Mills said. a tax upon con-
science. And, finally In country OF
the large geographical dimensions OF the
United States. IL would be difficult 10 Put
into smooth and effective working order
the necessary machinery for its thorough
collection"