Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-04-18
THE INCOME TAX DECISION.

AS the Norfolk Ledger says,
the recent decision of the United
States Supreme Court on the
subject of the Income Tax APP
pears to have been satisfactory
only to those whose incomes
were relieved of the burdens i'm
posed by the law, and if we are
not very much mistaken the
country is going to hear a good
deal relative to the subject in
the future. It will be difficult
for the plain, common people of
the country to understand why a
law which was formerly valid
and which did duty for years in
collecting revenue that the gov
eminent needed, should now be
invalid. Questions r also
raised by the decision which the
opponents of the law will have
difficulty in reconciling with
common-sense views. Here is
what Mr.. Henry Clews, the New
York banker, says with reference
to the decision:
[ think it unfortunate that the
portion of the income tax law
which was sustained should have
been by a tie vote, as it will
cause increased dissatisfaction
on the part of the taxpayers. It
leaves a grave doubt in the
minds Of most people as to the
constitutionality Of the law. If
half of the Supreme Bench
Judges share in that doubt, why
should it not be general with the
taxpayers? l., therefore, doubt
whether anyone will be willing
to pay a large amount of mo-ey
as an income tax under the cir
cumstances, excepting it IS done
under protest to admit Of it be-
ing again recovered as a result
of a future reversed decision.
This attitude would not have
been taken by anybody if the
decision had been given by a
good sized majority vote. In
that case people would have
paid the tax ungrudgingly, but
now in paying it they certainly
will feel otherwise. It is also
unfortunate that a number Of
men with the largest incomes in
the country through inheritance
of real estate, men who have
never done a days work are
exempt from paying any tax on
their great incomes, while men
who make their incomes by
their own daily labor efforts.
with great attending risk and
anxiety, are compelled to pay a
tax on the incomes there derived.
It makes q most unfortunate I'M
American distinction and that
will make the income tax a most
distasteful one to all American
people, with the exception of the
large land owners. The income
tax law, as it now stands, is in
about this shape; If I had a farm
and rented it, giving me an in
come of SO, 900, I should not
have to pay any tax on that ln-
come; but my tenant would have
to pay a tax on his income de-
rived ,herefrom. On the basis
of justice, the reverse should be
the case.
It sometimes happens that the
people take issue with court de-
cisions, and when such is the
case the struggle between the
people and courts may be pro
longed for years, but the people
will eventually adopt methods to
have their wishes carried out.
In proof of this it is only neces-
sary to recall u~tterances in our
own State. In the early seven
ties to the Legislature enacted a
law relative to the public debt OF
Virginia which was not accepted
by the people. The question was
made an issue in the next cleo
ton and a Legislature was
chosen which repealed the law
Litigation followed, and the Su-
preme court of the State rem
dered a decision which, so fal
from settling the question.
caused an agitation that finally
resulted in overthrowing the
dominant party and causing the
election of a new Supreme
Court.
It is true that the Judges O.
the United States hold then
Offices for life or during good be
hayior instead of for a stated
number of years, as in our State
but when the people are deter
mined that the laws shall accort
with their views upon an.
question of public policy, the.
will in a long run find the mean
to accomplish their purpose
The recent history Of the coun
try proves this.
LITTLE Cuba has the sympa
thy of all patriotic people. FO