The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-01-04
THE INCOME TAX.

The Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun says:
Unless appearances are very deceltful
the exhausted revenues of the government
have little to hope for in the income tax,
of which so much was anticipated at the
time of its enactment. The opponents of
the tax evincc a determined disposition to
fight its enforcement at every stage. The
Moore suit is only one of various prelimi
narcs to be restored to in the programme
of embarrassment and hinderance. 1t is
understood that negotiations have been
unity of action among all the corporate in
hucnccS which are to he effected by the
provisions of the law. Individual effort
of course, will be Strenuouslv directed on
the line of evasion and avoidance. 1t has
not vet transpired whether the congress
ional dcnouncerS of the tax will carry their
enmity so far rs to prevent the necessary
appropriations for its execution. This has
been loudly threatened, but possibly the
threat NAV not he carried out. No oppor-
tunitv will be lost, however, to throw OBJ
StaclcS in the way and to increase what
ever dissatisfaction NAV prevail through
out the country in consequence. Cnhouht-
edly considerable time will be consumed
in the discussion of Ale subject and if the
appropriation asked by the Treasury De
partment should ultimately be given in all
probability it will not be available until
some time after the new year.
The circular of regulation on the income
tax, just issued by the Treasury Depart
ment is exceedingly elaborate and com
prehensive. 1t would appear to he very
difficult on the face of this document for
any one liable to the tax to escape its
searchin" inquiries without blank. down
right perjury. Yet under the shadow of
the Capitol and the treasury moneycd men
and men who pass for honorable men con
stantly make use of the expression, They
will get nothing out of me. The advo-
Gates of an income tax argue always with
much earnestness, that it is the most Just
and equable of all taxes. Their arguments
make not the slightest impression upon
those who are personally interested nor
does it seem to count for anything with
them that the income tax in Great Britain
and other European countries is reco~-
nized and permanent feature of the fiscal
system and acqGiesccd in without com
plant or rcmonStrancc. 1t may be that
the idea is so unpopular in the United
States because the people of this republic
have had :" little experience with what is
designated as inqu>torial taxation.
At any rate it needs no prophet to fore
tel! that the income-taX gathcrers of the
government are going to have a hard road
to travel. ''Jordan' won't be Il circum-
stance to it. During our civil war when
the sword of the soldier hung only by Il
thread over the head of the citizen, and
when popular rights were at times almost
submerged in the swell of military power
muttcringS both loud and deep greeted
the imposition of the income tax. In one
year it Welded above $4,000, 600. but no
one doubted if the provisions of the law
had been possible OF strict enforcement.
the amount would have been double. All
those familiar with such matters will re-
member after the tax was lifted that multi
tudr> who would bitterly resent any as
pcrSion upon their honor and integrity.
boosted they had never paid any taX
There will be no sword or muSkcl behind
the incomc-taN ~athcrer this time, and
though he may bear the shield of the
government as his authority and his pro-
tcctor. and though he may hrstlc aloft
the schedule of penalties there will he no
terror in his eye or menace in his voice
When the taxpayers hear LEGISLATORS and
statesmen rise in their official places dc
nouncc and dcridc Il law in the terms in
which the income tax has been >ti~matizcd
he is not apt t" hav" much reverence for
it or much fear of the consequences of
violation
1t has been announced that when
the question of appropriations Cor the
proper enforcement of the law comes
up in the Senate motions will be
pressed to repeal the tax. No such
motion can prevail, and the tax is bound
10 remain on the >tatutc-hnokS under any
for Il wear. According to
its provisions. every enc liable to the tax
must make up a return and hand it to the
GOV crnmcnt officials not later than March J. |
Ii Will be very interesting to note how |
MANY do this \ wcilknDwn opponent |
If the fax declared this evening his belief |
hat nothing like ten million dollars would |
II could Toe collected in 1893. and that
not one man in ten who was amcnahlr to |
he the would make any return unless in
he improbable event Of some practical
method hcin" di>cuNrrrdto compel him 10
,ay il,