Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-24
surrendering this option to holders Of gov
eminent obligations.
Income Txx.

kOt-
eminent obligations
Income Tax.
Seventh. We demand graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear it's just proportion Qf taxation, and
we denounce the recent decision Of the Su-
preme Court in regard to the income tax
law a misinterpretation of the Constitu-
ton and an invasion Of the'rightful powers
of Congress over the subject of taxation
Eighth. We demand that postal savings be
established by the government for the safe
deposit OF the savings OF the people and to
facilitate exchange. u
Land.
A true policy demands that the national
and state legislation shall be such as will
ultimately enable every prudent and indus
trious man to own home. and, therefore,
the land should not be monopo!ized fer
speculative purposes. All agricultural and
grazing lands now held by railroad corpora
tions In excess Of their actual need should,
by lawful means, be reclaimed by the gov
eminent and held for actual settlers only,
and private land monopoly should be pre-
vented by appropriate state and national
legislation.
We condemn the fraudulent land grants of
the Pacific Railroad Companies, through the.
connivance of the Interior Department
which have robbed multitudes of actual and
bona fide settlers Of their homes and miners
or their claims and we demand legislation by
Congress which will enforce the exception
of mineral land from such grants after. as
we'll as before. patent.
Direct Legislation.
We hold that all governments derive their
just powers from the consent Of the gov
erned. and. in order that the consent of the
governed may be clearly ascertained we
favor direct legislation under proper con-
stltutional safeguards, so that per cent
age or the citizens shall have the right of
initiating, framing and preparing laws. and
OF compelling the submission thereof and
or all important laws whether PROPOSED by
national. state or local legislatures 10 a
direct vote of the people for their approval
or rejection.
transportation.
transportation being means of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment SHOULD own and operate the railroads
IN the interest Of the people, to the end
mat all men may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation, and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised
by the great corporations, which result In
me Impairment II not the destruction OF
the political rights and personal liberty Of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
sf!p Is to be accomph shed gradually in a
manner consistent with sound public policy
The interest of the United States in the
ard the proceeds Of extensive grants of
land, known as the Pacific railroads, should
never be ahenated, mortgaged Sold but
guarded and protected for the general well
fare as provided by the laws organizing
said Pacinc railroads. The foreclosure CT
the suosisting liens of the United States on
these roads should at once follow default in
The payment thereof by the debtor COM
panieS. and that on the foreclosure of said
roads, the government shall purchase the
same, II 1t becomes necessary to protect It's
interests therein, If the same can be
purchased at a reasonable price, and the
government shall operate said railroads as
public highways for the benefit of the whole
people, and not in the interest of the few,
Gndcr suitable provisions for protection of
life and property. giving to all transporta-
ton interests equal privileges and equal
:ates for fares and fre:ghts.
We denoun the present infamous
schemes for refunding those debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto
be executed and administered according TO
their true intent and spirit
The telegraph, like the post Office system.
being a necessity for the transmission of
news, should be owned and operated by the
government in the interest OF the people.