The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-06

THE ExxnPT1ex Clause.

The sxemS..sn cause OF the revenue and
tnxatIou laws IL to be the sub. CT OF tu-
diclai determination. but the provision is
likely to BE- sustained. The courts have
yielded to the s~wing practise Of nls<Dng
exemptions from tsxasien and they are not
likely In this state to AXE q different
course.
II tie constitutional declare tons were
s;rIstIy interpr .ted. ~. exemption could
rot stand-no exemption would stand. II
= yicioas principle, and II grows as ons
Interest after another seinshly urges IL.
eome * those who supported the exemption
IN the legislature know that II is vicious
and unjust. but they believe the whole sys-
tenn OF taxation to be unjust and lnsqaita-
aie and justify this method of awakening
public attention.
That attention Il being aroused there Is
lated to an inquiry into the system OF taxa
ton. or at least the method OF It's applsca-
ton. IL IL shall be established that II Is as
unconstitutional to exempt the poor at the
expense OF the rich. as 10 exempt the rich
at the expense OF the poor. All men should
pay taxes. but IL taxes we're properly levied
and fairly assessed, they would be so light
that the poorest would not complain 1t Is
because OF the injustice and inequalities OF
the assessment and the collection that the
people seek by means OF the income tax
and the single tar 10 reach the intrenched
wealth which greedIly secretes itself and
let's the poor man with only hts business or
his home. his few hundred dollars Of In
vestment and his dearly paid improvements.
bear an unjust proportion.
IL Ii as notorious as IL II were acknowl-
edged that there are many miliionaires
who do not pay one-tenth OF the taxation
on their personal property that a man with
$3.50 worth has to pay. The disparity is
not felt In this state because men and their
means are better known to their neighbors
and to officials: but in the more dense.y
populated states. and especially In the
cities. the discrimination and favoritIsm
amount to an outrage on the people.
The best plan. under the system we have.
would have been TO require a minimum
amount OF taxation up to the figure OF the
proposed exemption. Graduation In taxes
Is OF very old and recognized authority
and since every man would be accorded
the same exemption there could be no claim
OF injustice.
Taxation has troubled statesmen since the
earliest days Of community existence. and
u has never yet been put into such form
ss to become popular. IL never will; we
shall be doing much II we succeed Ia max
log II equally distributed over an cltlz.nx
and classes without Expressing the very
poor or snriehlng the rieA.
Those who have little means win AWAY,
say that taxes should be se:d eat Of IN.
abundance OF thoSe who have much
Those who have acquired nrotsFty
viii always maintain that i, Is
destructive OF eli stimulus to en-
dcavor that only those who are thrifty
snail be taxed and that the thrift.ess shall
act or scot free. Those who have uapFo-
daetive lands will say that ne who, has an
income from his property Is IA a bett.r Do.
sition 10 pay taxes and s.ould he assessed
accordingly: ne who haa productive rroo-
sriy viii rstort that the land ewner has
the seneft OF the unearnod increment. and
that II he cannot set any res.sas trom his
iand he sh0sid sell 70 somebody Who vii.
oy cultivation or other use. yield 70 Caesar
the things that are Caesars
And each has some right on his side
The income tax and the single tax will
preeA-ay always be SO bitterly OF .,osed
that they have 10 chance 81 adoption. That
sFs'em VII oe most welcome ana most
oenenciaf which avoids extremes and makes
a fair and Impartial imposition o. a. un.
svoidasle consequence or civilization. with
taxes eaaiiah'y assessed ana economy prac-
sced. the grurnh.ias about taxation Won.
Re very much decreased Sad the revenue
weali Be very much Increased.