The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-01-14
The Income Tax.

his dissenting opinion to the T0ajori-
tv of the court declaring the income
tax law unconstitutional when he
said
Il hope this decision will not
prove the first step toward the sub
morgcncc Of the liberties Of the PEG
pie in q sor,lid despotism of wealth"
Unlike the Democratic, the Repub-
! lean party has never been afraid OF
the responsibility of goVernmcnt,-
The improbable may happen in this
that the Republicans may inaugurato
legislation looking 10 the imposition
Of an income tax. Whichever party
effects the payment Of IN income tax
by appropriate Legislation will be en-
titled to the gratitude Of the Ameri-
can people.
The enormous expenditures Of the
Federal Government make It onerous,
oppressive and unjust to collect tho
expenses Of government by the i'm
position of taxes, Indirectly and in
the main, upon tie masses who are
the consumers ana the laborers and
the producers Of the wealth of the
country.
Il is a national wrong, 4 crime
against the people. to make them
pay well nigh all tbs expenses Of the
Federal Government while boarded
capital and accumulated wealth and
property in the hands of individuals,
corporations, trusts and monopoies
90 untaxed for the support Of the
government that protects them in the
eniovment Of their riches and priv
leges.
The United States is the only civ
ilized country where wealth and
property are not taxed for the sup
port of government. That taxation
shall be uniform ard according to
value ano that every citizen shall pay
according to his properly or his abil-
ity to pay them are elementary prin-
ciples in reference to taxation in
every civilized community and gov
eminent throughout the world.
The law OF taxation in every State
Of the Union is to tax property &C
corling to value. It is the law in
3 every town, city, county and State.
, 1t is equitable that every man should
,. be taxed according to his property
. But when it comes to the support O:
j., the Federal Government all the Just
and honest conditions OF taxation are
reversed. The wealth of the country
is exempt and the burdens Of govern
\ ment fall opon the shoulders of Tx
people who ore already overburdenei
!. and pressed down with debt. Justice
J. will never be done to the people wh'
= labor in every calling and in ever,
4 field, where skill, muscle or brain i
: used to make living, until the in
= comes derived from wealth, propert
If or occupation are taxed for the sup
v port of the general government.
IS Justice Brown is correct. He i
not an alarm;st. Tie great DANCE
IF that confronts our country at thi
IL time comes from "the sor1id despot
Is ism of wealth" The rights of th
20 plain people in the vital matter Q
is taxation are ignored and they al
10 made to bear the burdens of supper,
is ing the most costly and extravagan
er government on earth. TO oEemr
it wealth and property and to tax labo
al and its products indirectly for tn
IL support Of government is the mos
d unjust and oppressive system of ia,
alton ever devised by cupidity, cur
:e ming aud avarice,
e To Cypress and rob the millions {
10 Honest and Industrious people q
rs over the Union ard TO exempt II
Of few who own and control the wealt
e and property of the country are tt