The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-10

Olfecc Taxation illustrated
and Its Practical Operation Shown
The System Would Pay the War Debt
Without Bonds.
Special Correspondence of The Progressive Far
CHAPTER IL.
There are some who favor q grad
uRted system Of taxation who have not
the time to study out it's operation so
as to explain it to others who have
never given it enough investigation to
understand its~The system is not q
make shift" political policy, like
some OF the old party platforms; but
it is a complete revolution in taxation
principle as compared with the present
modes which now rests the burden of
tax most heavily on industrial people
and most lightly on the accommodations
of wealth.
Its purpose is to everse this order
and to cause the large aggregesions of
wealth to bear the heavier end of the
burden because they are more able to
bear it, and because it will give indus
trial people more liberty and encour-
sgement.
To use the idea of Thomas Jefferson
as given in his letters to Joseph Madi
son from France, when advocating
graduated taxation, the rate, or per
centum of tax was to be graded as we'll
as the property to be taxed Sin geo.
metrical progression as they rise"
This graduation must not be 80 ad
justed as that the maximum Of tax will
~confscate any part Of large fortunes
belonging to the rich, o yet 80 as to
allow properties in the hands Of indus.
trial people to escape the minimum Of
tax.
Equity in application to all the peo-
pie, must prevail and the payment OF
a just tax according to the ability Of
each person to pay, is a patriotic duty
that rests upon all.
To illustrate clearly, I will allow that
the geometrical steps Of increase in the
value of property above 800, be fixed
at 800, and the geometrical increase
in the rate per centum be fixed at one
thousandth of one per cent. First
providing that the first hundred dol
lars OF less that any person has shall
pay 10 cents only.
Thus the system will appear as fol
lows:
First 800 will pay 10 cents.
Second 800 at 2-1,OOO of 1 per cent.
will pay 2 mills.
Third 800 at 81 600 Of L per cent.
will pay 8 mills.
Fourth 800 at + /, 900 Of 1 per cent.
will pay 4 mills.
Fifth 800 at $1,000 of 1 per cent.
will pay 5 mills.
Sixth 800 at 6 1000 of 1 per cent.
will pay 6 mills.
Seventh 800 at II, 900 of 1 per cent.
will pay 2 mills.
Eighth 800 at 81, 900 of 1 per cent.
will pay s mills.
Ninth 800 at 81, 900 of 1 per cent.
will pay 9 mills.
Tenth S1OO aG 1U-lUOO or / per cent.
will pay 1 cent.
Thus the first 81, 900 possessed will
pay IA and 4-1Oc.
Eleventh 500 at 11-1OO of 1 per cent.
will pay 1 cent 1 mill.
Twelfth 800 at IL 1000 Of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 2 mills.
Thirteenth 500 al $4,000 of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 8 mills.
Fourteenth 800 at IA 1 600 Of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 4 mills.
Fifteenth at 800 1871 600 Of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 8 mills.
Sixteenth 800 at 1871 900 of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 6 mills.
Seventeenth 800 at 17-1OO of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 2 mills.
Eighteenth 500 at 1871 600 of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 cent 8 mills
Nineteenth 500 at 1871, 600 of 1 per
cent. will pay 1 CEN 9 mills.
Twentieth 500 at 20 1000 of 1 per
cent will pay 2 cents.
Thus the second 81, 600 possesse ed will
pay 10 5-1Oc. Continuing the tables
on the same ratio we find that the
third 81, 900 will pay %. Sc, and that
the first SO, 600 will pay s. Is 8, and
that the first 800, 900 will pay 1886 40 8
The above will show the graduated
principle of the system and those who
wish can follow it up to fpd the tax
that estates valued in the millions
would pay and they will find that il
will be a complete check to the eEor
nous aggregations of millionaires. II
applied to great combined corporation