Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-08-17
TAXATION.
A Non Political View Of the Case,
From a Purely Moral Standpoint.

true tne DuTueu ldllS Ol lue MANY VIII
have but little and that little is in
sight-on the few who have great
wealth and millions on millions of it
hidden.
We have evidence of this from all
over the country. In New Bedford,
where the 5000 weavers struck in jan
uary because of reduction in their pit
iful wages Ga sad illustration of
mans inhumanity to man. a presi-
dent of oneof the mills, considered the
richest man in the city, was receiving
$4,000 salary and only listed $35,350
personal property Qess than years
wages) and $9,400 of realty. His
holding in several mills and enter
prises do not appear on the record.
In New York and Pennsylvania mill
lions of dollars are revealed by pro-
bated wills that had not been taxed.
In St. Louis, street railway property
and franchises said to be worth $685.
100000 were assessed at S5,144,770,
while gas property and franchises
worth s15,125 900, at $S5O,OOO.
Mr.. Harrison, in his address at Chic
ago last February, said: Our whole
system of taxation is based upon the
doctrine that all should contribute to
the public in proportion to their
wealth, and yet the personal property
in which, with few exceptions, the
great fortunes of the country are in
vested is in large degree escaping
taxation. To check this evil there is
need, not only laws, but better moral
sense among well-to-do people.
IF there is not enough public vir-
tueleft in our communities to make tax
frauds discreditable; if we admit the
disgraceful conclusion that the state
of public and private morals has be-
come such in our country that the
wealthy may not be brought under the
law and compelled to yield it rever-
ence and obdience, have we not con-
fessed the failure of republican insti-
tutions?"
Yes, Mr.. Harrison, our republican
institutions are a failure. The Su-
preme Court of the United States has
so declared.
Recently the Government needed
more money to meet its expenses and
Congress enacted law to tax incomes
Great corporations with incomes of
millions and their presidents with SAL
aries from forty to seventy-fve thous-
and dollars year became alarmed. |
The States they feared Motif taxed |
in one they could flee to another, or
buy one or two. But this federal law |
would never do! 1t must be corrected |
and that quickly. The court in former
years had acted with moderation. But |
in this case it acted so quickly that |
one might infer in advance that it !!
would decide against the law. 1t |
could not wait for bonafide case, but |
it rushed to fictitious case connived |
by the parties. The veto of the court |
came promptly. These arbitrators of
the law by vote of four to FIVE decid-
ed against the settled Interpretation
of the Constitution and decreed that
the overgrown rich shall not be taxed.
Does this decree meet the readers ap-
probation? Can he see any iusctice
IN it? Chief Justice Taney and the
Dread Scot decision come to mind
Oh, The indignation of the north to
hat law
This tax decision is monstrous
lurt and insult to the middle and la
'orins classes. These people are the
four country. They do
he work and produce the wealth and
hen are robbed of their share. the
ich reap the benefit of their labor and
njoy the comforts Of civilization and
protection and the government re
ieves them of their greater obliga-
ions.
For Satanic cruelty and lack of pity
his late decree of the court is supreme
t surpasses the Dread Scot decision.
The conditions Of our country, the rep
!tatlon of our government We're disre-
,arded. Esteem for the fundamental
principles CT our institutions are hid
len in shame. Gold-gold of the cor
'orations was behind that decision.
judge is not more than a man.
'hrist was the only man without sin.
Today gold is the greatest power on
arth, Who can stand before it?
Article l, Sec 2, Clause 8, Constitu-
ion. Direct taxes shall be appor-
Toned among the several states, ac-
ording to their respective numbers.**
1t can be seen that it is impossible
or direct tax to reach incomes. And
urther the trainers of the Constitu-
ion understood and intended that the
My direct taxes were taxes on real
roperty and capitation, and the Su-
rene Court in 1861 decided that an
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