Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-10-13
CHAMP gARE'S LETTER
Why Democrats Favor an
Income Tax.
PLACES BURDEN ON WEALTH
Republicans Levy on the Con-
sumner.
PLACES BURDEN ON WEALTH
VARIOUS METHODS OF TAXATION.

VARIOUS METHODS OF TAXATION.
There Is No Perfect System. bur Fore
most Thinkers Agree That IA Tax
on Incomes Approaches the Ideal.
Internal and Tariff Revenues-Ad-
am Smiths Principle.
1t will be remembered by students of
current events that the Democrats of
the house offered as a substitute to
portion of the war revenue bill a propo-
sition for an income tax. The answer
to this on the part of the Republicans
was that we were proposing to go to
war on lawsuit. forgetful of the fact
that for century of our existence as
nation nobody seriously questioned the
constitutionality of an income tax and
that in all human probability the gov
eminent could not have raised money
enough to put down the rebellion if it
had not resorted to an income tax. The
strange new doctrine enunciated by
bare majority of the supreme court that
such law is unconstitutional appeals to
neither the patriotism nor the good
sense of the "plain people" of America.
as Abraham Lincoln loved to call them
We propose TO lay tax upon the
wealth of the country. The Republicans
chose to levy it on consumption. For
this we have been charged with lack
of patriotism by the plutocrats and their
supple tools. Upon this issue we are
perfectly willing to appeal to our coun-
trymen, certain of their favorable judg-
ment
The income tax feature was more
deliberately discussed by Hon. William
H. Fleming of Georgia than by any 9TH
or member on either side of the house.
Georgia has splendid delegation in
the house, and Fleming is one of the
most prominent new members. He is a
profound student of political economy,
forceful, logical speaker and has had
considerable parliamentary experience,
having served repeatedly in the Georgia
legislature and one term as speaker
thereof He will grow in prominence
constantly in the years to come. | wish
that his entire speech, as it is sub
stantial and valuable contribution to
the philosophio and political literature
of this age, could be given. I have
room here only for certain extracts.
Under the head of Methods of Taxa
ton" he said:
Function of Taxation.
'tThere is no governmental function
in the exercise of which it is more need
full to observe the rule of justice and
equality according to proportion than
the function of levying taxes. Unlimit-
ed power to tax is power to build up, to
pull down, to create, to destroy. Viewed
from the standpoint of the tax taker
there are two radically different meth
DDS of getting taxes from the people,
One method is to proceed by indireotion
and SO levy the tax that those who &C.
tually pay it do not exactly know how
or when they pay it or what precise
sum they pay.
1.-The other method is to come openly
to the citizen, inform him what his
share of the burden is and exact pay
ment. The first method is naturally pre-.
ferred by the governing power, where,
from the structure of the social fabric,
there is basis of hostility between that
governing power and the people. There
is certain facility and convenience at
tending the operation of system which
reaches the pocket unawares. But when
the people fully realize chat this sup
posed advantage becomes the fruitful
source of public extravaganza, which in
turn speedily begets public corruption,
they will conclude that it would be bet
ter for the citizen and better for the
nation to have less ease and indirection
in payment and more economy and hon
esty in expenditure.
Whatever may be the expedients to
which the despot may have to resort,
yet in free republic, where the people
choose and own the government, the
more open and immediate the tax con-
tribution the more rational the system
of taxation. Every citizen should not
only bear his due share of the public
burden, but he should know that he is
bearing it and should feel it and sensi-
bly, appreciate an increase or decrease
of weight. He should recognize the fact
that the government renders him
service and that he owes return serv-
ice to the government. Least of all
should he shirk his just obligation, and
thus make heavier the burden of some
other citizen.
As the masses become better edu-
Gated to their rights, and as they dis
cover the disguised forms under which
the inequalities of taxation are foisted
upon them and perpetuated to their dis
advantage. they will demand change.
That demand will grow louder and
louder the longer justice is denied. Al
ready and in comparatively recent years
great progress has been made in most
civilized countries toward more equita-
bic and scientific methods of taxation
based on the higher social ethics. =
have read good deal Of political
economy in my time from Adam Smith
to Henry George, both inclusive, but /
have never seen a clearer statement any
where than the foregoing passage as to
methods of taxation Ia subject
greatly misunderstood aud about which