Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-10-20
CHAMP aAM'S LETTER
Why Democrats Favor an
Income Tax.

Income Tax.
BURDEN ON WEALTH
Republicans Levy on the Con-
sumner.
VARIOUS METHODS OF TAXATION.
Thsre In Ne Perfect System, but Fore
most Thinkers Agree That n Tax
on Incomes Approaches the Ideal.
Internal and Tariff Revenues-Ad-
ana Smiths Principle.
Il will be remembered by students of
current events that the Democrats of
the house offered as a substitute to q
portion Of the IA revenue bill q propo-
sition for an income tax. The answer
to this ON the part Of the Republicans
was that we were proposing to 60 to
war on o lawsuit, forgetful Of the fact
that for q century Of q existence as a
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 sesorted to an income tax. The
strange new doctrine enunciated by a
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,
n Abraham Lincoln loved to call them.
We propose to lay a tax upon the
wealth Of the country. The Republicans
chose to levy it on consumption. For
this we have been charged with q lack
Of patriotism by the plutocrats and their
supple tools. Upon this issue we are
perfectly willing to appeal to u coun.
trymen, certain Of their favorable judg-
menk.
I Tho income tax feature was more
~elabosats,y discussed by Hon. William
q. Fleming of Georgia than by any 9TH
er member on either side Of the house.
Georgia has a splendid delegation in
the house, and Fleming is n of the
most prominent new members. He is a
profound student Of political economy,
Q forceful, logical speaker and has had
considerable parliamentary experience,
having served repeatedly in the Georgia
leeislature 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 a sub
stantial and valuable contribution to
the philosophic and political literature
| o1 this age, could be given. I have
room here only for certain extracts.
Under the head Of methods Of Taxa.
! son'' he said: .,
Function of Taxation.
"There 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 thar
the function of levying taxes. Unlimit'
cd power to tax Is power to build up, tt
pull down, to create, todestroy. Viewed
from the standpoint Of the tax take,
there arc two radically different meth
DDS Of getting taxes from the people
One method is to proceed by indirectior
and go levy the tax that those who &C
tually pay it do not exactly know how
or when they pay it OF what precis'
sum they pay.
"sThe other method is to come openl.
to the citizen, inform him what hi
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 q basis Of hostility between tina
governing power and the people. Their
In o certain facility and convenience at
landing the operation Of q system whicl
reaches the pocket unawares. But whel
the people fully realize that this sup
posed advantage becomes the fruitful
source Of public extravaganza, which il
turn speedily begets public corruption
they win conclude that it would be bet
tsr for the citizen and better for tn
nation 10 have less ease and indirectio
In payment and more economy and hon
esty in expenditure.
"Whatever may be the expedients {
which the despot may have to resort
rot in q free republic, where the peopl
choose and own the government, til
more open and immediate the tax cor
tribution the more rational the syster
Of taxation. Every citizen should ne
only bear his due share Of the publ
burden, but he should know that he
bearing 80 and should feel it and sens
, bly, appreciate an increase or decreai
Of weight. He should recognize the fat
that the government renders him
service and that he owes q return SER
foo to the government. Least Of a
should be shirk his Just obligation, an
thus make heavier the burden OF SON
other citizen.
"As the masses become better ed
Gated 10 their rights, and as they di
& cover the disguised forms under whiG
!, the inequalities of taxation are foistt
upon them and perpetuated to their di
q advantage, they will demand q chang
Il That demand will grow louder M
louder the longer justice is denied. A
ready and in comparatively recent yea
great progress has been made in mo
d ciyilixed countries toward more equit
II bio and scientific methods Of taxati'
based on the higher social ethics"
Ihave read q good. deal Of polite
economy in my time from Adam Smi
10 Henry George, both inclusive, but
q have never seen a clearer statement an
d. where than the foregoing passage as
n. "metho6a Of t~axation"-a subj
greatly misunderstood and about viii
'e Hen. Msyhall Dead.
h. VANpArIA, NO., October I'm,
nd Mayhall, associate editor of the ID
and Espress, Of this place, died 90
denly this afternoon, presumably
b heart failure. He resided with
sister, Mrs. 7. r. Dodge, and left I
ID printing ofice ut noon for home, to
dinner and retired to his room 70
nap. He was found dead two hol
u later. He was well known in
- newspaper fraternity. BE forme
n edited o paper at Montgomery OF
10 Mo; established the Rails Coui
N Record ct New London, but siI
Of January has worked here. He wa