Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-08-26
WHO PAYS THE WAR REVENUE?

Last Saturdays Topeka Capital contains
labored editorial in which the writer endeavors
to show that only the rich men are paying the
war revenue. Here is portion of the article;
In making up the war revenue schedule con-
press was looking out for the man ''who labors
with his hands" all the time and in every
schedule and article taxed. The tobacco and
beer taxes are the only ones in the war act that
seriously affect the masses OF the people, and
these articles of common consumption were
taxed because they are easily reached and have
always been regarded as Legitimate subjects OF
emergency taxation. Apart from these sub
iects, what war taxes does he 'who labors with
his hands pay? Not the tax on telegraph
messages; nor that on bills of ading; nor on
bank checks, drafts and powers of attorney; nor
on registration of mortgages; nor on transfers
on the exchanges and boards OF trade; nor on
express business The bulk OF the war taxes
are on these articles and operations and on the
exchanges and on the sugar and oil trusts.
Where the poor man pays dollar the rich and
the corporations pay thousands. 1t was the de-
lberate purpose of congress to tax the rich and
let off the poor ,and it succeeded so far as 1t is
possible tor such purpose to succeed.
Replying to the above, we can do no better
than to quote part of letter written by Eye
Miller, of De Soto, Kas., to the Butler, Mo, ,.
Free Press:
1t is hot day as the saleslady hurries home
to her garret, and she INDUCES in glass OF
ginger ale or soda water that has paid reve-
nue. tax of onecent per pint at the elegent and
sumptuous rooms of the club house. MI. Seeley
Harper calls for gas. of champaigne that has
been taxed two cents per pint. Pierre Lori
lards 5000 workmen find that tobacco has
raised in price to them because of the war tax,
and that the plebeian beer has suffered siini-
liar rise. The sewing girls engaged on year
ly contract for army clothing find that each
fve-cent package of chewing gum is taxed one
cent. But Mr.. Ikelheimer the contractor, as
he invests the proceeds of his fat contract in
Western Union or Metropolitan Elevated, pays
a tax of two cents on each one hundred dollar
share of stock.
The woman who scrubs out Mr. Gould'y
office draws check of two dollars on the saw
inps bank to pay her rent, and is taxed one
cent for revenue stamp. George Gould draws
a check for $2s for season box ticket at the
opera, on which he is taxed two cents-only
little discrimination of 600 to 1. But, then,
Gould's property must be protected. The
scrub woman has no property to speak Of but
is creator of wealth
The little peanut and cigar vendor on the
corner, who sells about one hundred dollars
worth year, comes i'll for tax Of 81 on each
$40 sale of tobacco. The grocery man across
the way who sells perhaps $500 worth year,
is taxed o5 cents for each $2o worth of grocer
les, while the big dealer on Main street, whose
sales are perhaps $40, 900 a year and more,
pays FIVE cents on each $40 worth of sales.
The big combines don't get i'll their work On
little fellows here. Oh, no! Wonder if they
all vote the same ticket?
A farmer gives his note for ten dollars for Il.
harrow, and the stamp thereon costs him ONE
cent Letter borrows $4,000 to pay margins.
on wheat, aud the stamps OIL his notes cost two
mills for each ten dolars-a little matter of S
to one But if Letter & Co. were not protected,
how could the people get wheat for bread!
Letter draws on his agent i'll London, and his
tax is Que cent on every $75. pll bet the tar
mer votes the same ticket for the same COLI
grcssinai.
Phil Armor's boot-black makes deposit of
one dollar in Phil's savings bank, and puts a
one-cent stamp upon his certificate of deposit.
Phil makes the deposit in Cages First National
bank of the draft for his big government con-
tract. He pays one cent tor each one thousand
dollars
A Michigan farmer up in the traverse region
charters 3oo-ton schooner to carry his crop
of potatoes to Chicago, and pays a, tax OF S4.
Letters charter OF 3,ooo-ton whae-back cost
him $40 dollars. Only to against the far
mer in favor of the exchange gambler.
The farmers son buvs little tract
of land on which to make start in life, and