The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-07-13

ratler 10 indicate IeW OF the ways III
which he may be doing injustice to
him. The subject of taxation is an ever
present one. 1t is an admitted PROPOSE
ton that each citizen should contribute
to the support of his Government in
proportion TO the protection enjoyed by
him and the benefits received.
'If. because a bad system of taxation
or because of faulty administration OF
a good system, taxes are collected in
such way that some pay more than
their share and others less, injustice
is done to those overburdened and par
tiality shown to those too lightly taxed.
IF the unjust law is the handiwork
of those who profit by it and is enact
ed because of the advantage which 1t
brings to its authors, how shall we de-
scribe the moral character Of the act:
The wrong consists in the fact that
money is taken from one person with
out an equivalent being returned by
the Government and given to another
without consideration being demand
ed. the method being lmmaterial.
"The person who robs by force or
fraud is no more guilty from moral
standpoint than the man who purpose
ly secures legislation which transfers
to the shoulders of others the public
burden which he himself ought to bear.
THE advocates of an income tax be-
lieve that taxation involves moral as
we'll as political question, and, be-
lleving in equality before the law. they
favor an amendment to the Constitu-
ton specifically authorizing an income
tax Can the opponents OF such an
amendment place their opposition upon
moral grounds?
Honest differences of opinion as to
the merits of any proposed financial
policy are to be expected, but there
ought TO be no differences of opinion
as to the ideal policy, toward the Sc
curing of which every effort should be
directed.
"rhe questions, What money Is
sound? and What dollar makes the
nearest approach to honesty? may af-
ford ground for dispute, but there
should be 10 dissent from the PROPOSE
ton that the best dollar, no matter
what system secures it, is the dollar
which is most stable in its purchasing
power. Absolute stability, If attain
able would give us an absolutely hon
est dollar, but such Il dollar has never
yet been devised.
'In money, as in other matters, we
strive for perfection, knowing that it
cannot be fully attained. Every fiuc-
tuation in the purchasing power of the
dollar Injuries someone. If dollar
rises in purchasing power 1T benefits
those who own money and those who
hold contracts payable in dollars, but
it Injuries those who owe money and
those who produce wealth.
"A dollar which falls in purchasing
power produces the opposite effect. To
increase the number of dollars called
for in contract would not be tolerated
for Il moment; to increase the purchas
ing power of the dollar, however, has
exactly the same effect. The purchas-
ing power of Il dollar may be changed
by legislation For instance, other
things being equal, legislation which
lessons the volume of standard money
Increases the value of each dollar.
President Mckinley Quoted.
This idea was forcibly set forth by
Mr.. Mckinley in Il speech made in
Toledo, Ohio, in 1891. Speaking of Mr..
Cleveland's hostility to silver he said:
lie was determined to contract the cir
cula ting medium and demonetiZe one
of the coins of commerce, limit the vol
ume of money among the people, make
money scarce, and, therefore, dear. He
would have increased the value of
money and diminished the value of
everything else, money the master,
everything else the servant
'If legislation intended TO make
money scarce and therefore dear
makes money the master, and every
thing else the servant, can Christians
ignore the moral question involved?