Washington sentinel., 1899-02-25

necessary for any class Of our peo-
pie to assume.
And when It is considered that
luxuries are most readily and
equitably subject to taxation, IT is
not to be forgotten that the poor
mans luxury--his glass Of beer
is already subjected to heavy tax
the poor have given up their share
first: it is now but fitting that those
who live on the tat of the land,
wear fine linens and drink high
wines, should be asked to contrib
ute their share.
On his wav home the poor lab
orer gets qaart OF beer in his din
ner pail to provide little luxury
for his family at the evening meal;
in paying his FIVE cents tor that
beer, he gives tribute to the Gov
ernment in the sum OF about two
cents. Surely no more could be
asked OF a man whose only table
luxury is represented by an outlay
Of hve cents!
The millionaire takes with his
dinner a quart bottle OF champagne
costing $3.50, and in so doing pays
tribute to the Government IN the
sum oil two centsl
For once the poor are on level
with the rich, and the latter have
no objection to urge, for they never
object to the poor man PAYNE all
the taxes that can be heaped upon
him.
The millionaire, more able to
pay So to S. for quart bottle OF
wine than is the poor man TO pay
FIVE cents for a quart Of beer, is
only an equal taxpayer in making
hispurchase; were the burden pro-
poTtionate. there would be an
awful howl set up by the wealthy,
but it would be no greater burden
to him thar it is to the poor devil
whose only table luxury for him
self and family is growler Of beer.
II the war tax were placed upon
champagne in the same proportion
as upon beer-say at one and one
half cents per quart, the beer tax
representing about one third the
selling price - the tax stamp on a
quart bottle Of the rich mans beV-
erage, ,champagne,wou represent
a tribute to the government of
from 81 to SI.as instead Of two
cents as at present.
The tax paid upon wines, both
domestic and imported, is outrage
ously insignificant when compared
with that paid upon other alcoholic
beverages.
There are imported into the
United States, each year, upward OF
I6, 600, 900 quarts OF champagne,
and still wines in bottles and casks.
Regardless of the fact that in some
localities a large quantity Of our
American made wine is consumed
by people in ordinary circumstan-
ces, it is doubtless true that this
10, ,ooo, 900 quarts is almost exclu-
sively consumed by the wealthiest
people in the land. Inasmuch as
the people who consume it are
amply able to pay taxes upon lux
uries at the same rate that the poor
laburing people are, and, consistent
with the administration policy of
protection to home industry, would
not a war tax Of at least so cents
per quart upon this imported wine
be iustihable and expedlentp
The people who buy this wine
will have it regardless Of expense,
and in paying an advance OF SO
cents per quart they will be paying
war tax at only one-halt the rate
that the poor, plebian beer drinker
pays when he gives up cents for
beer and cents for tax in buying
quart Of the wholesome beverage
for his evening meal.
Surely, patriotism among the
aristocratic champagne drinkers is
not at so low an ebb that they |
would object to paying halfthe war
tax that the most common Of their
fellow citizens pays!
Let there be an equalizing OF the
burden if there is to be an increase,
or, il there is not to be an increase,
an equalization would not be bad
thing at any rate.
-R~&-
MIles's Offeuss.