The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-05
Loads @ N0rGh Gar@ma DaE@@ 6m Both News and @5r@uaG0m

and that incomes under 900 marks
were exempt, while the tax ranged from
less than l per cent to about per cent
on larger incomes.
In Austria the income tax had been
in operation about thirty years. Incomes
under $113 were exempt, while the rate
ranged from 8 per cent up to 20 per cent
On larger incomes. l found that in Italy
incomes under $7720 were exempt, while
the rate ran as high as f3 per cent on
some incomes. In the Netherlands the in
come tax had been in operation since
1892 At the time investigation was made
incomes under $3.50 were exempt, and
the tax ranged from per cent to 1-5
per cent on incomes over that sum. In
Zurich, Switzerland, the income tax had
been in operation for more than half
century. At the time investigation was
made incomes under 500 were exempt,
and the rate on larger incomes varied
from l per cent to per cent. In Eng
land the rate for 1892 was a little more
than per cent upon incomes above ST.
coo, and a little less upon incomes under
$4,000 All incomes under $3.50 were ex-
empt
For nearly ten years during and after
the civil war an income tax ranging from
212 per cent to 10 per cent was collect
ed in this country. Exemptions ranged
from $500 to $4,000
Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, was
opposed to the repeal of these taxes, and
in the course of a speech said: THE
Senator from New York and the Senator
from Massachusetts have led off in de-
claring against the income tax. They
have declared it to be invidious. Well,
sir, all taxes are invidious. They think
it is inquisitorial. Well, sir, there never
was tax in the world that was not in
quisitorial. The least inquisitorial of all
is the income tax. There never
was so just a tax levied as the income
tax"
Senator Morton, of Indiana, in opposing
the repeal of the tax, said: The income
tax is, of all others, the most equitable
because it is the truest measure that has
yet been found of the productive prop
erty of the country"
Senator Howe said: There is not a
tax on the books SO little felt so abso-
lutely unfelt in the payment OF it, as
this income tax by the possessors of the
great fortunes upon which it falls. There
is not a poor man in this country, not a
laborer in this country, but contri-
butes mores than 3, more than 10, more
than 20 per cent of all his earnings to
the Treasury of the United States under
those very laws against which l am OBJ
jecting, and now we are invited to in
crease their contributions and to release
these trifling contributions which we
have been receiving from income5 here
tcforc."
But in spite of these protests the tax
was repealed and during the years that
followed the Government has continued
this discrimination in favor of the rich
and against the poor. Why? Because
wealth has been assuming a larger and
larger share in the control of the Gov
ernment and the rights of the masses
have been less and less considered. A
tax system which overburdens some and
lightly burdens others is larceny by law;
it is an indirect means by which one
mans money is transferred to another
mans pocket. In 1896 those who OBJ
jected to an income tax, instead of argu-
ing against the righteousness of the law,
shielded themselves behind the decision
of the Supreme Court and asserted that
discussion of the tax was an assault upon
the honor of the court.
At present the Government can draft
the citizen, but cannot draft the pocket
book. Slowly but surely the dollar is be-
ing exalted and the man debased Justice
in taxation must be restored
The sentiment prevailing among those
who advocate an income tax justifes the
prediction that the Democrats, Populists
and Silver Republicans will in their
next campaign advocate an amendment
to the Constitution specifically authoriz-
ing an income tax, and no one who has
faith in the final triumph of every right
Gus cause will doubt the ultimate sue
cess of the effort to make an income
tax a permanent part of the revenue
system of the Federal Government.
w. J. BRYAN.