Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-08-17

high as IL per cent on some Incomes
In the Netherlands the income tax had
been in operation since 1923. At the
time investigation was made incomes
under $500 were exempt, and the tax
ranged from per cent to 8 Id 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 investiga-
ton was made incomes under $1OO
were exempt, and the rate on larger
incomes varied from l per cent to .
per cent. In England the rate for
1892 was little more than per cent
upon incomes above $4,000, and little
less upon incomes under $4,000. All
incomes under $3.50 were exempt.
For nearly ten years during and
after the civil war an income tax
ranging from 21-2 per cent to 10 per
cent was collected in this country.
Exemptions ranged from 5000 to
$4,000.
Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, was
opposed to the repeal of these taxes,
and in the course of speech said:
1.-THE Senator from New York and the
Senator from Massachusetts have led
off in declaring 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 a tax in the world that
was not inquisitorial. The least in
quisitorial of all is the income tax.
There never was so just tax
levied as the income tax. There Is
no objection that can be urged against
the income tax that | cannot point to
in every tax. Writers on political
economy, as we'll as our own senti-
ments of what is just and right, teach
us that man ought to pay taxes &C
cording to his income, and in no other
way" Senator Sherman pointed out
that at that time only twenty millions
were collected upon incomes, while the
food and clothing Of the people were
taxed three hundred millions.
Senator Morton, of Indiana, in op-
posing the repeal of the tax, said:
1.-The income tax is, of all others. the
most equitable because it is the truest
measure that has yet been found OF
the productive property of the coun-
try"
Senator Howe said: There is not
a tax on the books so little felt, so alb
solutely unfelt in the payment OF 1t,
as this income tax by the possessors
of great fortunes upon which 1t falls.
There is not a poor man in this coun-
try, not laborer in this country, but
what contributes more than 8, 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 Directing, and now
we are invited to increase their con-
tributions and to release these trifling
contributions which We have been re-
ceiving from incomes heretofore"
But in spite of these protests the tax
was repealed, and during the years
that have 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 Government, and the rights of
the masses have been less and less
considered. A tax system which over
burdens some and lightly burdens 9TH
ers is larceny by law; it is an indirect
means by which one mans money is
transferred to another mans pocket.
In 1896 those who objected to an in
come tax, instead Of arguing against
the righteousness of the law, shielded
themselves behind the decision OF the
Supreme Court and asserted that any
discussion of the fax was an assault
upon the honor of the court.
At present the Government can draft
the citizen, but cannot draft the
pocketbook Slowly but surely the
dollar is being exalted and the man
debased. Justice in taxation must be
restored.
The sentiment prevailing among
those who advocate an income tax
justifies the prediction that the Demo-
Gratis, Populists and Silver Republicans
will in their next campaign advocate
an amendment to the Constitution
specifically authorizing the income tax
and no one who has faith in the final
triumph of every righteous cause will
doubt the ultimate success of the eff
fort to make an income tax perma-
nent part of the revenue system of the
Federal Government.-W. ]. Bryan in
Chicago American.
EXPORTS TO PHILIPPINES.