Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-03-16
So Declares Ex-senator Mushbach,
Of AIexandria---If Enforced 1t
Will Catch the Tax Dodgers and
Reduce Taxes on Real Estate.

0Aon oiii IL concerneQ, approve OF
most heartily. It is directly in the lir
OF the just policy of compelling th
personality tax dodger to take upo
his shoulders his proper proportion G
the burden of taxation. If he coul
be made to do 80 the rate of tax o
houses and lands could be reduce
more than so per cent. Real estat
carries vastly more than its fair shar
OF the burden, because it lies in tn
full glare of the sun, visible to th
naked eye of the assessorand the collec
tor, and cannot be hidden; but incomes
stocks, bonds. and the bulk of persona
property lie concealed between tn,
leaves OF calf-bound ledgers or in Goa
pockets and safe-deposit vaults wher,
the vision of the tax.gatherer nevel
penetrates. How many people in the
city of Alexandria today make even q
pretence of reporting any taxable in
come whatever ? Let the books of the
commissioner Of the revenue answer,
or will if l feel called upon to do it.
The answer would dumfound the town
because of the ridiculously small num-
Der who have owned up.
The bill is righteous one, it is a nec-
essary one, and it is Democratic one.
We all remember Tor have we forgot
en?) the howl that pierced the skies
from Democratic throats when the
partisan U. S. Supreme Court few
short years ago nullified the income
tax law, and we also remember Tor
have we forgotten ?? how that great
party when it met in convention in
Chicago on July 7th. 1896, adopted the
following as portion of its platform
of principles:
Until the money question is settled
we are opposed to any agitation for
further changes in our tariff laws, ex-
cept such as are necessary to make up
the deficit in revenue caused by the
adverse decision of the Supreme Court
on the income tax. But for this deci-
sion OF the Supreme Court there would
be no deficit in the revenue under the
laws passed by a Democratic Congress
in strict pursuance of the uniform de-
cision of that court for one hundred
years. that court having sustained con-
stitutional objections to its enactment,
which have been overruled by the ablest
judges who ever sat on that bench.
We declare that it is the duty of Con-
gress to use all the constitutional DOW
er which remains after that decision,
or which may come from its reversal
by the court as it may hereafter be
constituted, so that the burdens of
taxation may be equally and impair
TALLY laid, to the end that wealth may
bear its due proportion of the expenses
of the government.
Is it possible that our then advocacy
OF an income tax was based on no
holier or loftier thought then that the |
chief sufferers under what we are now
pleased to term its inlquitous propoai- |
lions. would be the rich Republicans of |
The North, and that our opposition to |
1t is because it catches our prosperous
Virginia Democrats ? Perish the ig-
noble thought. If the principle of taxa
ton Of secret incomes in the United
States was right in A. D. 1896, when |
We all voted for it, it is right in Vir-
ginia in A. D. 1900, and no one can
sainsay that statement. The question |
as to whose OK is gored does not vary
the principle.
But, it is said, the application of the |
law is inquisitorial and it is forcible |
in its operations and it creates horde |
Of officeholders. Granted; but why is
1t that the application of little of the
rack.and.thumb.screw method of get
ting at your taxable incomes and per-
sonalty and the employment of this
horde of of1ceholders Is necessary and |
unavoidable? Simply because Of the
criminal and unpatriotic and unfair.
to-ycur-neighb0r concealment of and
to report the property which |
you possess, and which is just as pro-
perly taxable as is your neighbours
modest little dwelling which, unfortu-
nately for him, has tho quality OF being
visible.
Try for a novelty the plan of making
! fair report of your income and stocks
and bonds, ETC.; be honest from princi-
pie and not from compulsion, and this
horde of inquisitorial office holders
will pass away as fits the shade across
the summer field. They would be as
a. policeman in heaven.
OF course this measure is unpopular
in certain quarters. Any measure de-
signed to secure equality, equity and
uniformity In the obligation to pay
taxes and to bring to book those who
have enjoyed immunity in the past,
must be 80.
Its kindred measure, the so-called
'land-grabber law, Tin the prepara-
lion of which am proud to admit l
assisted as one of subcommittee,
net with storm of opposition from
hose who for years had considered not
heir tax bills because they knew that
be then existing laws were insufficient
o compel them to pay; yet that law,
lespits all assaults, stands today rec
,gnized as a. Just. and reasonable Qp1 Z