The independent., 1903-06-04

OtdLeS, anu h TAX OF centS upon eV-
cry pound of sugar they consume is
I quite an unnecessary burden, amount
ing to millions of dollars annually TO.
the sugar trust. The same is true,
proportionately, of many other trusts.
Nearly every article of consumption
these millions of people are using
daily is thus taxed, portion of which
is going to the national government as
revenue, and the rest to foster mo-
nopoly. Such industries are paupers,
living by taxing the labor of others
OF these taxes upon consumption, tic
Wage-earners and farmers pay by far
the largest share. Yet, alas, they vote
for the party that upholds them. Let
them but make an attempt to repeal
these tariff taxes, by substituting
new system Of raising the national
revenue, one that would be just to
all, and there would go forth such a
wall from monopoly and from corrupt
politicians that should make them
known and understood of all men, be-
cause of their false cries of patriotism
and their hypocritical solicitude for
the dear wOrkingmen and farmers.
That same cry went up In England
when "the corn laws were repealed.
Stop, stop for heavens sake" cried
the partakers of the tariff, you'll
throw workingmen out of employ
ment. You'll lower wages" But
Golden knew better. and moreover.
the people of England knew better.
The laws were repealed, and wages
rose; the times became more prosper
GUS for the masses.
our tariff laws all favor class leg
islation Let justice be done to al
alike. Let the national revenue be
raised by small tax upon the value
OF the land of the nation. Such ;.
tax would fall heaviest upon those
monopolies that exist by virtue ot
their exclusive possession of exceed
ingly valuable land, such as mines,
oil wells, railroad, telegraph and telc.
phone, gas, street railway, and other
franchises.
Were the national government to
take possession of these industries,
such as the coal fields, they must
needs pay the present owners for
their property, in interest bearing
bonds, SO the coal barons would mere
ly exchange one form of wealth for
another form of wealth, no doubt,
selling their mines out to the govern
ment at a high valuation, and from
henceforth the people of the United |
States would have to be taxed to pay
the interest annually upon those
bonds, while the national government:
must perform the work of superln-
tending the coal industry. The coal
would merely be changed to
a coal bond monopoly.
No, the only way to destroy monop-
oily is to tax it out of existence. The |
power to tax is the strongest power III |
the hands of the people. Let then !
use it; but not abuse it. Treat all |
men alike, be they rich or poor. For |
example:
II a man owns land worth $40 per
acre, tax him upon that value only:
If man owns land worth $4,000 per
acre, or million dollars per acre, tax
him upon that value only; the result
would be that millionaires would then
be taxed as high in proportion to their
privileges, as are now the small
home-owners and the farmers. The
weight OF taxation would then be
shifted upon monopoly, there to re-
main. This tax should be so high as
to make all monopolies, at all times,
This reform in the system of taxa
ton would lift the entire burden of
taxes from all wealth that is engaged
IN producing more wealth, from mer-
chandise, stock, machinery, from ev-
cry tool of industry, from farm pro-
duce, cattle and growing crops.
Monopoly would be destroyed; pro.
iuction increased, and the share now
going to monopoly (or privilege) |
would go to government to defray ali
public expenses.
The subject of taxation is the most
important one now before the people, |
one that is likely to arouse this whole |
nation as it once did the people of
England in the days of Golden; and
france, just before the revolution.
This subject has had fresh light
thrown upon it by modern science,
and so this knowledge, when it is full
ly understood by the masses, Will
serve them to great advantage.
The people must learn that the right
and just principle in taxation is not
to tax man in proportion to his
wealth. but in Dronortiop to bic cna |