The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-10-18

and 1t was ascertained that the SOL
diers who had been concerned in the
sacking of the city had neglected to
dedicate the accustomed tenth to the
gods. The senate decreed that the
victorious leglons should make restitu-
tion and that a cup of gold Of eight
talents weight should be sent as a
trespass Offering to the Temple OF
Apollo at Delphi.
"The Roman ladies brought, of their
. own free will, such liberal gifts Of
jewels and gold that the Senate, to
honor them, decreed that funeral ora
tions might be made at the obsequies
Of women, which hitherto had only
been permitted over eminent public
men. This extraordinary episode
proves how rarely 1t happened that
tithes were not paid and how grievous
was the sin of omitting their payment.
The further history Of this incident
also proves that the payment of tithes
was a world wide institution and car
ried with 1t sacredness which can
sonly be accounted for by admitting
THAT IL was primitive and universally
recognized law of God.
"Three senators of high rank were
appointed to carry the restored tithe.
with the trespass Offering, to Delphos.
On its way the embassy was taken by
the Liparians, who were then at war
with Rome. But when the governor
of the city understood that the rich
booty was tithe on its way to Delphos,
he not only liberated the Romans, but
sent squadron of his own fleet to
convoy them safely on their way.
This dedication at tenth. for the
common purposes of the community,
could only have been devised by
mind which thoroughly understood the
whole problem of the needs of human
society. If it Were honestly practiced
it would be found just enough to allie
viate all social pressure-and 1t is not
a little to be wondered at, that the
public eye should be blinded to such
an exceedingly simple and easily ex-
ecuted law, which could readily be
enacted and as readily executed. Sup
pose that every citizen comprehended
the effectiveness of the law of 1.-THE
and voted that it should be constituted
a national income tax, what would be
the result?
Consider the absolute imposslbility
OF legislating against trusts or COM
binations of capital. Legislation
against the natural processes of trade
can never be a success. The money
getting proclivity Is an element in the
character of men, which, like other
characteristics, varies in different peo-
pie. Those in whom it Is largely de-
veloped will accumulate money natur-
ally. If all the wealth of the COM
munity were evenly distributed among
its individuals it would, in the course
of few years, go back again into the
hands of those who possessed the apti-
tude of making money. The law of
God would tax this capability for the
benefit of those who do not possess it,
and for those who by various disabil-
tiles gravitate below the line of COM
Portable living.
"The taxation of a tenth will be
found to be that exact fraction which
everybody can subscribe without dis
tress, and exactly that sum which will
maintain those who from various
causes are unable to maintain them
selves. All communities have about
the same propOrtionate composition,
and the example afforded by this city
of Denver will be applicable to any
other city mutatis mutandis
This city is composed of about thir-
ty thousand houses. 1t will be readily
conceded that for living purposes each
house must represent yearly income
of $1,000. So that the minimum income
OF this city is $30,000,000. The actual
income is probably twice that amount.
But see the effect of tithing this mini
mum $30000,000. The tithe would be
$3000,000. Now, by actual reckoning,
it is found that the income of the 12j
churches, that is. all moneys gathered
for all purposes from the people wor-
Shipping in them, amounts to less than
100000 Last year the incomes of the
five largest denominations were: The
$4,000; the Episcopal
llans. $4,000; the Congrega tionalIsts,
$4,000; the Baptists, S31, 900, and the
Methodists, $4,000. So that $25O00O
will represent the religious income OF
this community. The County Commits
sloners expended on relief $4,000.
The foIr hospitals did not spend in
charitable work $4,000. The other So
cleties which exist for eleemosynary
together with all the private
charity of the city, will have their ex-
pendltures well covered by $4,000.
So that S500,000 represents the -ellg-
ious and charitable cost to city of
10000 people. of maintaining its
churches, hospitals and charitable so
cletles. The public school system,
which is remarkably efficient, cost
$4S6000. Thus. for all sorts of chart-
able relief, all sorts of religious effort
and for public education the city of
Denver spent $1,000.000.
If tithing We're IN force the tlthe
commissioners would have. Mt the
least, S3,000,0O0 at their disposal-that
means to say that the churches might
all be free, the hospitals wide open
and well equipped; public laundlies
might relieve the women of the work
ing classes their food might be cooked
at the public kitchens; every man too
old to work might be pensioned: the
streets might be gardens. where all
such pensioners might have easy labor,
and every reasonable cause for dlscon- =
tent might be removed.
Let the people demand that an In
come tax OF n tenth shall be n national
levy. The English pay income tax.
why should not Americans? The Nor
mons pay 1.-THE. and they have no poor
and no discomfort, so far as the matter
Of living Is concerned. 1t Is the law of
God. wonderful. simple and completely
effective, whereby all social disabilities
may be removed.
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