The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-08-17
'1s Our Present System
OF Taxation Correct
and Equitable :"
"a paper by Henry w. Naegele
of Middletown, o.


cussed Taxation" in an interesting
manner. Mr. Naegele is prominent in
labc" circles, After pointing out that
the lax system of Ohio is unjust, he
considered income and inheritance
taxes as follows:
"Of all modes Of taxation, the IN.
come tax is the most just and equit-
able. Every man can afford to pay
according 10 his income, and ought to
do So There is no other perfect
standard Of taxation; none other
which does not innict more or less
hardship ana injustice.
THE tax comes upon the pri-
vate revenue of each year, out of
which the government should receive
its share for the annual revenue of the
statA II the private revenue is in
creased. so should be the contribution
to the public revenue; II the former
is diminished, the latter should be
also This is fair and just Were 1t
to sIpersede all other forms of taxa
tion, perfect equality would be estab.
lished; property and labor would bear
each It's just share Of the public bur-
dens. To do this, II would be neces.
sary 70 ascertain the income of every
man; Of every laborer, whether his
wages amounted to one hundred Or
one thousand dollars year; Of every
professional man; of every operative,
male or female; every capitalist,
banker, merchant and mechanic. Upon
the gross income, thus ascertained,
the income, thus ascertained, the gen
eral tax should be levied pro rata.
THAT many men are dishonest
there can be no doubt; but when tho
law taxing income is regularly en-
forced from year to year, the difficulty
of concealment. on the part of the tax
payer. is constantly increasing. His
neighbors and competitors in business
have an eve upon him. II they believe
he is making false statements, ard he
can not long escape detection.
Another opJecuon made is that
men do not always like to have their
incomes known. But why should they
not2 We have already said that, in
the matter of taxation, all are co.part-
ners, having a pro rata interest. What
one does not pay, others must All,
therefore, may rightfully demand such
information as shall furnish the
means OF assessing a correct tax
Besides this, an income tax we'll
| enforced will be the means OF diffus-
| ing a large amount of information
most important in regard to the cred.
its which business men are required
to give. The position and ability OF
every man will be better understood.
This is an important consideration.
I'VE do not advocate the adoption Of
the income tax as a substitute for all
other modes of taxation; our purpose
is to show that, so far as practicable,
It is the most just and economical
mode OF raising a revenue.
inheritance Tax.
ITO whom does the world belong,
the living or the dead?'
Men die. and the property they
have acquired or held during their
lives must pass into the possession Of
others May the person who is about
|
wealth shall Immediately descend?
May he go farther and say to whom
II shall descend for all coming time?
May he go farther still and determine
what specific use shall be made Of his
wealth forever? Or shall the laws Of
the state decide the questions-to
| whom, for what purposes, and for how
1 a. Ia
sons shall descend? Does the world
and its wealth belong TO the living or
the lead, or to both in common? II
10 both, what portion should belong to
each? II the dead are allowed to con.
tro! part, why not all? Which party.
the living or the dead, will most in
telligently decide how wealth can be
adyantageously employed in produc-
ton or in any other mode for the ben
eft of the living?
These are points involved in the
subject of inheritance and the testa-
mentary disposal of property, and are
! important in an economical point OF
view, irrespective Of all other consid
erations. These questions have prac.
tically been decided by the laws and
institutions of society in different ages
arG countries. Governments have al
ways interfered in regard to the es
tates OF deceased persons, to such an
extent as to prescribe limitations and
conditions. So far as these laws have
been in harmony with instincts of hu
manity, and the laws OF value. they
have been benehclent in their opera
tion. Eut all the wealth, all the in
stitutions. all the interest of society
should ever be regarded as fully un
der the control Of the existing genera
tion Of men. This should be a funda
mental principle in civil polity; and
/! law may interfere in this matter al
all, II may do so TO any extent tho
public interest shall demand"
Amend the Constitution.
VIM o. Mathews OF the Cleveland
Chamber Of Commerce and the Ohit
Tax League, in an address before thu
Tax Commission Of Ohio, said
The Cleveland Chamber OF Com
merce has committed itself positivel.
upon the proposition that the consti
tuition OF Ohio should be amended 4
suggestion has been made that Il 4