The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-06-17

4 I'll" NIUE Hpiit VI NHt i"b'4 - 49,
mechanic, pay a double burden. II
/ is not only unfair and unjust, but it
/ is wholly unnecessary.
ANY system of direct taxation IS
crude and unscientific and but little
/ better than that which subsists in
i Turkey and China. No civilized gov
eminent now resorts to il. The Unit
] ed States is now raising 900, 000,-
+ GOO year in taxes without levying
cent in direct taxes, and it is so
easy that no man in the country feels
the pinch of it.
'On the other hand, here in Wash
ington. with one-eightieth of the pop
ulation of the entire country and
more than one-eightfeth of its wealth,
and with an expenditure for our
state, county and municipal govern
ments less than one-eightieth of that
expended by the national govern
ment, we are eaten up with taxation.
That is because our system of taxa
ton is wholly direct and falls almost
entirely on real estate. The growth
of our cities is being seriously ham
pered by the burden. Our tax rae
alone is equal to what men consid-
er a fair income on their property in
older and better governed countries.
1.-The remedy is not to be found
in unequal taxation, but in equal in
direct taxation. The field is as open
to the states for that form of taxa
ton as it is TO the United States, ex-
cept that the states are forbidden by
he constitution of the United States
to levy duties on imports and eX
ports But every other form of duty,
excise, impost and tax is AT the se"
vice of the states.
Indirect taxes are the most just,
because all taxes, unless they be di-
rect taxes on the farm and home, are
paid in the end by the consumer, and
it is just that he who consumes most
should pay most They are the most
easily borne because the tax pay
ments in the main are imperceptible
and not felt. If any doubt this state
ment he has only to recall the enor-
nous sum annually raised by the ma
tional government and to remember
the ease with which he has met his
share Of the burden.
For state and county purposes the
revenues should be raised. and could
be raised by excuses and imposts.
and it could be done so easily and in
such full measure that there would
be a surplus to turn over to the mum
icipalities of the state in proportion
to population for municipal purpos-
es ! would suggest as some Of the
means of indirect taxation:
can income tax. to be paid by in
dividuals and corporations.
AN occupation tax upon lawyers,
doctors. merchants. destists, and all
others who levy tribute on the pub
lie. always excepting those who do
manual labor or work on salary.
STAMP duties on checks, drafts
legal instruments. stock, bonds and
other evidences of value.
"A substantial excise on sales of
liquor and tobacco the excise on the
former to be not less than s. per
gallon.
"A heavy retail license tax for
sales of liquor and tobacco.
IAN excise on the use of all arti-
cles of luxury, as carriages, automo-
biles. pianos and other similar arti-
cles.
"A substantial annual license tax
on all corporations, to be graduated
according to capitalization.
"A substantial annual license tax
on all places of amusement, to be
graduated according to the kind and
character of the place.
Inc llSl might ne multiplied III
definitely, if one were to study the
tax systems of Great Britain and
other European countries, where all
their taxes, substantially, are raised
in this way. 1t would not, perhaps,
be necessary to do more than to
study the system of internal taxes
laid by the United States during the
civil war. Since that period we have
become so wealthy and pay so much
duty on imported goods, that most
of the national internal taxes have
been taken off. Still, few as are the
objects of such taxation. about one
half our national revenues are still
raised from them.
81 do not conceive that the consti-
tutional rule of equality and uniform
ity would stand in the way of this