The Washington herald., 1913-09-28
Fulton R. Gordon Sees in Pro-
posed Legislation an Effort
Of the Administration to
lngratiate Itself with Mass
Of Voting Public.
BY FULTON r. GoRDoN.

A bill has already passed the House
and is now before the Senate exempting
all incomes up to $1,000 thereby. through
the sanction of the party, exempting
about 9S per cent of the voters and
placing them under special obligations to
this party and antagonizing the remain
ing per cent who will be compelled to
bear the entire burden of this enormous
assessment and dividing the latter into
three classes. The first is the wen-to-do
class, members of which are to pay 1 per
cent on their income, in excess of 1900;
second the rich who are to pay 2 per cent
in a like manner, 100 per cent advance:
third. the very wealthy, per cent, an
increase of 300 per cent and now 1t has
been openly debated on the floor Of the
Senate that the latter class be charged
ali the way up TO 20 per cent. an increase
of 1900 per cent. a species Of class legis-
lation unheard of in the civilized world
Now. solely for the sake OF argument
in order that the average citizen may
understand the selfish motive or the pro-
peIIing power, so to speak, that is be-
hind this bill, and to show the injustice
that will accrue from class Legislation
of this or any other kind, l would Ike
to ask our Legislators through the press
the friend of good government with tht
people sitting in court as both judge anc
Jury, If this or any other law that gives
one class of citizens an extreme advan'
tage over the other is not wholly. moral
Iy, and equitably contrary to the principle
OF both true Democracy and republican
form Of government.
Rule of Centuries Cited.
Do you, Mr. Lawmaker. realize that you
are holding an Office OF trust as sacred
as that of a judge. and that you are as
firmly bound as they are by the consti.
tuition which guarantees to all citizens
without regard to religion, color. poverty
or wealth. that most sacred of all pledges
equal rights to all, special privileges tC
none%' Are you, Mr.. Legislator. keeping
faith with this solemn pledge, wher
some of your members openly, debate or
the floor Of the Senate the advisability
of taxing one man an added penalty OF
1900 per cent more than another, just
because he. through industry and fru'
gality. has become rich? Or are you
serving your own selfish political inter.
est when by this act you will exempt
about IS per cent of the rank and file OF
our voters from this tax, and thereby pre-
sumabIy place them under obligation &c
your party?
Pray tell ME what other motive could
there be behind this bill that grants spe,
cial privileges to the rank and nle OF the
people? II l AM judging you wrongfully
then tell me, please, why you have SC
suddenly changed from that old tried
common-sense rule that has stood the
test OF generations. which rewards the
people according to their industry and
frugality. Now. according to this income
tax law. you propose to reverse this tried
sound business principle by confiscatinE
a portion of a mans income or to regu-
late ones income by increasing the per
centage of taxation just in proportion as
the taxpayer increases his or her power
of industry and frugality: that is. the
harder they work. stint and save, the
greater the percentage you take.
.ScaIe.'' Are Not True.
What would be the result IL this reverse
principle of awarding the slothful and
furnishing the industrious should be ap-
piled to promoting and demOting in our
army and navy or in the financial and