The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-02-09
INCREASE OF
INCOME TAX
DEMANDED

Association for an Equitable Incom,
Tax, of which Register John ]. Hoppe,
of New York is President, and among
whose officers are Commissioner Of
immigration Frederic c. Howe, Char
les H. Ingersoll, Amos Pinchot, Ed
mund B. Osborne and George l.
Record, is urging Congress to increase
the tax rate on all incomes of over
100000 to from one-fifth to one
third of the total income and the
rates on all large incomes proportion
ately'', says Benjamin c. Marsh in a
report made to the COMMITTEE on In
dustrial Relations. at urges also
that the tariff on sugar be promptly
repealed and the duties on the nee
essities of life and cheaper grades of
luxuries be reduced, and that the rates
on incomes from investment over $50
600 should be counted as unearned in
comes.
Congress seems inclined to disre-
gard these first principals of demo-
cracy and to impose higher taxes on
food and other necessities of the work
ing classes. The workers of America
should realize the injustice of our
| present system of raising revenue and
demand equality, such as urged by the
Association for an Equitable Federal
! Income Tax. 1t is un-American and
unjust to conscript workingmen for
military service as long as the institu-
ton Of private property based on
special privilege remains.
"The growth of huge fortunes in
Great Britain is an important cause
of the present European war. Not
all the tactful and unhappy lives of
diplomats can hide this fact. Cotton
manufacturers in Lancashire were
making IS per cent and paying cruel
ly low wages, while the underpaid
workmen were being taxed much more
heavily than the recipients of the in
| comes due largely to the payment of
inadequate wages. America is in
danger of following the stupid ex-
ample of Great Britain.
"The report of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue is the most astound-
ing record of the rapid concentration
of wealth in a few hands in this
country. For the year ending June
Both, 1914, only sixty individuals in
| the United States were recorded as
having a net taxable income of over
$1,000,000 each and their aggregate
net taxable income was $127, 900.
For the year ending June 3Oth, 1915,
the number of net incomes of over ST.
100000 exactly doubled to 12O-and
the one hundred and twenty people re-
ceived at least, $2OO,OOO,OOO. During
this year there was marked increase
also in the number of all persons re-
ceiving large incomes, as follows: Per-
sons receiving incomes of 100000 to
$1,O00,000 increased from SO to 1922;
those receiving from 100000 to $780,
900 increased from lat to 354.
"In 1914 there were only 2,349 in
dividuals who received a net taxable
income of 100000 or more, with an
approximate gross income of $685.
100000; while in 1915 there were
3,704 such individuals with an ap-
proximate gross income of $1,050,-
100000. One-tenth of one per cent
of the population, including the de-
lpendents of these taxpayers, received
nearly one-twentieth of the total ma
tional income. Not one of those re.
ceiving this enormous income secured
it from his own exertions. All were
due to some standing privilege
or to some recent opportunity fol
eXorbitant profits due to the war. Or
the other hand the numebr of those
receiving incomes of from three tc
five thousand dollars fell from 82,754
in 1914 to 69,045 in 1915.
Prosperity has not reached mater.
tally below the top, while the high
cost of living has largely offset, if MOI
more than offset, the advantages t.
the working people of slight increases
. in their wages, or small salaries.
at is significant that at the sam,
J time that these huge incomes are
: being taxed too lightly, while increas
ing so rapidly, the beneficiaries o.
, privilege in the country are urging
military CONSUMPTION of the workers
, "If the present administration a
| Washington wishes to convince the
people that Wall Street and the insid
, ious and pervasive powers of priv
= ilege have been driven out of the ma
t TONS capital they must compel priv
l.