Milford chronicle., 1950-03-10
INCOME TAXES BEGAN AS AN ACT
OF POLITICAL REVENGE

Ut 1OLllIOkAL hEV ENOE
Of all the tremendous changes this cOun-
try has seen in the past half-century, neither
the aiTpane nor televisiOn-nOt even atomic
fissiOn-has proved as effective as taxes. The
federal governments share of the latest tax
bill was 615 times what the National Govern
ment spent in 1920.
The income tax originally was an act of
political revenge and as a direct result of this
act initiative and opportunity today are being
taxed out of existence.
When the Democrats were returned to
power in 1892 Benton McMillin of Tennessee
was the ranking Democrat of the House Ways
and Means Committee. AS such, he rightful-
ly expected to be made chairman. At the be-
hest Of William C. Whitney and other rich
New York Democrats, Cleveland threw the
Craftsmanship to William L. Wilson, McNillin
then tackled the original incOme-tax rider on
to the Wilson Tariff Act of 1892 as a counter
punch at Whitney and the others.
Even as late as 1916, after the tax had
been ruled out by the Supreme Court and re-
vived by COrdell Hull, only 100000 Ameri-
cans had to pay, and then only 196 on net in
come after a $4,000 exemption.
But today, no American can make
salary large enough to protect his future No
company can pay its chief lOad-caTriers
enough money to insure their futures. The
more they are paid, the greater the Govern
working min days for Uncle Sam, one for
his family
Our tax laws are defensible only on the
premise that they make opportunity freer
to all. They do the reverse. Ironically, these
laws favor the shrewd, the sharpie, the lucky,
and the already well-heeled. The man of in
born acqUisitive instinct still makes a fat
living. If he clears 100000 on a DEAL he is
allowed to keep a pretty $4,000 under the
capital-gains clause, while those who may
earn 100000 salary on sheer performance
are subject to schedules running up to 81
per cent.
Thomas jefferson said, '0We must make
our choice between economy and liberty, or
profusion and seTvitUde. If we can prevent
the Government from wasting the labors of
the people, under the pretense of caring for
them, they will be happy"
What Mr.. jefferson, patron saint of the
present wastefUl National Administration.
had to say is Just as true today as it was at
the time he spoke.
$500
FINANCING WELFARE. AGENCIES
Financing welfare" agencies out of treas
uTy deficits is plain robbery. tt manifests it.
self first in imitation and finally in economic
collapse. Unless a source of funds be found
other than the empty treasury, chaos threat
ems.
DAAActtlo GLiC1C WOUlQ DC more 0IlDlOVIlenG
at the moment were it not for the taxes pros
pectlve employers are required to pay. In
that event, the unemployment compensation
hoax takes its place beside social security.
Government control Of industry, its re-
Straint Of industry, its fixing of wages and
hours, tend towards the destruction of our
economic system, which is based upon the
duty Of every human being to render service
m the field for which he is best adapted.
THOSE POTATOES ARE MIGHTY HOT
There seems to have beenta slip in letting
the public IN on the IS million bUshel potato
deal our Government must drop some place.
Then there it a little something like a few
THOUSAND TONS of eggs stored in a lime
stone cave near AtchisOn, Kansas
Instead Of trying to kin communism with
dollars why not refuse to give away dollars
and substitute FOOD? It would be a lesson
IN beng good neighbOrs and would eliminate
the bandit strategy of such hOldup artists as
Ghlang-Kai-shek and the government of
Greece.
AND it would save face for the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. Those potatoes are
getting mighty hot
THAT FEDERAL DEFICIT