A Just Tax

An income tax is in complete harmony with the general principies of taxation recognized by all writers upon the subject. It calis upon those who receive the largest share of governmental protection and the greatest benefits under the laws, and who are most able to bear the burden, to contribute their fair share of the cost of maintaining the administration. It violates no principie oí equity or justice and has the advantage of never disturbing prices. It is the only way for the government to obtain from the wealthy their share of the cost of maintaining the commonwealth. The rich have various means oí avoiding the payment of taxes, according to their property, which are not available with the poor. The small possessions of the poor are usually known by all men, while much of the greater possessions of the wealthy are easily hidden from view and rendered difncult of discovery. The assessor, having no knowledge of this property, leaves it off the assessment roll, and thus the rich escape bearing their just share of the burden of the state. Th en again the influence which always ac companies wealth, secures the enactment of laws which favor wealth For instancé, about all the revenues of the federal government are derived, not from the accumulated wealth of the nation, but from the necessaries of life, from consumption, wherein the rich and the poor are most equal. This is entnely wrong. Under such a system, the rich man who is taxed upon what he eats, wears and uses in his home, makes rio sacrifice whatever, while thé poor are compelled to give of their very needs. It is time that this system was changed and wealth was compelled to bear a more equitable share of the burden of taxation. It should not be overlooked by the laborers of our country and all others in moderate circumsfances that every dollar of tax that is collected from the surplus wealth of the rich will diminish by that amount their own burdens. They should feel assured also that in advocating the taxation of incomes they are doing no injustice to their more fortúnate fellow citizens. They are simply demanding of them that they bear their just share of the cost of maintaining the government. There is no possible valid reason why the overwhelming majority of American citizens should not support the incorne tax clause of the Wilson bilí.