THE INCIDENCE OF TAXATION.
[To THE EDITOR. OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIE,—I am one of those who consider that the only equitable course to be followed in the raising of revenue is to tax each man according to his ability to pay. Our Income-tax system as at present worked is an attempt to carry out this principle; but it needs to be improved. The very rich pay relatively a much smaller share than the middle classes. To a man with thousands a year a shilling in the pound is a mere nothing in comparison to what it means to the man with, say, £700, and I cannot see why any fair man can object to pay to the good of the State a large proportion of the wealth which he owes to the people of the State and to the State's protection. Some allowance should also be made to the middle-class man who has a large family to bring up. He should pay less than a bachelor of similar means. If we raise revenue by tariffs, we tax the majority of the people, who are comparatively very poor, and should not be burdened with the upkeep of the State in addition to their penury.—I am, Sir, &c.,
JUST TAXATION.
[No doubt. By a tariff we tax, and tax far too heavily, the very poorest of the poor. Yet that is what we shall do if in order to carry out what we disingenuously call social reform we heap up mountains of taxation. The experience of a aozen different countries shows that, rather than endure more than a certain amount of direct taxation, nations insist on taxes on commodities. It is very foolish, of course, and very unjust, but it is a fact. Our correspondent has only to look at the democracies of America, France. Switzerland, and Italy, and he will find plenty of proofs.—En. Spectator.]
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