Word: speakers
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Dates: during 1900-1909
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...first speaker was E. J. Arnstine '13. The question is purely one of the practicality of the tax. If adopted, would the income tax work equitably? Both methods of imposing this tax are disastrous. The income declared would not be one-quarter of the usual amount. It would corrupt and demobilize the people as was done in England. The second method of obtaining the tax by assessors is obviously difficult. Would the freedom-loving Frenchmen submit to having their pockets searched? This was the cause of the French Revolution...
...Berle, Jr., '13 was the third speaker and chose the affirmative for his argument. The present infairness to the French peasant could best be corrected by the income tax, yet this tax is felt much less by the rich man than by the poor man. There is an inequality of sacrifice. But the solution is that the rich man should be taxed more in proportion to his income. In this way the income tax would force the people to be perfectly honest. France's income would be increased and the national debt would be diminished. An income tax more nearly...
...fifth speaker was C. S. Collier '11, who upheld the affirmative side of the question. The equitable principle in taxation is the principle of equal sacrifice. With this in mind we may divide the question into three phases: (1) The intrinsic justice or injustice of the present system, (2) the intrinsic justice or injustice of the proposed system, and (3) the comparative efficiency of the proposed tax. The present system relies chiefly on the tariff, and is very heavy on the poor; the proposed tax is superior, as it falls on accumulated wealth. The income tax is especially adapted...
...next speaker was A. D. Brigham '12 who chose the negative side. Theoretically the burden of taxation is distributed as equally by the present system of taxation as it would be by the Income Tax of 1903, but in practice the former is far the more equitable. If the tax-payer wishes to avoid taxation, he could easily do so by the income tax. This tax fines a man's income directly whereas the present tax (the "mobilier") taxes a man on the rental value of his dwellings; and it is easy for a collector to ascertain the number...
...Judd '11 was the last speaker. He chose the negative side and delivered a logical and well-considered speech. We are indebted in proportion for the amount we receive. That tax is the most equitable which most closely shows the proportion of our indebtedness to the state. Now, property is protected by the state and therefore the most equitable tax is based on property. Such are the taxes now in force in France but the executive is not strong enough to enforce these taxes. The income tax, therefore, does not fulfill the question because it could not be carried...