

THE 



POPULAE SCIENCE 

 MONTHLY. 



NOVEMBER, 1895. 

 PRINCIPLES OF TAXATION". 



Bt DAVID A. WELLS. 



" Tlie principles of good government are far from easy to learn accurately ; and very much 

 harder to put in practice." F. B. Sanborn. 



INTRODUCTION. 



IT is the purpose of the writer in the chapters which follow, 

 to discuss the principles of taxation from a broader basis and 

 by different methods than have heretofore been attempted, special 

 consideration being given to the experience of the United States. 



Such a discussion primarily involves the inquiry, of how far 

 the varied and curious experience of nations leads up through 

 what may be regarded as a process of evolution, to a recognition 

 of the underlying and essential principles of a just and at the 

 same time an efficient system of taxation. And it also necessi- 

 tates, for the attainment of correct conclusions in the prosecution 

 of such inquiry, that illustrations drawn from the world's great 

 record of experience should take precedence of theory, espe- 

 cially in the way of example and exhibit of the many abuses of 

 the power of taxation which the ignorance of legislators and the 

 cupidity of designing men have inflicted upon nations. 



The subject is one of transcendent importance, perhaps more 

 universally important than any other that can invite public 

 attention. Its discussion .opens questions of the widest possible 

 range. There can be no civilization without government and no 

 government without an adequate supply of revenue obtained 

 from the persons and property of the people governed. There 

 can be no health in the body politic without sound finance, and 

 no sound finance without a sound system of taxation. In fact, 



TOL. XLTIII. rl 



