The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-05
A Canvass Of Congress Upon. This
Live Question.
MANY MEMBERS NoN-CoMMRqAL
Eastern Sentiment Against the Proposl-
tion--Southern Members Generally
Favor st-west Ii Divided-what
Massachusetts Representatives Say.

NEW YORK, Dec. b.-The world ma
asked the members Of the congress whic
meets today. these three questions;
''Do you favor an income taxr
"If 80, do you favor a graduated taxi"
"What do you favor as the minimum Of
income to be taxed" =
Many representatives could not be
reached, but OF the Ill who replied, 7l
favor an income tax in some form, 62 op.
pose IL, five are against 1t. but may recon-
slider, while 33 decline to express an
opinion.
The answers serve to show very clearly
that the income tax question has geo
graphical phase.
Those representatives who come from
the East are opposed to the income tax by
large majority, those coming from the
South favor it by an even larger majority,
while those from the West are more
evenly divided, with the majority for the
income tax.
The following table shows this:
Represent Noncom-
atives, For. Against. Undecided. initial.
Epst......0 81
wese.,..st 81 2 10
SOUTH.
The fact that the larger income will be
found In the north, and that the pension
money goes TO northern men Is, 1t Is inti-
mated, one reason for the sharp geograph-
ical divisions shown.
1t was to be expected that democrats
would favor the income tax as rule. and
republicans oppose 1t. The alliance men.
Of course, would favor it.
The figures on this point are quito In
structive. They 90 TO show that the re.
publicaus have lined up against the bill
more soiidly than the democrats have lined
up for it. Following are the figures:
Non
Represent- commit
atives. For. Against. Undecided. tai.
RsHSsIIsss... Rs%SSTsss;,. 9. . Y 3 Il
OF the II answers favoring the income
tax not many were specific as to the mini
mum Of income to be taxed. 1hs drift Of
opinion seems 10 be for $4,000 rs the limit.
Many insist that 1t shall not be 50 low as
10 include the income OF the most skilled
labor.
The poll Of the senate was not so snccess-
full as that of the house. or the 25 answers
received, six are in favor OF the income
tax and eight are against, while III decline
TO express opinions. The answers sent by
Massachusetts, men are ~ follows:
Joseph n. O'Neil, Ninth district. demo-
crAt-I am opposed to an income tax a. 1t
Is commonly understood. while / consider
It the fairest kind of tax to be levied. 1t
is very Objectionable to business men on
account of its inquisitorlal character.
Business men OF today are subject to sharp
enough competition without having their
secrets given away, as they would be il
such a tax was levied. am In favor Of a
tax on corporations which receive privi-
leges from tho public.most Of which they
get without payment. Such tax woul d
be popular with the people.
Michael j. McEttrick, Tepth district
Dem.)-I favor tax which will justly
and properly tighten the burdens of the
people. will state my views in detail
later on.
Elijah A. Morse, Twelfth district (Rep)
Il am opposed to any income tax what
ever 1t is the most odious and unfair sys-
TEN OF taxation ever imposed. And
agree with Bourke Cochran that it should
b. styled, "An act FOR levying fines upon
honest men and putting a premium upon
perjury"
Joseph H. Walker, Third district (Rep. J.
] do not believe In an income tax Where
mems incomes are fixed by the law OF en-
tail, as in England, an income tax may
be proper, but in free country like this
it would be illogical and unjust. 1t would
be in fact virtual repeal Of the pension
laws. 1t would take away the results OF
a mans ability and genius by revealing to
the whole world bis business methods. i
knew during the existence OF the old in
come tax law, at least half dozen men
whose business was absolutely destroyed
by the revealing of their secrets.
William Cogswcll, Sixth district (Rep.)
Il am opposed to such tax.
William f. Draper, Eleventh district,
Rep)=i am decidedly opposed to aa- -ita-
come tax.
Moses Il. Stevens, Fifth district, Dsm.)
II do not bslieve in an income tax.
Il