Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-04-07


Supreme Court in the income tax case
has reversed the decision OF the lower
court, but the income tax law as 4
whole is upheld, but only by a divided
court.
Two important portions Of the law.
however, have been decided 10 be IN
constitutional and they are SO serious
as TO affect materially not only the
revenues Of the government but the
estimation in which The income tax
will be held by the people.
Under the decision TO he handed
down by the court it is said an incomes
derived from rents are exempted from
taxation by the federal government.
and all incomes derived from state
and municipal bonds are similarly ex-
empted In other respects the income
tax law stands as it was passed last
August, but the result OF the consulta-
tions in the Supreme Court shows very
conclusiyely that the law can oa.ily
be picked to pieces, provided suits are
brought to contest each particular
point as 1t comes up.
1T is a curious fact, but none the
less true, that the law which was
passed at tho
DICTATION OF THE POPULISTS
has been distorted by the decision Of
the United States Supreme Court,
clearly on constitutional grounds, i'm
such a way that il will absolutely
protect the class Of capitalists most
offensive to the pOpulistic element.
The landlords of the country will
pay no income tax. The owners OK
bonds of almost any Kind, either fed
eral, State, county, or municipal, will
also be free, while the business man,
the manufacturer, and the salaried
employe, will, for the present at least
be compelled to contribute TO the
treasury of the United States govern
ment 2 per cent. Of all incomes in ex-
cess of $1,000 per annum.
THE first meeting OF the Supreme
Court was held March 16, two days
after the conclusion Of the argy-3ents,
but no decision wac reSchrd X -, =
was not until March 80 tnat they sue
ceeded in reeing upon the outlines
of a decision covering the opinion OF
the lower court.
"The court was evenly divided. JUS
tice Jackson was too i'll to take part.
Chief Justice Fuller and Justices
Field, Gray and Brewer were opposed
to the law.
Justices Harlan, Brown Shiras and
White voted to sustain the law.
- nxynnnfgtfnrt a NOM hnfs1 0f
the court is that the decision viii be
rendered Monday in oDen court, but
there is a bare possibility that the
court may again split mp into irrecon-
ciliable sections and hold up the de-
cision.
"If the next Congress does not re-
peal the law with the sanction OF the
President. there will be a sudden rioo
in the price OF all local public securi-
ties, as well as for all real estate, for as
they will be exempted from taxation,
they ought to get the benefit of the
per cent. which other income pro
ducers are obliged to account for.
CANNOT BE CONFIRMED
Washington, D. c., April G.-All ef-
forts to secure from members O. the
Supreme Court either authoritative
confirmation or denial Of t1e truth or
the Chicago Tribune publication,
proved unayailing.
Senator Voorhees,, chairman ci the
Finance Committee, when told OF the
publication to-day. said.
ct may be that a portion OF the law
may not be sustained. ] condl'i lhelS
is a possibility. Of such % result but l
do not know anything about lt ana
l do not believe that agI one OUTSIDE
the court knows anything about IL
But" he continued, Suppose DC shoA.u
be true that the portion %. me- ll" ia
regard to rents and Uue.paI O'n"s
should prove to be, I'm the opinion VI
the court, unconstituuonll inc '
will not be materially Nt.L. ~
will still afford an imman.' s' euus
The estimates which have been Ilauo
are entirely too low on tAe e,iuo in,'
which would be derival from lA9 law ia~
az a whole. Instead of l.S s'iulr1
from fifteen 10 thirty millions you wiz
see that it will yield i--f' ~
five or even a hundrtl L..''''-'
revenue" COM
senator Harris. Of tha Finance Ooll-
mittee. declined TO dlf.l W. ~
tion at all, as did Sel.'- ''--'
Arkansas. ..l-r.rrsr
SENATOR PETER. Pof. I'D H.,
expressed the opinion that i 'L Ia ~
come form rents aud bonds sno''u ,.,', W
eliminated. the eGic.el. '- --o 10"
would be materially cr.f ~.
Leaving out OF con III
question Of a tax or aoaa. ., ono
"the rent item is m0sl .'- -'.c Inc
when we consider that OIL -.'' -, -,
farmers in the country ,.,iaI
that 20 per cent. OF tine aa.f' p92i,a a,.
ton of the country ct .Is a- ..ies ~
cent. Of the people living DID 49,, inns
over 100000 population -l- - Citv
classed. and that in cucb
the percentage Of renters '7 sraot
a decision would ros-- -
spread Of Populism. ..,., today
The Court is IN con ~. cs,not
as usual on Saturtaga 0I- - tay
be learned wbethcr ' -..irl ia
oninfon has been pre- -el oI " - ~
handed down on Non. ..o7rss
WILL NOT CALL cos 49,, -, Z.
From an entirely aI..... 80 lt'ia. :,
is learned that what. f5snt viii
of the court may be. i0- Congress
not call an extra -,, declare
and even should tl i-.at tLo
the law wholly u.a} ,..,,r,ina-
President will adhere i' N.' ..b.r ana
tion not To call Corgls Lo5elllvl ,Sito ,,itc
that he will so announce IL IL 3" HNS'-S