People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-07-18
THE INCOME TAX DECISION.
Let these Warnings Reach the People
and 60 Down in History.
July Arena-B. 0. Flower, Editor.


July Arena-B. 0. Flower, Editor.
The action OF the majority Of the
supreme court Of the Unitad States
on the income tax is almost incredi-
bic, and to my mind, is the most IN
fortunate thing that could have hap
pened for stable government, as twill
unquestionably confirm the worst
fears entertained by tens of thousands
of intelligent Americans in regard to
our court of last resort; while the
still more recent ruling in the DebS
case greatly strengthens the unwilling
conviction which nothing but these
astounding rulings could have forced
upon thoughtful people. 1t is a fact
worthy Of special notice that the in
come tax was decided to be uncOnSti-
tutiOnal by the change in the vote of
one of the justices, who, less than six
weeks before, after hearing the most
exhaustive arguments against the
measure, decided that it was consti.
tutiOnal.
And it is furthermore well to note
that this decision, as was shown BY
the dissenting judges, is contrary to
the uniform ruling of the past centu-
ry. As a matter of record, and be-.
cause the opinion comes from justices
of the supreme bench, | give below
extracts from the opinions rendered
by Justices Harlan, Jackson, White
and Brown, all of whom dissented
from the rulings Of their colleagues.
Justice Brown pointed out that the
decision was a surrender on the part
Of the government Of the taxing DOW
er to the mOneyed classes.
A SURRENDER TO PLUTOCRACY.
These were his words:
The decision involves nothing less
than the surrender of the taxing power
to the mOneyed class. While | have
no doubt that congress will find some
means OF surmOunting the present cri-
sis. my fear is that in some moment
Of national peril this decision will rise
up to Illustrate its will and paralyze
its arm. | hope it may not prove the
first step towards the Submergence of
the Liberties of the people in sordid
despOtiSm of wealth.
Justice Jackson regards it as
THE MOST DISASTROUS BLOW
ever struck at the constitutional pow
ers of Congress. On this point he said (:
Considered in all its bearings, this
decision is the most disastrous blow
ever struck at the constitutional pOw-
er OF Congress. 1t strikes down an
Important portion of the most vital
and essential powers of the Govern
ment in practically excluding any re-
course to incomes from real and per-
sOnal estate for the purpose of raising
needed revenue to meet the Govern
ment's wants and necessities under
any circumstances.
This same able and venerable justice
considers the practical operation Of
the decision
OPPRESSIVE AND UNJUST.
as will be seen from the following
words taken from his dissenting
opinion:
The practical operation of the decl-
sion is not only to disregard the great
principle of equality in taxation, but
the further principle that in the i'm.
position Of taxes the burdens should
be imposed upon those having the
most ability to bear them. This deci-
sion works out directly opposite re-
suit in relieving the citizens having
the greater ability, while the burdens
of taxation are made to fall most
heavily and oppressively upon those
having the least ability.
Justice White is no less Outspoken
in his opinion. Among other things
he said:
The power to tax by appOrtionment
cannot be called into being without
the red spectacle of revolution shak.
Ing the foundations of the Union,
without making the constitution the
engine OF the most outrageous Oppres.
sion and inequality the world has ever
Known.
Justice Harlan made one of the
ablest and most eloquent pleas for
justice and humanity which has been
delivered in the Republic since the
government has fallen into the hands
of plutocracy. Among other things
he pointed out that the decision
STRUCK AT THE FOUNDATION OF
NATIONAL AUTHORITY.
In my judgment, to say nothing OF
the disregard Of the former adiudica.
lions OF this court and of the practice
OF the government for a century. this
decision may well excite the gravest
apprehensiOnS. 1t strikes at the very
foundations of national authority in
that it denies to the general govern.
ment power which is or may at some
time in a great emergency such as
war, become vital to the existence
and preservation of the Union.
AS a matter Of record, / also repro.
duce the following editorial comments
on the decision:
We see nothing in the opinion of the
court to extinguish the dogma that
men OF great incomes are men of great
Unconstitutional Dispatch.
Ii is worthy of nofe that+bo;no..