Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-21
THE DECISION.

the Income Tax.
From the New York Times
The law was sectional, aimed by the
south and west against the north and east;
| it was not equitable, for 1t put burden
Of taxation upon one class, while all other
We have seen the end of attempts to tax
| incomes.
From the New York World
The overthrow of the income tax is the
| triumph of selfishness over patriotism. 1t
Is another victory of greed over need.
| Great and rich corporations. by hiring the
ablest lawyers in the land and fighting
other men have fought for their liberties
and their lives, have secured the exemp-
| ton of wealth from paying its just share
toward the support Of the government that
protects II.
| From the New York Tribune.
Thanks to the court, our government is
not to be dragged into communistic war
fare against rights of property and tine
| rewards Of industry while the Constitution
| of its founders remains bulwark OF the
| rights of states and of individual citizens.
From the New York Herald.
| 1t is a severe lesson, but it is one that
may be well remembered by both parties.
In view of the final effect of the Supreme
| Courts decision. this particular form of
popul!stic interference with individual
rights will probably never be revived. But
whenever the democratic party or any
| other party may be inclined to take It's
sailing orders from small group of pratt
cal populists it will do well to recall how
the income tax Jonah landed the democ-
racy on the rocks of defeat in 1871.
From the Philadelphia Times.
The Mckinley bill taxed nearly f0.OOO,OoO
for the benefit of 10000 and the income
tax proposed to tax 10000 for the benefit of
100000. 1t was simply midsummer mad
ness; as inexpedient as it was unjust.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
We regard this decision as one OF the
NEST important ever rendered by the court.
for 1t deals a fatal blow to an insidious
fern OF communism. Had the income tax
Teen allowed, had the court as a whole or
by majority succumbed to populistic doc
trines; there could have been no safety.
/" The Goth of May was a great day
fer the republic and it's institutions.
From the Baltimore Sun.
In finally deciding that the income tax
law in it's present MANNED and mutilated
condition fails to accomplish the purposes
for which 1t was presumably enacted. and
therefore fails to cXpIcsS the intention OF
the Legislature which passed 1t, the Su-
preme Court has lifted an unequal burden
from the shoulders of the people. and fur
nished a striking Illustration Of its own
value the balance wheel and regulator
of our governmental system.
From the Baltimore American.
Ii the people prefer to tax incomes d.
rectly they have it in their power to
amend the Constitution; but, emergen-
cies are not likely to occur when public af-
fairs are managed in accordance with
sound policy, the Constitution will prob
ably remain as 1t is for long time to
cCme.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The annulment of the tax will. we be-
lieve. create no serious disappointment ex-
cept among the populists, a few politicians
In the south and west and handful of po-
litical economists There has not been any
articulate demand for the income tax from
aDy other quarter. . . Tho heat and
disappoint ment shown by the minority of
the Supreme bench because Of the annul-
ment Of the income tax law will not. we
believe, have its counterpart among any
considerable portion of the people.
Some English Opinions.
LONDON. May 21.-The newspapers have
very general comment on the decision of
the Supreme Court of the United States de-
clarins the income tax unconstitutional
The Times, on the subject says: LAS things
stand, the weight of authority falls upon
the same side as the weight of numbers.
The practical result is that direct taxation
must fall upon the citizen In direct oppo-
siton to his voting power. without refer
ence to the amount of his property. 1t
cannot be doubted that 1t was the inten-
ton of the trainers of the Constitution.
however singular it may appear to Epglish-
men,"
The Post says: IF the decision Is accept
ed by public opinion, it will mark memoir
able era in the history of the republic"
An editorial in the Chronicle says: 1.-The
loss of $1,000. 900 of revenue must still fur
Their derange American finances; but the
aiyaS
people generally will be compelled to make
up the deficiency. 1t is a strange comment
on American democracy and on the limita-
tons of the American Constitution