Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-22
Citizens Express Themselves on In
come Tax Decision.
VIEWED THROUGH LOCAL EYES
Majority Rejoice at the Overthrow
of the Law.
BETTER TRADE PROSPECTS

has or will pay any tax since the Supreme
Court has spoken. Among WashngtoniaEs
there IS not unanimous feeling of re-
joicins over the fact that there will now
be no necessity to pay into the treasury a
percentage Of their incomes. Star report
ers today who asked a considerable num-
Der of representative citizens for their
views on the Supreme Court decision found
as wide a diversity of views as was found
among the members of the court itself
Like the court, majority of those spoken
to regarded the income law as unjust and
wrong. and rejoced at it's overthrow. A
considerable number refused to be quoted
on the subject, while many announced
themselves in line with Judge Harlan and
the minority of the Supreme Court. Those
interviewed on the subject follow:
Albert Sturtevnnt.
Mr.. Albert Sturtevant Of the National
Safe Deposit Company: Il am glad that
the law has been declared Unconstitutional,
for 1 have never believed it a fair meas
ure. /. has placed a tax on enterprise and
prosperity, and has tended to discourage
men from getting up in the race. I be-
heve in letting the rain fall equally on
all alike. l think the decision will help the
republican party. for 1t will make it the
more necessary to raise revenue by the
old-fashoned methods of taxation"
s. b. Hegc.
Mr.. S. B. Hsge. passenger agent for the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad 1.-The result
is good enough for me. 1 think that to
mutilate the law was proposed at first
and then to let 1t stand would have been
to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.
1t would let the bond-clpping class es-
cape. while it placed the burden of tax
alton on the mercantile classes, the main
strength of the country"
John II. Wight.
Mr.. John B. Wight. secretary of the board
of trade: Il am not lawyer nor a poll
tician. SO 1 cannot speak from the stand
point of those people, but I have talked
with a good many business men. both be-
fore and since the law was annulled and
the general opinion has been that the tax
should be abolished. Personally, l think
that the action of the court Is good thing.
l am glad that the decision was reached
by court divided on lines of principle
rather than sectionalsm or partisanship.
l do not anticipate that it will arouse any
marked resentment against tho court
james w. whcIpIey.
Mr.. James w. Whelpley, treasurer of the
American Security and Trust Company:
Il have little to say beyond the fact that
1t is good thing that the matter is def
nitely settled. for good and all. We know
now exactly what We nave 10 pay TO the
general government in the way OF taxes,
and that is an advantage"
Charles Small.
Mr.. Charles Small of the firm of Small
6 Sons: II cannot speak for the firm, and
1 have not paid much attention to the
case 1t Is hardly in our line, but on gen.
eral principles / think the court has done
the right thing. l am well satisfied"
G. De Witt.
Mr.. G. De Witt, manager Of the Riggs
House: 1T is a good thing. I was not
subject to the tax. and SO 1t did not fact
me personally, but 1 have never felt that
it was right for Congress to tax a man te-
cause he had been successful and enter
prising. The limitations of the law, in my
opinion, were too narrow. The limit ought
to have been brought down SO that all but
the laborers who earn a couple Of dollars,
or say 81 day, should be subject to the
tax. If any people were to be so assessed.
Then it would have been more just"
j. T. Dyer.
II think the Supreme Court made big
mistake said Mr.. ]. t. Dyer. II believe
thet the income tax act should have stood
on the statutes l regarded 1t as just
law"
Fitch, Fox & Brown.
Il very glad the Supreme Court gave
a decision adverse to the income tax law"
said Mr.. Fox Of Fitch. Fox & Brown.
Il echo that sentiment" said Mr. Brown,
who was present. Its inquistorial fea-
lures were particularly un-American and
repuSnant"
Charles J. Bell.
Il think 1t Is a very good thing for the
country that the income tax law was de-
cided unconstitutional" said President
Charles ]. Bell of the American Security
and Trust Company. but l regard 1t as
unfortunate, however, that the court was
divided"
John w. Thompson.
IAN income tax would have been cheer
fully accepted by the people as a war
measure" said President John w. Thomp-
son of the National Metropolitan Bank,
but in time of peace 1t was very doubt
full eXpedient to have recourse to In behalf
of raising revenue"
N. ii. Shea.
Mr. n. H. Shea said: It's good thing
that the Supreme Court wiped the law off
the statute books. The law was one Of
those inqusitoral things that are Disagree
able to everybody. While the failure of the
effort of Congress to raise revenue will cut
the revenues of the country. 1 hope the
government will get enough from other
sources to meet all emergencies
Frank Hume.
Justice Harlan hit the nail squarely on
the head 1t was an absolute mistake to
declare the law unconstitutional. / am
willing to pay my share of the tax. and 1
think all other men Should be willing to
do the same. Wealth certainly ought to
bear its share of the burden"
Robert Callahan.
Robert Callahan said: II never did think
much of the law, and am glad that the
Supreme Court annulled it. While / am
not personally interested in the law, think
it highly improper that there should be
law which causes the government officials
to pry into the private affairs of citizens"
Joseph ID. Frnnzoni.
$50 far as I am concerned have no opin-
ion about the decision to express, for the
law did not affect the firms business. We
made our returns, but did not have to pay
the tax"
George w. Driver.
IAN excellent decision, indeed. 1t could
not have pleased the community better"
Fritz Reuter-.
1.-THE decision was very good one and is
fair and just. 1 pay about s1.1o0 taxes on
htrg-i AVID md .