Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-05-16
RULED BY WEALTHY.
ALToELD's ARRANGEMENT OF
SUPREME COURT JUDGES.
Divinity Of Riches Recognized and .
Curse Breathed Against Enterprise ~
tho Income-Tax DeciSIOn- 3IemSrAn-
Gum Filled by the Attorney GensraL

A Springfield, Ill.,, special says: Gov.
Altgeid gave out an interview today
denouncing the United States Supreme
court for the income tax decision. He
says:
'The court has held the law TO bd
void in so far as 1t Affects the large Real
estate owners, such as the Astors, Of
Now York, and has also held It 70 be-
void in so far az It affects the rich
bOndholders Of the east. But the re-
mainder is sustained. the court holding
that the business and producing classes
must pay the income tax. It Is all
question Of constitutional construction
and as this depends on opinion or pref
udice, one Is reminded Of the distin-
guished EngIishman who, In speaking
of the court Of chancery, said that the
proceedings were all a matter Of COM
science, and as the consciences Of thd
different chancellOrs varied as much
as the size Of their feet. SO did their
decisions on any question. Now, the
constitution Of the United States has
been construed in more different ways
than all the judges together had fcet,
but always in harmony with what was
the controlling influence or power OF
the times. Before the war the slave
power and the south dominated the
court. Since the war concentrated
wealth and the east has dominated the
court, and the time viii come when jus1
tlce end the great Mississippi valley
will dominate the court.
"This particular decision recognizes
the divinity Of wealth by exemptlng "
from taxation, and 1t breathes curse
against enterprise by making 1t bear
all the burdens Of government. But ie
is in harmony with that passage OF
scripture which says that "for he tha9
hath, to him shall be given; and he that
hath not, from his shall be taken even
that which he hath" And 1t Is In per-
feet accord with the Republican and
Mugwump theory of government now
being applied in this country, and, "a
this decision is in favor Of New England
and few eastern cities. and against
the rest Of America. 1t Is also In har~
mony with what will soon be recog-
nIzed as the sixteenth amendment TO
the constitution, which declares that &
gllded vestlbule is no more important
than the remainder Of the house, thai
the interests Of tho east are paramouns
to the interests of the rest Of the coun-
try. i also shows that q least two q
the oo-ardinate branches Of our gov
eminent receive their inspiration ct TIE
same altar. r.s w - sla.ll---l I.
"YoN remember that the president
OPPOSED the Income tax and would NOT
sign the tariff bill. and Mr.. Wilson,
who represented him in congress, op4
posed the income tax. Congress, how
ever, knowing that almost every clvilI
ICED country had an income tax. AND
believing 1t to be the most just form o.
taxation, and having no doubt about it
constltutionality, passed the measurel
both Republicans and Democrats sur
porting It. For a4inie there was bittetf
ness In the camp Of Mammon, but thd
Supreme court has come to the rescue,
and now the Standard Oil kings, tho
Wall street people, as we'll as the rlc9
mugwumps, are again happy. To b
sure, the great business and producing
classes are not relieved; their burden
Is made a little heavier, and the whiu
has made new welt on their backs,
but what Of III In fact, what are they
there for. II not to bear the burden4
and to be lashed?
but this decision Is radically defect4
I've In humber Of particulars. d II
should contain a pahegyric OF The md
iesty Of the law and the exalted char
act6r OF eternal justice. (2) It should
have contained a singing rebuke ID
the growing discomfort Of the times,
90 II should contain a declaration IN
favor Of gold, for II the interest on
bonds Is divine and so sacred that moi
a cent Of It can be used to help bear
the burdens Of government, then the
court should see to 1t that this sacred
household god Of the east shall nevei
suffer proclamation by having the rim
Of It's eyes made silvery. But It would
be unreasonable to expect the court e
think Of everything. Besides, 1t will
have other opportunities from time "a
time to solidify our institutions and ID
teach patriotism by coming down with
terrific force on some wretch whose vul'
garity and unpatriotlc character will b
proven by the fact that he is poor.
1.-THE decision, however, suggests {
more important question to the Ameri,
can people. You know that the judges
of the Supreme court when In session
wear large black gowns, such as WerO
worn In the middle ages. In othel
countries and in other times this Waa
done to make little men seem great. IN
this country 1t is done to impress the
populace with the infallibility OF the
court. Now, as these gowns are moi
very thick, and as some people might
be able to see through them, and al
some Of our business people may be unt
patriotic enough to question the jus'
tlce Of having to pay large income
tax while the rich pay nothing, and al