Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-01
THE INCOME TAX CASES
No Decision on Them Handed Down by the
Supreme Court.
Only One Important Case Acted Upon
A Large Audience Dfsappointed-
Speculation as to the Opinion.

The United States Supreme Court dis
appointed an anxious audience today in
failing to hand down a decision in the in
come tax case. A large crowd assembled
in the court room to hear the opinions of
the learned judges in case they should be
presented. The audience outside the rail
was composed principally Of ladies, at
tracted there by curiosity, and a number of
newspaper correspondents.
An assemblage of distinguished jurists
graced the bar of the court upon this oc-
oasion, the attendance including three ex-
cabinet officials, eX-Attorney General Gar
land, ex-Secretary Bristow and ex-Secre-
tary Boutwell,. Senator Morrill, was an at
tentive listener, and many of the most
prominent attorneys of the city were pres
ent.
Several Decisions, but Not the One
Looked For.
The court handed down several decisions
in minor cases, but no reference was made
to the income tax case or the Debs case.
While 1t Is not beyond the bounds of pos
siblity to render a decision during the
week, such thing is unusual, and prob
ably will not be done and the income tax
case will probably be decided next Monday
or the succeeding Monday.
While there is no time limit upon the
court for acting in the matter, it is thought
they will render a decision some time this
month, as the income tax becomes payable
after April Is and before July l. and in
case of an unfavorable decision consider
able embarrassment would be caused III
the case Of those persons who had paid.
The only opinion of Importance read was
one denying an application made in behalf
of August Bergman, a New Jersey muir
derer under death sentence.
Speculation ns to the Opinion.
When Attorney General Olney was argu-
ing the income tax cases for the govern
ment during the progress of the recent
hearing in the Supreme Court he sug
gested that parts of the income tax law
might be declared Invalid without affect
ing the law as a whole, mentioning the
incomes derived from rents and from state,
cornty and municipal bonds, which might
be excepted by a decision, and q number
of lawyers, including members of the Sen
ate, think it probable that when the der
cision shall De reached it will be on these
lines.
Senator Vest, who, as a member of the
france committee, helped to frame the bill,
expressed the opinion yesterday that such
a decision was possible, and indicated his
belief that he thought the income on bonds
was In especial danger.
Discussing the question, he said that a
great many changes had been made in the
bill in the Senate, after it was reported
from the finance committee, which it had
BEEN intended to correct in conference
The provision in regard to the taxation of
incomes on bonds was one Of these, and it
would have been stricken out If the con-
fere nee report had ever been considered by
the Senate and House and accepted, as
such a change was agreed upon by the
cCnferees.
Mr.. Choatc's Charge.
Senator Vest was reminded of the charge
nade by Mr.. Choate in arguing the case in
the Supreme Court that some attorney
must have received a big fee for securing
the exemption of mutual insurance COM
panies. "Oh;" he replied. that is on par
with the charges that were made about IL
the sugar schedule, and If Mr.. Choate
wants to make that sort of an argument
have nothing to say. My recollection is
that the exemption was suggested by Sec
rotary Carlisle. He thought it was
proper exemption, and I agreed with him,
and I still think it was proper