Evening star., 1895-05-21
BY THE PEOPLE.
Suggestion to Elect the Supreme
Court Justices.
FHE FRIENDS OF THE INCOME TAX
Criticisms They Make on the De,
cision Of Yesterday.
A TO PIC FOR AGITATORS

The dissenting justices themselves hav--
ing set the example, criticism heard in
pohtical circles friendly to an income tax
Is very pronounced on the subject of the
supreme Courts decision in that case.
Ihese expressions. so far as Individual pub
neity is concerned, are guarded as vet.
the men most aroused are lawyers, as well
as politicians, and have two reasons for
,heir discretion. Professional propriety en-
JOINS caution in attacking the highest
court IN the land, and as politicians their
liosram is necessarily still in the future
'u' .he assertion is openly made that. So
iai from the question having been settled
"s 'he court, the decision rendered will
strengthen the cause with the people. and
make the agitation of an income tax ono
OF the leading features of future no,iticoI
activity
'ourses Open to the Friends of tbe
Tax.
What courses are open to the friends of
,he tax! and which one are they likely to
take? :"
Inc hrst suggestion relates to a change
III 'he personnel of the court. The vote
as ciose. Judge Shlras changed front,
ana that defeated the tax Judge JacLson
is on the eve of retiring from the bench
anu Judge Field contemplates a service of
ohIy Two years longer. Why not wait. the
6ebt f. thsefvauves n,t are asking. and make the
nsnt when the successors of those two
men , are to be appointed? Meanwhile. by
heSpins the question before the people the
cause VIII strengthen and the pressure to
pe prought to bear on the appointing power
When the time comes will be Increased
Another suggestion, and one that comes
from a very high source is that an amend
ineh. me- De proposed to the Constitution max
aiaip
IN contemplation. The procedure would be
70 oHer resolution in Congress to such
erect and submit the matter to the
states The argument is that the Sunre,na
Court as at present constituted docs NOT
srring from the people, and therefore does
not properly represent the people 1t ia
700 iar removed from sympathy with pop
oiar causes and from popular Responsible
ty. The disposition is growing it is as
serted, to bring all official bodies into
closer touch with the popular chord, and
tnerepy insure prompter and more thor
ough response to popular demands.
ne movement for the election of United
states Senators by direct vote of the peo-
PIE is an expression of this feeling. and
u is now proposed to take the sense of
the country on the point as it relates to
the judiciary. 1t is also suggested that the
powers of the Supreme Court be curtailed,
and especially in the direction of the un-
limited veto which it now exercises over all
the enactments of the national legislature.
Object of the Court.
While the opponents Of an income tax
have not the slightest thought that any
such resolution could be put through Con-
gress, they deplore the bare suggestion of
the thing. 1t strikes at the very founda-
ton Of the whole judicial structure. The
very object, as they point out, for which
the Supreme Court was created would be
destroyed by such a change. The fathers
intended that it should be remote. and re-
main remote, from popular influences and
agitations. 1t was designed as check on
popular clanor ard eXcitement-a SOBER
reflective mentor to bring the people back
to reason after a period of excitement and
danger. But If the court is to be made a
foot ball for the political arena, and par
ticularly at a time when popular discon-
tent is SO high as at present damage TO
good government and security may be
wrought beyond the power of the strongest
men at any early day 10 repair.
Tempting Topic for Asftntorx.
1t is conceded that this topic will be
tempting one for professional agitators, and
the fear is expressed that they will add it
a count to their indictment of what
they characterize as the money power in
politics. They are already campaigning
upon the assertion that the money power
made the latest tariff bill. and is seeking
to make new currency bill. Some of the
western states are vocal with this charge.
The people are told that unless they rise
UP and take matters into their own hands
the end of popular government will soon be
reached. Now, if this income tax decision
is to be quoted another evidence of the
disposition of those in office to favor the
rich at the expense of the poor, the cam
paign in question will grow materially In
intensity. For one thing, it will simplify
the accusation brought. The character OF
money is difficult of treatment before a
popular assembly, but the question OF
taxes is susceptible of easy explanation.
The popular agitator has only to tell his
hearers that the poor are paying the taxes,
while the rich are exempt, to score imme-
diately with every man present whose pos
sessions are small, and to enroll such men
under his banner of lighting for such
changes as he may be insisting should be
brought about to correct this.
In the Next Election.
When the Supreme Court divided equally
on this matter the opinion was expressed
that the effect would be to throw the ques-
ton into the next presidential election.
Friends of the law it was held. would thus
appeal the case to the people. But it is re-
garded as more certain now than it was
then that the parties must handle 1t in
their national conventions or openly refuse
to handle it. 1t will be presented for con-
sideration. Gen. Harrison, it is thought,
aspirants to make comment on the decision
of the court He has spoken with char
acteristic discretion. He thinks it better
that the court should have vetoed the law
outright than to have left 1t hanging in the
n as under the former decision.