The San Francisco call., 1899-09-22
CONGRESS AND THE TAX STRIKERS.

{ ENA1OR PEKhINS ana HelIlOeio VI tilN
House OF Representatives from this State have
- in response an inquiry from The Call, de-
clared themselves clearly and emphaticay in favor OF
so amending the war revenue law as to remove from
it any antiquities by language which afford pre-
text for tax-shirking the part OF express compa-
nies, telegraph companies or other corporations.
The issue has been forced upon Congress by the
success with which such corporations as the Wells
Fargo Company have shifted the burden OF taxation
from themselves upon the public, The Sinking has
been carried persistently notwithstanding the
plain intent of the law is that the companies shall
ax revenue stamps to receipts bills OF ladlng, and
notwithstanding the courts have repeatedly sustained
that intent.
In his reply to the inquiry OF The Call Senator Per-
kirs said Il know it was the intention OF the FL
nance Committee OF the Senate that had the war
revenue bill before them for consideration,
as well as the intention OF the Senate
when the bill was passed, that the law should
apply to express and telegraph companies as
well as railroad steamship and other transportation
companies giving receipts and bills OF ladlng There
fore If there is any ambiguity in the language of the
law which exempts express and telegraph companies
from paying their taxes, I shall consider it my duty
to vote for such an amendment as Will remedy the
defect"
In that statement we have explicit declaration
of the intent of the Senate in enacting the law and
an expressed doubt as to any ambiguity OF the law.
AS matter OF fact it is not ambiguous. Any man
who reads it can understand the plain meaning that
express and telegraph companies should pay the
stamp taxes and the have again and again de-
clared that meaning Still the law is not enforced.
The express and telegraph companies continue to ex-
tort the tax from the public and to at defiance the
intent OF Congress- the indignation OF the people and
the decisions OF the courts.
What is required in a case of this kind is act OF
Congress imposing a heavy penalty for tax-shirkng
and providing for speedy means OF bringing all dis
pued questions OF taxation to final decision by the
Supreme Court 1t is well remembered that when
the great corporations OF the country. wished
prompt settlement OF the disputed validity OF the in
come tax they obtained it within few months They
obtained it before the first instamen OF the tax was
collected Now the country demands that when the
people desire question settled they shall be able
to obtain the settlement promptly did the cor
poratons in the income tax cases.
The shrllng OF the war taxes by Wells Fargo Com
pany began by an offer to The Call, and presumably
to other large patrons, that the company would
ni3e at a system OF cheating the Government 1t
proposed that The Call send its packages to the
press company by the wagon-load and the company
would receipt for the whole load as one package thus
requiring but stamp, Beginning in that way by
an effort to promote frauds the abuses of the cor
poration have been carried to such extent they
have now become a public scandal, rejecting dis
credit upon the Government itself.
The war revenue law will be revised at the next
session OF Congress That much is certain. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether in the revision the Sinking
corporations will have the power to still further de
feat the ends of law and justice. The California dele
CATION we are now assured will stand firmly for the
people. SO far this State is concerned the issue
against the extortionate companies has been won,
and there is every to believe an overwhelming
majority OF both houses will stand with US in the fight
that is TO come.