The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-27
LAUGH|NGHOUSE'S
RINGING RESOLVES
He Goes to the Root0f Grave
National Evils.
TO TAX TRUSTS HEAVY
As Recommended by Report Of the Committee
at American Bar Association
Other Live Topics Pre-
ssnted.
TO TAX TRUSTS HEAVY


sion at Buffalo, New York, adjourned al
ter passing mild resolutions in favor of
enforcing existing laws against trusts.
The convention did not endorse the dras-
tic and effective measures offered IN
series of resolutions offered by Mr.. j. }.
Jaughinehouse. of North Carolina, but
they are educative and well worth con-
sideration. Mr. LaughiEghouse has gwen
long and earnest consideration to the
trust evil, particularly as it bears upon
the farmers of the country He mas
read much. and has seen and felt the
burdens imposed by the trusts upon
American agriculture, and the remedies
he offered are believed by him and by
many others to be necessary to give re-
lief. The resolutions offered in that con-
vention by Mr.. Laughinghouse are as
fellows:
ENFORCE THE CRIMINAL STATUTES.
Whereas. Notwithstanding the penalties
against trusts have been upon the statute
book for ten years, there has been no
instance of conviction or punishment IN,
f1icted in a single instance hereunder,
while these devourers of the peoples sub
stance have been multiplied like the
plaques of Egypt,
Resolved. That this Convention respect
fully petitions the President of the Unit
ed States to see that the criminal sta
tutes aaginst trusts be strictly executed,
In both letter and spirit
TEN PER CENT. TAX ON TRUSTS.
g Whereas, The criminal statutes
against trusts have proven ineffective Tor
their suppression; and whereas, the I'M
position of n ten per cent. tax upon state
banks of issue, perfectly legitimate bus
mess. procured their instant destruction
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petitions Congress to impose fran
chise tax of ten (10) per cent. upon ali
corporations engaged in interstate com
merce whose capital stock shall exceed
one hundred million of dollars.
INCOME TAX NEEDED, DEMANDED.
Whereas. One third of the revenues Of
Great Britain are derived from grad
uated tax upon incomes, the ratio IN
cIeasing in proportion to the size OF the
income: and whereas, by the change OF
opinion of one Judge of the Supreme
Court OF the United States, the income
tax levied by Congress, which had been
constitutional for more than one hun
bred years, was suddenly held unconstl-
tutional, thus transferring one hundred
millions of annual taxation frcm these
most able to bear it and placing it upon
those least able to bear it. whereby, al
ready in these ten years the masses have
paid one thousand millions of dollars in
taxation which the people through their
representatives in both houses of Con-
gress had ordered should De paid by In
come Tax. Now, therefore,
Resolved We earnestly petition Con-
gress to enact Constitutional Amend
ment to be submitted to the Legislatures
of the several States empowering Con-
giess to levy an Income Tax.
ELECTION OF SENATORS, JUDGES.
4 whereas, In free country no public
office should be deemed so high and I'M.
portant that the people are incompetent
to fill it, and it is increasingly important
that the people should retain supervision
of their public servants:
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petitions Congress to pass Const-
tutional Amendment to be submitted to
the several Legislatures providing for the
election of United States Senators and all
United States Judges by the people, and
the adoption of a term of years, in lieu of
life tenure, for the latter.
AGAINST FREE PASSES, FRANKS.
s. Whereas, by the Interstate Commerce
Act, Railroad and Telegraph, Telephone
and Express Companies are forbidden to
make any discrimination, and by repeated
decisions of the proper Court. this Act
forbids the giving of Railroad free passes,
or Telegraph, Telephone and Express
franks to Senators, Congressman and
Judges or other public officials. and the
notorious violation of this law in favor
of public officials is bad example and
a scandal:
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petition the President to take steps
to secure the due execution of this
statute.
NO QUARTERS FOR SUBSIDIZED
SHEETS.
6. Whereas, 1t is notorious that great
trusts and corporations have acquir ed
ownership or control of a large part OF
the newspaper press with a view of In
fiuencing public sentiment in their inter
est and to prevent the dissemination OF
correct and full information of intelligence
upsn matters vitality affecting the public
welfare:
Resolved, That we recommend to the
farmers and toilers of this country to pat
ronize no paper whose utterances do not
show that it stands at all times fully and
squarely for justice to the people in the
great contest in which we are now en-
gagged, and against the trusts and illegal
combinations that would rob us of the
just fruits of our toll.
The papers did not state whether Mr.
Laughinghous made speech to the Con-
vention in favor of his resolutions. If he
did, he spoke with Characteristic force AMI
convincing argument. He is man who
does not advocate any cause in which he
does not sincerely believe, and man who
is ready always to give a reason for the
faith that is in him. A ringing speech
from him would have been like bugle