The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-12
President May Also Ask for Re-
vision Of The Tariff
50 THINKS MR. BLACKBURN
Both Are Popular Measures, and
Would Receive Hearty Demo-
cratic Support, Both in the
House and Senate.

Washington, November u.--(Special)-
Il will be greatly surprised if he does
not do so; in fact, l am willing to ven
ture the prediction that the President, in
his forthcoming message to Congress, will
recommend a revision of the tariff and
legislative provision for the federal
taxation of swollen fortunes"
Senator j. c. S. Blackburn, the demo-
cratic floor leader in the upper branch of
Congress, made the above steatement to-
night.
Il may be in error continued the sem
ator, but all signs are pointing that way.
II the President does these two things and
works for them with the same degree of
energy he has manifested in railroad leg
islation it will place upon him the stamp
of sincerity and will result in much public
good.
''An income tax and a revision of the
tariff are both popular measures, and both
are democratic The minority in the Sen
ate and in the House can be depended
upon to give the President their united
support ON any legislation looking to the
enactment of laws on these two subjects.
''What votes he loses in the Senate and
House from the republicans ] believe we
can more than supply him. Both PROPOSE
tions involve warfare with organized
wealth and corporate greed and will un-
doubtedly develop republican party oppo-
stion Just as the Presidents recommen-
dations for railroad rate legislation in
vited republican disaffecton.
do not understand me to mean that
Oubican revision Df thp tariff will ac-
complish any more practical good than
republican railroad legislation. The re-
publcans may undertake to cut off some
of the. excressences' of the Dingley tariff,
as Mr.. Taft called them in Ohio, but
there will be no sincere reduction Of
schedules in the interest of the people m-
stead of the trusts until the democrats
do the reducing However, whatever is
done will be under the name of tariff re-
vision and will have "a strong moral ef-
feet towards genuine legislation in the
future
lnsurmountable Obstacles.
II do not regard seriously" continued
the senator, 'the so-called insurmounta-
be obstacles standing in the way of in
come tax Legislation as is suggested by
the supreme courts decision on that sub
the railroad rate bill was pending its OPP
ponents We're constantly harping upon it's
unconsttutionalitN, but now you hear
nothing of this talk. Every one believes
the supreme court will hold the railroad
bill constitutional. No one has more re
spect for the supreme court than |, and |
am not lacking in respect when l say the
court is not impervious to public opinion.
Let an income tax law be carefully
drawn and have not the slightest doubt
that it will go through the cour; by a
greater majority than five to four. The
people want it and all that is needed Is
vigorous campaign ON the part of the
President There is nothing to fear from
the supreme court.
'And the effect on the Presidents future
in case he is successful in bringing about
these two reforms?" the senator was
asked.
II am assuming" he replied, that the
President means what he says in his an
nouncements. that he will not serve in the
White House after March 4. 1909. But
either way the President has nothing to
lose. and if IL be that he is going to ac-
cept the crown he has everything to gain
by advocating them. If the President is
not nominated the fight then turns upon
his successor in the republican party. The
nomination of any republican who is not
In sympathy with the Presidents views
these two subjects would mean the
irwhelming defeat of the republican
party. On the other hand the democrats
would not be handicapped by the nomna-
tion of one of the Presidents supporters
of these ideas For years the democratic
PARTY has advocted in and out of season
these two reforms and in the fight two
years hence 1t will start under the lead
ership of Bryan on more than an even
footing.
Now Is the Time.
Now, If the President has tariff re-
vision and this income tax in mind next
December is the time for him to say so.
This legislation could only occur during
the next session. and the combined ses-
sions of the Sixtieth Congress. IF post
poned until the Sixtieth Congress. only
eighteen months of MIR. Roosevelts adj
ministration would he available in which
to press both propositions.
Both will undoubtedly arouse bitter oD-
position among many republican party
leaders. Both propositions would be at
tackled with more determination than was
The demand for railroad rate legislation.
and like the latter would undoubtedly
take iIp an entire session of Congress In
preliminary jockeving and procrastination.
The President is fully aware of this, and
that is why 7 believe he will spring the
subject in his message next month.
Senator Blackburn was asked Tor his
opinion on the result of the recent cleo
tions. He expressed the belief that the
reduction of the republican majorities in
the House and democratic gains in the
various states were promising signs for
the democratic party.
''As for the election in New York" con-
tinued the senator, "It ought to be en-
tirely satisfactory to every democrat in
the country. Had l been handed pencil
and paper in advance of the election and
asked to block out the situation. | would
have written only two lines: Beat Hearst
and elect the balance Of the democratic
ticket
''That is Just what the voters of New
York state did. Mr.. Hearst was the
apostle of discomfort. lie attached 10
him an omnium gatherum of possessors
of grievances OF every kind and his cleo
tion as governor of New York would have
becn fraught with danger to the Empire
State and the country. aud would have
meant the virtual annihilaion of the dem
ocratic party. With his money and pow
erful means of self-advertisement ne
would have gone into every state working
for delegates. The democratic party