Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-12-04


be no failures of consequence. Why ask
the general government to do what can
obviously be done by the several States
better, or just as we'll? The closer the
people can keep watch of their own
money, the safer it is, for an official OF
the United States is no more honest
than a State official is.
Income and Inheritance Taxes.
If we are to have a federal income
tax, it is evident that the income from
land will escape taxation under the de-
cision of the Supreme Court in 1898.
In that case Mr.. Choate's argument
was so adroit that the court reversed
itself and decided that to tax the In
come from land was to tax the land
itself. Now an income tax that would
not apply to all the great landed pro-
prietOrs would hardly be fair and
just tax upon the income of others
who would have to pay 1t. There Is no
more equitable tax than the tax upon
incomes, if it is applied to all and
graded according to their means to pay
that is, the greater the income the
higher rate of taxation.
President Roosevelt in his speech nj
Harrisburg reiterated his opinion that
| incomes should be taxed and also that
great fortunes should be-if not confis-
| cated-at least greatly diminished by
an inheritance tax. AS 1t requires an
almost unanimous public sentiment to
amend the constitution, the income tax
looks like far off proposition, unless
the incomes from land are allowed to
go free of taxation. How therefore
does President Roosevelt propose TO
carry out his Recommendations There
wuld seem to be but one way and that
is to so pack the Supreme Court that
it will reverse its income tax deci-
sion. There is good reason to believe
that the majority of one against the
income tax has already been changed
! by later appointments, and that the in
| tention to appoint Secretary Moody as
one of the Justices will make a GER
tain majority in favor of au income
tax, when such a question is again up
| for decision.
There is a big obstacle to carrying
out this change in the complexion OF
the Supreme Court, for 1t requires
"the advice and consent of the Senate
to confirm a justice of the Supreme
Court and there is a lurking suspicion
that the Republican majority of the
Senate is not In full accord with tax
ing incomes and there will be more OPP
position to the conflscation of large
fortunes, through an excessive Inherit
| ance tax.
The Democratic plan is to so amend
or enact laws that there will be no pro-
lection, or special privileges, To build
up these enormous fortunes, while the
Republican plan is TO tax the many for
the benefit of the few, and then after
the few are dead, confscate large
proportion of their III gotten gains as
restitution for years of plundering.
Democratic Gains.
| The election news, since the full re-
! turns have been reported, shows great
Democratic gains. The election of all
the State officers in New York, other
than governor, by small Democratic
majorlties in spite of all the weight
and influence of the administration.
indicates that the great heart of the
Empire State still beats in unison With
Democracy and chat with popular can
didates in 1908 the electoral vote of
the State Is likely TO be in the Demo
cratic column
But the most wonderful change
from abject surrender to the trust and
corporation to the reviving influences
of good government is In New Jersey.
y tabulation of the votes by counties
shows a Democratic majority of II, $50
In the State. The Republican plurall-
ty Cor the Assembly tickets last year
was 57,97S and Roosevelt was elected
by $4,000, and there was $1,000 ma
jority Tor the Republican Governor
This is the first Democratic majority
in the State since 1888 and indicates
that Jersey justice" will cleanse the
State of the ring of corruptionists and
srafters that have infested her and
like New York will be again doubtful
States, with the chances favOring the
Democracy.
The other Democratic gains are I'm
Rhode Island, Minnesota, North DalSo-
ia, Missouri and Oklahoma which
States all gave large Democratic ma
jorities The Democratic candidates
for Governor of Kansas was only de-
feated by 1000 votes, a gain of G5,0O0
over the vote of 1904. The Democratic
gain OF over fifty members of Con-
gress shows the general trend Of the
country 10 swing toward Democratic
policies, and when the standpat doc
trine of the Republican Congress fur
Their indicates that real tariff reform
is impossible as long as that party COLI
trolls the legislative branch Of the gov
eminent there will be still greater
revolt against high trust prices, which
those corporations are protected by the
tariff in extorting
All that Democrats have 10 do to
ensure success Is to get together on es-
sential policies and leave any differ
ences on minor matters TO be settled
by Congress and legislatures as they
arise and perfect their organization in
the several States that will see that
Democratic voters go TO the polls and
their votes are honestly counted
An Honest and Impartial Republicans
The retirement Of Secretary Hitch
cock from the Cabinet is great loss to-
Der Of the Administration that has ac-
complished real results In his depart
ment that are worth talking about
He has not boosted or clustered, but
has pretty effectualIy cleared out the
land thieves and punished them with
out fear or favor. Republican United
States Senators and Congressman that