The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-31
WHY NOT TEST THEN?


4 EDEttftttt OF al lttpi+AN A66
Congress shall deem such a tax expe-
dent The president has recommend
ed an income tax, and the Deinoc!a.I
party stands for an income TAX M
income tax measure would De pb3ttteH
To by some on the ground that II would
be held unconstitutional, but q consu-
tutiOnaI amendment specifically au-
thoFizing an income TX would orihg
the fight on the principle rather tnan
on details and would erabie Us 70 hnd
out how many Republicans are reaiiS
in favor Of the principle involved IN
an income tax.
The president asks that the inter
state commission be authoT-
lied to ascertain the present value OF
the railroads heneV II deems the
matter important Would II not De
we'll for the Democratic caucus to pre-
pare and present a measure authorIZ-
ing and instructing the Interstate com
mission 10 ascertain h value OF the
railroads? If the Republicans refuse
TO support q measure authorizing the
commission to ascertain the value OF
all the railroads, let another measure
be framed in exact accordance with
the presidents recommendation au-
thoTizing the commission Ito make q
physical valuation OF any railroad
whenever in its judgment it is neces-
sary." The Republican party must
either accept such a measure or con
feSs its opposition to the president $
recommendation. In recommending
the enlargement Of the scope of the
interstate commission the
president has simply followed the
Democratic platform, and the Demo
cratic party ought not to hesitate TO
urge the fulfllment Of a doctrine set
forth in the Democratic platforms OF
1896, 1900 and 1904.
The president recommends that he
interstate commission shall
l. -s--1- -@--a 80 ~ &C. Yrrnv1 the 1lJ-
ture issue OF securities of railroad
companies. This is not only Demo-
cratic but it is e~minently just, ana
now while the people are smarting
over the effects of vast issues of wat
cred stock. public attention should be
drawn to the subject, and the Repub-
lican leaders should be forced to &C
cept the presidents recommendation
or reject it. The Republican leaders
Will not take the initiative in these
matters because the Republican lead
ers take their inspiration from the
great corporations, but they car be
put upon the defensive if the Demo-
cratic party by united action forces
them to tax a position.
The railroad managers. would be
glad to get national incorporation of
railroads, but this TIE Democratic par
ty can n ought to oppose to the
very end We do not need national
Interpretations; the constitutional pow
err of Congress regulating interstate
commerce is ample. National incor-
poration is not desired by the rail
roads in the interest or better regula-
ton, and the Democratic party will
| not for a moment countenance any
| surrender of the power that the State
now has to protect it's own people in
all matters relating to with
| in the State even when that commerce
: is carried on by a railroad that runs
through several States.
| On the subject of arbitration the
Democratic party should in aucus ad-
Vocate q measure which provides q
board of arbitration, the findings OF
the board not to be binding upon eth
Ell party but to be a guide to public
I opinion and a means of Cancellation
between labor and capital If thi:
( hoard contains five members say, anC
! then two members are added in each
dispute, one to be selected by eacf
( side, both sides will be insured {
fair hearing, and the chances are tina
q full Investigation Will leade to al
amicable settlement of differences anc
thus protect the public from the In
= conveniences of a strike. the employee
/ from the h%ardships involved in
> strike and the employers from the bit
terness and i'll will that often accom-
PAM a strike. If the Democrats viii
2 present such a measure-and such
u measure is in harmony with the Dem
u oCratic platforms of 1896. 1900 an,
1904-the Republicans have to &C
> Cept the measure or place themselve
on record as opposed to the presidents
recommendation.
On the subject of by in
junction the Democrats can also MAX
use of the presidents recommendation,
IL and compel the Republican leaders t
consent to the necessary legislation o
C confess their opposition to it. This tes
i Z 1 l no ~ do. hx- fIn
IS a caucus measure giving to the &C
cused in contempt cases the right O
IL trial by jury when the contempt com
planned of is not committed in tn
u presence of the court and must be es
le tablished. by evidence.
le The same test can be made in tn
matter of the eight hour day and i
{ other matters relating to the Welfar
, of the labOring man.
h president intimateS in his mes
sage that the suspension OF state law
ID by injunction issued by federal Judge
T has been carried too far. This actio
e by the Republicans upon a very i'm
IL portant question. This can be don
u by a caucus measure which will eS
> pressly deny to circuit and distriC
~ judges of the United tSates courts tn
Is right to suspend state laws, leayin
lie those laws to be passed upon first b
the state courts with the right of az
ty peal to the United States Suprem
so court il ii constitutional right is de
ct MED to the corporations. Surely tn
at corporations which do business in
t. state and rely upon the state corr
ut for the condemnation of land and fc
+ the protection of their Ope fro,
I'd criminal acts ought to be compelle
Sc to give the state courts the benefit {
to the presumption and test their righ'
ic in these state courts first before the
II, appea to the federal courts.
ut Now is the time for the Democrat
tn party to lay down the lines of II
re coming campaign. The presidents reC
Y concentrations have given the Deut
he Gratis their opportunity. If the r,
by publicans are willing to go as far ;
he the president has gone, several Den
ct ocratic measures wilt be enacted I
o. the present Congress If on the co,
It's trary the Republican leaders refuse
or follow the presidents recommend;
lions, the breach between the pres
r dent and his party will be shown ar
n the differences of opinion emphasize
ne Besides urging the Democrat
II measures which the president h;
ce wholly or partially endorsed, the Den
be ocrats should also force q vote uDC
MT the popular election Of United Stat
senators. That measure has alreaC
s. been endorsed five times by the Hou
of Representatives but the Sonata y.