The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-27
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, ID. c., May "a, 1909
Despite the claims and confident
predictions of Senators Cummins,
La Toilette, Newlands aud others
that provision for an income tax
will be added to the tariff bill, your
correspondent ventures the predic-
ton that they are all mistaken and
that no such provision will be
made. There will be an effort to
add such provision in the form of
an amendment to the tariff bill
but it will fail and the amendment
will be referred to the Judiciary
committee with instructions to re-
port ilext winter whether an income
tax law that will standj the test of
the courts can be drafted. It's high
ly improbable, moreover, that the
Judiciary committee will ever make
any report pursuant to thai refer
ence. Some of the Democratic adj
vocates of an income tax law are
complaining that they are being
opposed by President Taft and that
the White House influence j. prov
ing effective. That is probably
true, for while Mr.. Taft has said
that he is not opposed to an income
tax, lie regards it as last resor,
and would greatly prefer, first a tax
on lnheritances, second OH the div
idends of corporations, and lastly
an income tax, if any tax in addi.
ton to the tariff is necessary to
meet the expenses of the govern
ment. The President has further
signified his willingness to wait un
til next December before recon-
mending any of these laws, as by
that time he believes it will be pos.
sible to tell whether or not the now
pending tariff bill will bring in suf-
hcient revenue.
*a*
1t is Somewhat difficult to under
stand why the Democratic Senators
do not advocate tax on the divi-
dends of corporations. Such tax
would meet with the cordial ap-
proval of the President and proba-
ably with that of nine tenths. of the
voters. OF course Mr.. Aldrich and
the rest of the Republican organi-
zation in the Senate would oppose
such a tax but it is very doubtful
if the organization could command
sufficient strength to prevent the
of the law. BY choos-
ing that form of taxation which
the President has declared that he
favors only as last resort the Dem
ocrats have, apparently missed an
to undermine the
whole system of protection. Sena-
tor Aldrich has ingeniously con-
fessed that he believes the adoption
of any form of special taxation will
undermine the protective system,
because once the people come to
realize the benefits of direct taxa
ton, with the clear knowledge of
how much tax each man pays and
the close supervision of public ex-
penditures which that wonld pro-
duce, the people will insist upon
the abandonment of the tariff sys-
tenn. Under such circumstances it
would seem to be the part of wis
dom on the part of the Democrats
to align themselves behind that
form of direct taxation which
would be most possible of enact
uent.
*M*
Senator Bailey, in an effort to
defend his vote for duty on iron
ore, has assailed practically every
one who has seen fit to criticise him
and almost before he took his seat
was proven to have given false wit
ness by two of his colleagues. Bal
ley attacked Governor Johnson of
Minnesota, "Marse' Henry Wat
terson of Louisville, and an indie
pendent paper in his own state
because they had criticised his vote
for duty on iron ore. He then
declared that the Steel Trust did
not want duty on iron ore, where
upon Senator Rayner and Smith Of
Maryland, both Democrats, arose
and declared that the Steel Trust
did want such a duty and Mr..
Smith said he had been approached
by representatives of the Steel Trust
who urged him to vote for duty
on ore.
***
Some striking effects of the tar
if on the necessities which the
poor man is compelled to buy are
brought to light through a contro-
versy between two eastern news