The Washington times., 1909-06-22
Not an Easy Matter To
Get New Amendments
BY ]. C. WELLIvER.

or by the people direct. or by conven-
lions held for the purpose in the several
States; or if II chose, il might determine
the apportionment, and leave the state
Legislatures to decide the method OF Sc
lection to suit themselves.
Once called, the convention would be
"A law unto itself. 1t could not DE
stopped. II could propose complete
reorganization of the Constitution, OF
its abolition; or il could send TO the peo-
pie any number of amendments 1t chose.
But having been prepared by the COIL
NentiOn, the amendments would nave 10
States; and this is the safeguard
against any very radical action oy
convention.
The almost impossibnity of amending
the Constitution under modern condl-
lions has led to various proposals Tor
a gateway amendment" whose pur-
pose should be to change Article v so
as to make amendment easier. These
proposals have in recent time attract
ed more or less attention, and have hau
considerable radical support.
Proposal Is Vague
There has been serious effort to have
the Legislatures call convention mere
ly for the purpose Of the gateway
amendment" but these have proved
abortive simply because there has been
insuperabIe difficulty about arousing
a
Coming back to the income tax
amendment now seriously proposed it
is evident that there is ar excellent pros
pect for its submission to the Begisla-
lures If it shall De so submitted the
eXigencies OF a remarkable legislative
situation Will be responsible rather than
any. effective organized effort OF aroused
public sentiment II is recognized that
the income tax is % strong with the
people that to vote against its sumbiS-
sion. once the proposition Is brought
forward, would be a serious matter for
most public men; but the proposition
would nos have been forced through
Congress In years TO come bat for the
strange situation which has arisen in
connection with the tariff ill at IN
time
VIII an income tax amendment carry
the necessary three-fcuTths of the
States, If Congress submits it2 The an
swer commonly heard is decidedly af-
firmatiVe Yet those who study into
the matter closely express much uncer-
tainty 1t is pointed out that some
States already have income tax meas
ures OF their own and VIII be lOath to
give them up, while a Federal income
tax would impose double taxation:
Then there is always possibility Of
handling Legislatures so that IN sucn
cases the popular interest Is more )r
less misrepresented and lost sight of.
New England Doubtful.
The New England States are looked
upon as very doubtful. Opposition will
be strong in that section. Some Of the
sanization-controled far Western
Sts ties are likewise regarded as liable
tc reject the measure. Its reference
To an unfrindly committee in one Leg
islature, the control of one house by
tome combination of interests and poll
tics in another a bit of corruption
where 1t would do the most gUod-these
forces might influence the Legislatures
OF the necessary number Of States TO
reject the proposal Here is a list when
one member Of Congress made up. Of
States which might find their Legs
latures opposing such an amendment:
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Islam. connect
icut, New York. New Jersey Della
ware, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Montana,
Nevada. West Virginia.
Uncertain States
He looked upon all these as States
which must be accounted more or less
uncertain until there shall have been
more definite capitalization of sentiment
than has thus faT taken place His
opinion was that In great and pop
ular fight accompanied by an uprising
of the community and a general inter
est in the measure almost or quite
every State would vote for the amend
ment; but If il should he permitted
somewhat to drift, Legislatures might
be secured to reject IT.
In any case, 10 IS certain that income
tax will be a very live political issue
for a long time to come IN national
affairs, and that there is good prospect
that il may likewise become an import
ant question IN the States,