The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-06
HOUSE is EXPECTED TO
VOTE IN AFFIRMATIVE
Politicians Believe That Several States
VIII Vote Against Income Tax
But Not Enough To Defeat
the Amendment.

Washington, July 5.-(Special) )-Without
a dissenting vote the Senate this after
noon adopted the joint resolution providing
for the submission to the states of an
amendment to the constitution authoriz-
ing the levy of an income tax. Only 81
votes. two-thirds, were neeaed, but no
votes were cast in the negative while II
were given affirmatively.
That the amendment will be concurred
in by the House by probably unanimous
vote Is conceded. Under the constitution
three-fourths of the states-3tmust ratify
this amendment before it will become oper-
ative, hence from now there will be
great interest all over the country in the
action taken by states legislatures on the
subject 1t will probably be several years
before enough states have acted to either
ratify or defeat the amendment. Politi-
clans at the capital seem to be of one
opinion--that at least one-fourth of the
states-12-will be found against the amend
ment. Ten of them they are counting are
Maine. New Hampshire. Vermont, Con-
necticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, ;
New York. Pennsylvania and Delaware.
The other two they believe will be forth
coming.
Popular Tax.
However, the income tax is deservedly
popular and at this early day it is not
at all certain that majority of the peo-
pie of each of any II given states will be
found voting against the proposition. No
senator could be found today opposed to
it and every time the House has con-
sidered the matter it has had little op-
position If these reports reflect the views
OF their constituents defeat by the state
legislatures cannot bs accepted as fore
gone conclusion.
Most congressman believe. however, that
submission will remove the question of an
income tax from congressional discussion
for some time to come.
It will become a burning issue in the
states But 1t is not expected that the
echoes of the struggle will resound in
the halls of Congress.
First Effect Felt.
The first effect of the submission, it is
contended, will be to give formal ac-
quiescence of Congress to the decision of
the United States supreme court in the
income tax case decided in the Cleveland
administration. By the action now pend
ing, 1t is argued. Congress goes on record
as admitting that the decision was final
and the case should not be retired. This
is expected to cut off the offering of fu-
ture income tax amendments. which
otherwise would bob up at every session
of Congress. Opposition is expected to
come from two main sources; first, from
the ultra conservative and captalistic ele-
ment, and second from the high protective
tariff section In the industrial common
wealths.
1t Is said by thoughtful men in Con-
gress that the conservatives will oppose
vesting in Congress the constitutional au-
thority to enact an unlimited form of in
come tax. They will be afraid that in
times of great popular emotional upheav-
ais with new parties coming into power
under the leadership of demagogues it
will not be safe to put into the hands
of mere majority in Congress the un-
limited authority to tax wealth and vested
rights.
Tariff Sentiment.
The protective tariff sentiment in the
region east Of the Alleghenys will look
with appresension upon the substitution
of this new form of taxation for raising
revenue through customs receipts with the
accompanying protection to American in
dustries. The most of them would be
inclined to fear that If it should prevail
they would have no incomes to tax in a
few years.
They certainly apprehend, it Is said, that
the piling up of great revenue through
income taxation would remove the incen-
tive to raise revenue from customs, and
they are not altogether certain that the
system Of protection is so deeply rooted
that 1t can stand on the one prop of pro-
lection alone. Indeed, 1t has been openly
declared in the Senate that one argument
in favor of the income tax is that 1t will
supplant the protective tariff customs OF
revenue raising.
When Speaker Cannon gets through re-
organizing the House committee on bank
ing and currency 1t Is generally expect
ed that Representative Charles N. Fow-
Ter of New Jersey will no longer be the
head of 1t. Representative Edward B.
vreeland of New York is looked on as his
successor.
Place for Fowler.
In the absence of an official statement
there is a strong belief about the capitol
that Fowler is slated to retire as chair
man and that Vreeland will succeed
him.
1t is learned that the friends of Mr..
Fowler are apprehensive, and they have
done some intervening in his nehalf
If Fowler remains chairman Of this i'm
portant committee 1t will not be because
Mr.. Cannon wants him left in that posi-
ton, but because of the Intervention OF
friends of Fowler who have a drag"
, with the speakcS Uncle Joe's' ideas
and those of Fowler do not agree and
wouldn't agree II each lived to be a hun
dred years old.
It will not be long before Congress has
before It the currency question. The
monetary commission will have a report
to make in due time and then will come
up the question of enacting 1t into legis-
lation. AS the joint author of the Aldrich-
Vreeland bill and as member OF the
commission. Mr.. Vreeland would be a
great deal more likely to help put
through the legislation favored by the
commission than Mr.. Fowler would.
Fowler is a god deal of an independent
who has gone deeply into fiscal and cur
rency problems, and there are plenty Of