Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-19
tsBseiai to The BuiietIn.)


 Washington, July 17.-While the house of representatives was in com- mittee of the whole, having under consideration the urgent deficiency hill, Mn HigGins kEpiifed the flBef Hfla tnede few remarks 6n the subject 6f the pf'pposed corporation tax
 MT. Higgins said:
 Mr, SbseRsf Being impressed with ssftain ifequitable features of the corporation tax, and believing. that nlaerasen time time M E allgNsa l5ga fo tg o the peceas.ty of any special form of taxation at this time, want to make lew observations, discharging there- by my duty to nay constituents as see 1t, intending as I do, provided have the opportunity, td vote against this amendment, An unusual situa- ton confrents this house: A bF5p6si- ton that hffsf Has Beet bhf6fk btk- sehteH tb the E6ngress Or the people f0r their consideration is now being urged as matter. of financial neces- |>sity, and involves aside from it's rev enue features most important consid- erati0ns. The financial necessity ex- ists on account of our present deficit and the anticipated failure of the tariff bill now fin process of enactment te yield suff1cetit fatehlit,
 NV guy lIdt IL 1tOuSItbb ildS IOt the right within the constitution to tax the f1et revenues of corporations 1t ousht to have, hs 1t ought b have the Tight to tax every eent Of prop erfy within its borders that in times of war or other areat crises 6ll the resources of the country ean be used hs the. tecessities exist. I would fiot restrict By any amendment of our or ganic law the power of the federal
 
 thing at a time of most extraordinary demand, and I would depIere the legal necessity of any judicial construction which would prevent the national gov ernnent from the fullest exercise. of its taxing pewers 1t was for this fea- son that 1 voted to submit the income tax amendment of the constitution to the states for ratification. the supreme court having declared that without ap- portiOnnef1t according to B6pu1atioh such a tax Is unconstitutional Nt one is wise enough to accurately fofe- tell when the necessity may arise fei an income tax. i regard an income tax as an extreme measiire only tc be used on, extraordinary occasions Equality of representation and equali- ty Of taxation must go hand in hand in the progress of our nation and ir the development and extension of oul
 
 ty years our national expenditures have increased from s6 to $11 per cap ita.
 I believe that the wealth of the country has increased in a greater proportion, but even with this large increase in expenditures we are no able to meet the demands now fol increased appropriations. Every veal or two another channel is found fol the diversion of the public funds. IT the past our revenues have been se- cured in the main from indirect taxa ation and the average man has not fell the burden nor is he conscious of the tax that is put upon him nor will he be until such time as he realizes that he is paying a part of the money that is annually appropriated to maintain the federal. government. It will bt difncult for the national government tt now devise different method of rais ing revenue or an additional method of raising revenue that will not ir some degree trespass upon the source. of revenue now depended upon b, some of the fortys six states of the un. ion and in some instances double ant perhaps treble taxation result IT passing let me say that it is my ow1 conviction that too much time is de. voted to trying to get more money tt spend and too little time as to whethel present expenditures are wise or need ed. A great business organization O any kind finding that it's income wal wess than it's expenditures, while de. voting itself to securing and increas ing it's income, would use all it's en ergies to cut down unnecessary ex penses and most carefully scrutiniz, | every expenditure and make none ex, cept after the fullest demonstration O 1 it's necessity.