Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-28
CUMM|NS SAYS HE'S
A PROTECT|ON|ST
6uT MEASURED BY TESTS OF
SOME PROTECTIVE LEAGUE
He MAY BE UNSouND.
INTRODUCES INCOME TAX PRO-
FosAL AND DISCUSSES 1T AT
LENGTH.

Washington, April EMO senator
being prepared 10 speak on the tariff
bill as a whole. the reading of the
measure by paragraphs was begun
Various items in the chemical sched-
ule were passed over for future con
sideration. The reading was frequent
" interrupted by the discussion of
amendments and only Is pages of the
bill were disposed of. Senator Cum
mi2s presented his income tax proyi-
sion ana discussed it at length In
presenting the resolution Mr.. Cum
mias said that if any tax were levied
or corporations it would be extremely
difficult TO classify corporations to
meet the requirements Of the consti-
tuition. He declared that the gradu-
ated Income tax on corporations would
result in great corporations paying
the highest rate although their stock
might be largely held by men of small
means. In that way the result might
b. 20 place the highest tax on men of
small incomes.
Such a result" said Mr.. Cummins,
would not only be unjust, but it
would destroy the essential principles
that underlies the income duty
Mr.. Cummins said he recommended
his amendment and challenged the
opinion OF the supreme court OF the
United States On the law OF 1894 in
respect to the constitutional require
ment regarding direct taxation, and he
believed it would be impossible to
frame an income tax law that would
not antagonize that opinion.
II" he added. that opinion is to
stand in its full scope then the United
States must abandon for all time or
until the constitution is amended,
the exercise of power and authority
which had been recognized for 100
yesrs before the opinion was an
nounced."
lie declared that such restrictions
OF he power of taxation would prove
disastrous to the government in time
OF war. He denounced the proposition
thag to tax incomes was democratic
doctrine, but he was willing to ac-
cep5 a wholesome, sound and just
principle no matter what its origin
may be
Calling attention to Mr.. Cummins
failure to tax the incomes of corpora
tons in his proposed amendment,
Senator Raynor declared:
we are after the corporations prin-
cipally and I think you should be too"
I am after justice, and I am not
after corporations" retorted Cummins.
AIr. Cummins contended that every
tax levied is in a sense inquisitorial
but that the income tax was no more
50 han any other.
Senator Smith of Michigan said the
proposed amendment would not reach
the incomes of Americans resident
abroad unless the tax was placed up
or corporations. Mr. Raynor took the
same view.
suppose he said, that Carnegie
with an income of $4,000 a year,
derived from the steel corporations,
should be living abroad there would
b. 10 way 10 collect the tax if he had
no other property in the United States
10 ~ attached"
u pro. Jose" replied Mr. Cummins.
that tue corporations shall pay that
tax. That IS the purpose OF my
amendment
NJ. Cun.mins referring to newspa-
per criticism said he had been repre-
sapred as making an insiduous attack
1lv,on the principle of protection by
the raising of revenue from an In
co1e lax.
Il desire" he said, Ito disclaim any
such intention There is no senator
clai ming allegiance to the republican
marty whose fealty to the doctrine Of
protection is greater than my own |
understand that I came into the SEN
a-s with a suspicion respecting my
views upon the policy Of protection. /
admit thai if I am to be measured
bv The tests imposed by some protec'|
iva league. then / will be found to-
b. unsound. But if l am measured
Tx the republican platform and 10y
tha declarations of Mckinley, Harrl-
sor and Blaine, then am as sound as
arr senator who marches under the
p3litical banner 10 which ! We'd my
Loyalty"
Nr. Cummins contended that the
Payne bill would not insure sufficient
revenue. but Mr. Aldrich took issue
wSh him. saying that treasury eX-
pe-rs' estimates tor revenue are more
liberal than his.
st p. N. the senate went into
executive session. The nomination OF
Thomas :. Dawson to be minister TO
chile vas confirmed. a SIS p. m.
senate adjourned