The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-07-11
TAFT AND THE TARIFF.

According to the Washington dis
patches, the president did not evince
any particular interest in the tariff bill
during his conference with Senator Al
drich, with the exception of the corpo-
ration tax amendment, which he was
inclined to criticize because holding
companies had been included in its pro
visions. and it is said that the amend
ment may be redrafted in conference.
1t is impossible to get the real truth
concerning the attitude Of the presi-
dent on the income tax. corporation tax,
inheritance tax or the tariff bill itself
Each succeeding story from the ma
tional capital both refutes and confutes
its predecessor. We have been told from
time to time that Mr.. Taft believes the
government should have the power to
levy an income tax, and that an amend
ment could easily be drawn 10 meet the
objections Of the supreme court. When
the Cummins and Bailey amendments
were under discussion IN the senate a
count of noses developed the fact that
niied their intention of joining the
Democrats on this particular issue. Al
dTich. Lodge and Crane rushed TO the
White house posthaste and invoked
the presidents aid in heading off leg
islation Mr.. Taft interfered to the ex-
tent Of sending Il special message to
congress. and enough weakened Re
publicans were whipped into line TO de-
feat the income tax measure. Regard
ing the purpose and intent Of the cor
poration tax for which President Taft
stands sponsor. the correspondent Of the
semi-insplred Chicago Tribune has this
To say:
The more the president has thought Of
the corporation tax amendment the bet
r he likes IT. as he remarked to Soma
tor Aiurich on the occasion Of their con-
It is the beginning Of the economic re-
forms Of his administration. In his next
annual message he will discuss the re-
organization Of the bureau Of corpora
and department Of justice.
This reorganization will he for the pur-
pose OF giving the federal government
greater supervisory authority over the
publicity feature of the tax it is now
proposed 20 adopt will he a long step
forward in securing the supervision,
since. according TO the presidents plan.
the bureau of corporations is to be
charged with the power to examine the
hooks and accounts of corporations and
ascertain IL they are paying their full
share OF the tax. The Information thus
obtained will be Of the greatest possible
value to the bureau I'm determining wheth-
er or not a corporation is observing the
antitrust and other regulative laws.
In discussion the corporation tax in the
senate several DAYS ago Mr.. Aldrich made
no reference to the publicity feature and
indicated that in any event the tax might
b repealed within two years. 1t is pos
repealed. but the president proposes 70
use every bit OF his influence to insure
the retention of the publicity provision.
If the above view is correct, the cor
poration tax provision is for muck-rak-
ing purposes, and not intended primari-
~ for raising revenue. But the article
OF the Tribune correspondent may be
intended for consumption in the middle
west, where disgruntled Republicans
abound. The brethren are twisting and
turning in every conceivable way To
make a favorable showing. From the
various statements of what has hap
pened and what is going to happen
there is no possibility of arriving at a
correct conclusion. II is safe TO say
however, that "the tariff Of abOmina-
tons" viii find its counterpart in the
bill now being enacted by congress.