The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-28

cause it taxes the actual benefit re-
ceiVed from labor or property, and
not labor or property itself, which
may be unprOdUCtiVe, and because it
subjects TO the burdens of the govern
ment a large portion of wealth which
now does not contribute in anywise to
such burdens. | favor such tax for
the reason that it is the faiTest
method Of taxation. and because the
revenue to be derived from it Will
prevent the republican party, and
other believers in a high tariff, from
using the necessity for raising money
as an excuse for the perpetUatiOn of
such tariff. If the revenue were not
needed for governmental purposes, or
if the want Of revenue did not fur
nish an excuse to the republican party
for the oppression Of the consumer by
highly protective tariff duties. l would
think that the federal government
should not impose such tax, but that
it should leave to the states the use
Of income taxes to raise revenue for
the states uses The tax is a direct
tax upon the citizens of the states,
and should be reserved for the pUT-
poses of the states, but for the fact
that the F foregoing strong reasons
exist for requiring its use by the fed
eTal government.
Regulation of Interstate Railroads.
4 I am in favor of the regulation
Of interstate railroads through the in
tCTstate commerce commission and,
for that purpose, OF giving that com
mission all OF the powers, not judicial,
necessary for that regulation. The
apparently unavoidable conflicts be
tween the railroads and their patrons,
ueCessitate d strong. but conservative
body to determine and enforce the
rights between them. This body, Sc
interstate commerce cOmmissiCn,
should have broad and liberal powers.
but we'll defined. in order that their
acts may be dictated by law, and not
by caprice or discrimination. Such
powers should embrace the right to
determine the TeasOnableness of in
terstate rates, passenger and freight,
but subject to the constitutional right
to resort to the courts to prevent a
COniisCatiOu Of property by the fixing
Of unreasOnably low rates. The peO-I
pie have the right to the best and
cheapest service from their servants,
the railroads, compatible with the
rights of the railroads to earn a fair
interest on the actual value of their
property involved in such service. a
greater rate than this would violate
the rights of the public. and a lesser
rate would violate the rights of the
railroads, and by unduly leSSening
their incomes, prevent them from
giving good service to the people, and
paying good wages to their employees.
Over aPitslization of Corporations.
D ] am in favor of the enactment
of such laws as may be within the
power of the federal government to
prevent the Over-capitalization of
public service corporations, so that
r1n no n
prices and rates based upon fictitious
values, and so that the large body of
investors in stock of such corpora
tiOnS may not be misled to their
prejudice and loss All corporations
exercising public franchises have a
right to fair and reasonable returns
upon their actual investments but not
upon apparent investments, represent
ed only by watered stock.
Acquisition of Territory.
6. I believe in the extension of the
trade of the United States, and its
con- PTCiaI ACKNOWLEDGMENT by all
legitimate means, but / do not believe
in the acquisition of territory for that
or any other purpose, outside of the
limits of the American continent.
Such of the islands as have already
been acquired by us are our property,
and under our care, but all political
connections and control Of the Philip
pines should be reliquished so soon as
their inhabitants have shown an abil-
ity to properly govern themselves.
The Solid South.
7. I believe in a solid democratic
South. so long as there remains such
per centage of ignorant negro voters
as may by any possibility constitute
a balance of power between parties OF
approximately equal strength. In the
event Of the existence of such parties
the control Of our state, county and
municipal officers would be in the
hands of that party securing the negro
vote, by purchase or prejudice, and
the negro then would be the dcminat-
ing factor. Various barriers against
that domination, such as educational |
qualifications. grandfather clauses, |
etc while Iessening the negro vote, |
would be entirely ineffective. if there |
existed parties Of nearly equal num- |
eTical strength. Our only safe and /
sure recourse Is orr lOyaI adherence