The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-07-08
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.


Washington, D. c., July S, 1909
Senator Aldrich with more frank
ness perhaps than is characteristic
announced his belief, when the cor
poration tax proposition came up
i'll the Senate, that it would be
repealed within two years. He ex-
planned that in his estimation the
tariff bill would yield ample reve-
nue after that time and that the
continuation of the corporation tax
would prove prejudicial to the pro
tective system. In the estimation
of many able judges, including no
less capable stateman than Presi-
dent Taft, the Senator from Rhode
Island is wholly mistaken in his
prediction. 1t is the belief of Mr..
Taft and number of able judges
in both hou ses of Congress that
once the corporation tax is craven
upon the statutes it will remain
there, that the force of public opin-
ion will be too strong ever to per-
NIT of its repeal, As to whether
or not it will prove menace to the
protective system is a question de-
termined by each mans concep
tion of that system. To men Of
the old school OF Republicanism,
like Aldrich, Hale and a host of
others, it certainly will, for from
their standpoint anything which
must tend to the lowering of the
protective duties constitutes a men
ace to protection. To men of the
more modern school of Republi-
canism, like Taft aud many men,
bers of his cabinet, the salvation Of
the protective system rests on the
gradual lowering of the duties.
They argue that the continued
maintenance of the existing high
rates must inevitably result in
turning the great volume of con-
sumers against the tariff and that
If this is TO be avoided the duties
must be gradually lowered. Pres
ident Taft and those who espouse
his view will not, however, quar-
rel with Mr.. Aldrich's prediction.
They are sufficiently thankful to
secure the services of the able Re-
publican leader at this time to get
the corporation tax OH the statute
books and are entirely content to
deal with any effort he may make
to repeal it, when that time comes.
***
A majority of the Democratic
Senators will vote for the corpora
ton tax for the very reason that
Mr.. Aldrich dislikes it. They
share the view of President Taft
that once enacted the tax can never
be repealed and that it will soon
yield SO ample revenue as to make
a reduction of the productive du-
ties imperative. They believe sim
cerely that Mr.. Aldrich and others
OF his school have failed to keep
pace with the popular sentiment of
the country, that they do not real
ize the extent of the demand for
lower duties, that they attach far
too little Importance to the popular
sentiment that corporations, most
of which are directly or indirectly
benehciaries of the tariff, should
contribute their share to the ex-
penses of the government. Even
now a number of corporations are
protesting violently against the en-
actment of the Taft tax and the
Democrats seem to realize far more
keenly than the Republican leaders
that one corporation with ample
funds to pay telegraph tolls can
make a ten times more noisy pro-
test tnan one hundred consumers
whose enforced contributions to the
protected manufacturers have left
them with hardly sufficient ready
cash to pay for a ten word tele-
gram between them. Nothing but
Hobson's choice between the cor
poration tax and the income tax
would induce the Republican lead
ers to vote for the corporation tax
at this time. To the Democrats,
on the other hand, the corporation
tax amounts to half a loaf, for
practically all its provisions are
contained in the income tax amend
ment fathered by Senators Bailey
and Cummins.
*s;*
Army officers are greatly rejoiced
over the first modification of the
ninety-mile ride prescribed by