Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-23
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PROGRESSIVES 70
KEEP III FIGHT
vii INSIST ON INCOME TAX
AMENDMENT TO TARIFF
MEASURE.
AGREE, HOWEVER, THAT TAFT'S
PLAN is NOT INCONSISTENT
WITH THEIR IDEAS.
BoRAH, 5RIsToW. cuMMINS, LA
TOILETTE AND CLAPP IN
CONFERENCE.

Washington. June l7.-Five pro
gressive republican senators, Borah
Bristow. Cummins. La Folle te ana
Clapp, conferred last night to deter
mine what their attitude is to be in
relation 10 the income tax amend
ment to he tariff bill in the face OF
p esident Taft's special message TO
congress favoring the submission OF
the question to the states for a con-
stitutional amendment, and the enac e
ment of law taxing net earnings OF
corporations. They decided that the
presidents plan is not inconsistent
with their demands for the adoption
Of an amendment taxing incomes and
that both may be adopted in harmony
They assume that the presidents
plan, endorsed by leading republicans
of the financial committee, is designed
to "chlorofolm' the income taA
amendment, hut nevertheless an
nounce that they will continue to
fight for its adoption.
In brief statement, prepared bs
Senators Borah and Bristow. the sup
porters of an income tax amendment
say:
Friends of the income tax feel it a
duty to continue to put forth every
effort to secure the adoption of he
amendment. They also stand ready
TO support d resolution providing for
an amendment to the constitution OF
the United States. While they be-
lieve the supreme court will sustain
the law, yet to provide against any
possible contingency that might result
from an adverse decision, they gladly
favor the proposition to amend the
constitution They do not feel salts,
fed with simply a corporation tax. A
tax upon the net income of corpOr-
alton alone will very imper-
fectly reach the desired result. L.
will tax tens of thousands of stock
holders where total incomes are very
small and viii exempt in a large
measure the immense personal in
comes of the country. The provis
ion they favor treats large incomes ex-
actly alike, whether received by cor
pOrations or individuals. and whether
arising from interest, dividends, III
heritances " otherwise. The plan
which they propose simply carries
the presidents views to their legiti-
mate end and is as consonant with
the decision OF the supreme court as
is tax on corporate incomes alone.
There is no reason for exemptng
from this tax The vast incomes of in
dividuals like Messrs. Carnegie
Rockefeller and others, "a very large
part Of whose fortunes do not consist
of corporation stocks.
1t is also we'll known that corpora
tons, especially the larger ones. can
in most instances shift the burden OF
tax to the public by imposing upon
the people increased charges and
prices.
As to the publicity feature there is
no substantial difference between the
two measures. In other words. there
is the same necessity for securing in
fl nation and insuring publicity in
the income tax as in the corporation
tax
Every possible effort will be made
TO secure the passage of the income
tax amendment"
1t was argued by Mr. Borah that
it is unjust to tax the earnings of a
corporation and let partnership. in
the same line Of business. escape
such legislation. he declared only can
be explained by the fact that there is
a wave of antipathy to corporations
that leads many people to believe
they are objects Of legitimate prey
A meeting of republican members
of the finance committee was held last
night but the presidents message
was no. taken up formally. It was
discussed between Chairman K1dricb
and some Of his colleagues on the
committee and the opinion was ex-
pressed that it would be wise % cali
all the members together to cons;d
the message. The meeting viii he
held either during today or tomorrow
mr. rning