Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-05
BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE
Senate Adopts Resolution to
Amend the Constitution.
lEGALIZING INCOME TAX
Most Of the Time Devoted to Debat-
ing Resolution.
DIVISION TAKEN AT 1 O'CLOCK
Bailey Proposition That the Amend
ment Be Submitted to Conven-
tions Instead Of Legisla-
lures Defeated.
LEGALIzING INCOME TAX
DIVISION TAKEN AT O'CLOCK

lures Defeated.
Independence day was celebrated in the
Senate today by the passage OF the reso-
lution OF Senator Brown Of Nebrask for
an amendment to the Constitution to
make valid a general income tax without
apportionnent among the states. NeaGly
the entire morning and the afternoon up
TO ! O'Clock were spent tn discussing the
resolution. At that hour the vote was
taken by previous agreement. and more
than tha necessary two-thirds voted in
the affirmative. the vote being Il to 0.
Not only did every senator present vote
for the resolution but it was announced
by other senator's on behalf OF the alb
sentees that they would all vote the same
way if they were present On account of
the unanimity of the vote no senator
found IL necessary to withhold his vote
account of any pair that he might have
with an absent senator.
Before the vote on the adoption OF the
resolution was taken an amendment by
Senator Bailey OF Texas requiring that
the constitutional amendment be sub
Initted 10 especially called state conven-
IONS instead of to the legislature for
ratification was voted down, 80 to 46.
Mos. of the democrats voted with Mr.
Bailey, but the two Virginia senators
were exceptions to this rule. The follow
Ing republicans voted with Mr.. Bailey:
Bristow, Clapp. Cummins. Jones and La
Toilette
Mr.. Bailey had offered another amend
inent providing that Congress might have
the power to grade the income tax. Just
before the time for voting upon it, how
ever. he secured unanimous consent to
withdraw 1t and did SO, explaining that
he was certain that II would be voted
hat
done. because It would give the Supreme
court the right to say some time when
.nat court might be considering action
upon iaw containing graduated tax
That proposition for the graduated in-
come tax amendment to the Constitution
had been rejected.
An amendment offered BY Senator Nc
Iaurin Of Mississippi, which proposed to
strike out of the Constitution the apDor-
fioninent requirement with respect to d.
rect taxes was defeated on viva Yoce
vote. Il
Resolution Laid Before Senate.
After Mr. Aidrich had presented the
nnance committees amendment to the
administrative features OF the bill this
morning tho resolution providing for a
constitutional amendment regarding an
Sncome tax was laid before the Senate
with the understanding that it would oc-
cupy the attention of that body until !
O'Clock, the time set for taking the vote
upon IL. Strictly speaking. this resoiu-
ton is not part OF the tariff bill, but
1t has been SO intertwined with the cor
poratton tax provision and with the
straight income tax amendment to the
tarfh measure that the association is
purely technical. When he presented the
new administrative provisions, Mr Aid
rich merely asked to have them lie on
the table, saying that he would not re-
quire their reading at the present time
When Senator Browns constitutional
amendment was called up there was an
immediate demand for quorum, and
upon the ascertainment that there was
ffty-tTo senator's present the Senate pro-
cecded 70 a discussion Of the provision
just az IL this had been any other day
than the official Fourth OF July.
There was no Wis BILE evidence on the
floor ot the Senate that this was the day
the nation was celebrating the signing of
the Declaration OF Independence. The
gayel OF Vice President Sherman fell at
the usual time. 10 o'clock, and the aver
age number Of senators was present
Chaplain Pierce made brief mention OF
ne holidsy in his opening prayer. and
then the Senate got down 20 business
In the galleries could easily tell
tfat II was national holiday by the
presence OF many small flags and red
white and blue streamers carried by chill
dr@n scattered through the rows of seats
a bit of political repartee was the first
tninS to eniiven the proceedings. Sena-
for SrfStow of Kansas offered an amend
ment 10 the Brown resolution also sub
uniting to the states for ratification an
amendment TO the Constitution for the
popular election of United States sena-
tors. He advocated its adoption I'm a few
words. declaring that many OF the states
wore already resurt'nE to other methods
20 bring about the same result and that
no senator should oppose the proposition
who was not afraid to 60 before the peo-
Pie on hts record.
Stone Tries to Score Point.
AZ soon az Mr.. Br.stow sat down, Sen
ator Stone OF Missouri arose slowly In
his place and solemnly drew forth from,
an inside pocket little red book, which
he has exhibited on the floor in debate a
great many times this session. He look
ed quizz!caily across the aisle at SeIia-
tor Aldr.ch. chairman OF the finance COM
.nittee and republican leader
Mr.. Aldrich smiled indulgently and
looked vastly amused. He had seen the
little red book. Mr.. Stone smiled back
and said:
Mr.. President. L desire 70 occupy the
time of the Senate for about ten minutes
on this subject
Then the senator from Missouri slowly
and deliberately read from the little red
book--!t was nothing less than the last
democratic platform--the planks declaring
for constitutional amendments for an in
come tax and for popular election OF
senators by the people OF the states
II know" he said his eyes twinkling
with the Joke he was springing. that the
senator from Nebraska has been given
the distinction of authorship of this reso-
luton but l merely wish to express the
hope that he will not neglect TO inform
the people OF the country that he appro-
pristed this idea from a democrat and
DISTINGUISHED citizen OF his state"
This plain reference TO Mr.. Bryan
caused Mr. Brown to prick up his ears
Rising without the suspicion Of a smile
on his face. he asked:
Does the senator from Missouri! com
plain OF the source of the idea?
.'oh. no." replied Mr.. Stone. II am not