The sun., 1909-06-29

dent appears to have been persuaded In
his advocacy OF the tar largely by political
considerations. He 10 shrewd politician.
though q less noisy one than his predecessor.
But the American public 10 not much con-
cerned with thia aspect OF the situation.
IL does not wish to see an unfair and dam
gerous tax imposed merely to help the Old
Guard out Of dilemma.
From ne Springfield RspubIfan.
It ts q needless awkward and wholly
ineduitable measure. and ought to be
defeated. II more revenue must be had
pending the establishment Of m individual
income tag !s. stamp or ether tax he
temporarily imposed.
From me 81. Loms Giobs, Democrat.
More than 2,Oo0. 600 persons own shares In
the railways and In the great industrial
enterprises. A large proportion OF the
stocks OF the United States Steel Corpora
ton are held by the workers In that big
combine. As shares are sold In denomina-
tions OF 500 or less they are within reach
OF everybody who lays by any money at oil.
In the last two or three years the number
Of people Of moderate means who have
bought stocks a. an Investment has been
trebled. Thus In sense the big corpora
tions have become the poor mans savings
hank. A tax on the net income OF the cor
porauons would diminish the dividends
which their stock holders would receive and
would cut down the income which their in
veftors would get.
From ~ Hortford DAILY Times.
In our opinion the untairness and injus-
tice which would result from adopting the
Presidents plan is not the worst feature
Of 1t. 1t is the destruction Of the power Of
the States. which Mr.. TAFT openly proclaims
a. desirable. and the accomplishment Of
this by the nse Of the taxing power, A. IN
the case OF the anti.o oleomArgartne legisla-
tion. that Ia most deplorable and eraveiy
dangerous. II the ststes are to be stripped
Of their powers over corporations and all
Governmental control over the business
organizations Of the country ID to be centred
In one vast Federal department at Washing
ton. then let US have 1t brought about by an
amendment Of the Federal Consti tuition reRu.
larry proposed and lawfully enacted. The
ren,odelllns Of our form Of government
through the use OF the power OF Congress
to levy taxes must not he permitted.
From ihe Rochesfsr Poa. Express.
Some Of the Washington correspondents
continue 10 declare that the tax on corpora
tions is'the only alternative to an income
tax and that the business men of the ooun-
try should congratulate themselves on get
ting OF so easily This 10 almost an insult
to President Taft. for It assumes that he
would approve = tax that he knows to be
unconstitutional.
Fromfhs DenSer RspubItean.
The imposition of the per cent, tax on
corporations. apart from the question Of its
cons titu tionality a. . piece Of class lesisla-
ton and one meeting also the objections
raised to the income tax, would be most
unpopular measure. Further interference
In business affairs from an army Of Federal
inspectors and bookkeepeFs pryins into the
affairs Of corporations would become bur-
densoms and intolerable. There IL some
thing un-American about the whole bust.
meas.
From ne Chdrlssfon Esentne poa.
THk StS advocates instead Of this cor
porstion proHt tax the laying Of stamp
tax. q plan for raising revenue with which
the country 10 familiar. which 10 simple
enough In Its operation and which reaches
impartlally to practically every form Of
business. The suegsstion is emtnently
sensible. but We may be entirely sure Il
will not be adopted by the Administration
for the very reason that the stamp tax ia
familiar to the people Of the United States
and Is known - resort only Of real emer.
gency. such as q war or . financial panic.
The laying Of such . tai is an open con-
fession Of emergency. which except In
case Of war no Government party wants
to make, - Such scheme Of indIrec.
ton was not expected to spring from the
Administration OF Mr.. Taft.
From ne 20. LoGts Republic.
We have yet to discover whether this tax
on the net income Of corporations will pos
sess the one great merit It In credited with.
The argument that Il can be enforced. while
. tax on Individual incomes cannot. IL neces-
sarily subject to the qualification the in
genuities Of accountants enforce. There
Is equally reason to question the assumption
that II differs from the tax on lndl vidual In
comes ia that II In constitutional
From ne Wilmington Estrv EVENING.
Already II Is apparent that President
Taft's suggested tax on the net income Of
corporations--that tar on privilege. not an
excise, that tax on artificial persons instead
OF natural personals not In accord With
the sentiment Of the country. On the con-
uary the oppesltion Ia vigorous and wide.
spread;
From ~ Boston DAILY Aas<rtissr.
The discussion In tho Boston Chamber Of
CONNIE cree relative to the proposed tax on
corporations shows . very strong disposi-
tion to criticize the action Of the leaders In
Congress IN making plsns for 20 important
tax without siviAG any adequate hearings
70 the interests affected. 1t also shows
decided preference for . tax on dividends,
n any attempt 10 to be made to impose
. direct tax upon the "prosperity' Of the
eorporattons-as hAa been suggested
a.