The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-02

Petition From I06 Spokane Merchants Appeals Corporation Tax While
East Portland Lumber Company Wants 1t Kled-Obecons to
Tafts Plan Commented on by Rhode Island Senator
and Senators Root Brandegee and Nelson

Washington, July From the way
the school got down TO business this
me ming. it was evident that the teach
er had returned, In other words.
Senator Aldrich. chairman of the fin
ance committee, was in his seat when
the senate convened, and at that time
there was a full quorum to proceed
With business. While MI Aldrich did
not reveal the secret Of his where
aboutS, during his two days absence
from the senate, his complexion was
so much ruddier than it Is ordinar-
ily, that It was evident that he had
put in mast of his time in the open
air. His return caused much gossip
as TO the possibility OF getting vote
on the income tax proposition Most
senators believed the end was near.
The fact that only Mr.. Bulkeley's oh
lection Yesterday stood in the way Of
taking adjournment next Tuesday, and
that the senators seemed almost eX-
hausted. led to the conclusion that the
vote would be reached by that time,
if not much earlier. Many predicted
it for tomorrow and some were even
inclined 10 think il might take place
before adjournment today.
Business began with the presenta-
ton of petitions relating TO the cor
pcTation tax, many of which came
from the far northwest From Spo-
kane, Wash, loo merchants appealed
to the senate for support OF the tax,
as they said 1t safeguarded the pri-
yate information of business inSutu-
tions
The Inman Poulsen Lumber com
pany of East Portland. wanted the
''pernicious corporation tax" killed,
while w. B. Aver, Of Portland, con-
sideTed the proposed tax extremely
unfair" as il places the burden only
on the great industrial life OF the
country"
There was also a protest from the
Mutual Insurance companies Of New
jersey, which insisted that such cor
porauons were not the proper subject
of taxation under the proposed scheme
of taxing the corporations organized
for profit.
Mr.. Heyburne's objection was that
the amendment was too indefinite to
make It operative, The first proyiS-
ion of the bill fixes a tax of per
tions. The Idaho senator contended
that, under this language, 1T would be
quite impossible 10 determine the OBJ
ject Of the bill or to enforce its pro-
visions. because Of its vagueness. He
also claimed the tax being levied on
all corporations. "organized for prof
it, included corporations that do no
business except To collect rents.
which. he said, would bring it near
" within the scope of the Pollock case,
| in which the income tax was declar-
ed to be invalid.
These objections provoked comment
by Senators Aldrich. Root, Brande-
| gee, Nelson and others. Mr.. Aldrlch
suggested that the language, called
into question. had been passed upon
bv many distinguished lawyers. Sen
ator Root gave assurance that these
objections would receive careful con-
| sideratlon of the finance committee,
| although he said he believed the
amendment, as framed. was such as to
insure its constitutionality.
/ Saying he preferred voting for an
income rather than corporation tax,
! Senator Raynor declared he would
vote for the pending corporation tax
| II he could not have his first choice
Il believe" he added. that this Is
J an absolutely constitutional measure.
! Thls bill is unjust and inequitable, but
when ! cannot obtain an income tax.
! will he forced TO vote for this amend
ment or leave the government bank
rupt"