Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01
g SO esesesS s Sag : 3

From Tuesday morning, November 10,
1908, when the committee on ways and
means began to hold it's tariff hearings,
down. to last Thursday night. when the
conference report was agreed to by the
republican conferees, Washington city
has swarmed with lobbyists, first a bril-
gade, then division, then a corps, then
a whole army, increasing as the days
went by. until they were as pestiferous
and nearly numerous as the flies and
frogs and lice of Egypt.
Special Interests Served.
The lobbyists almost without excep
ton represented special interests. No one
except certain representatives and sena-
tors and newspaper correspondents repre-
sented the great body of consumers who
have a vital interest in this tariff legisIa-
tton. In fact. my Brother BouseFs 'ulti-
mate consumer was entirely and uncere-
moniously -snuffed out by a certain emf
nent Scholar In politics. nanleess here
forever, more by reason of House rule
forbidding quotations from and comments
upon eight less than one hundred states
men who assembled in another place.
THAT this great army of lobbyists have
influenced the schedules in this bill can
not well be doubted. Those who have
access to the ears of lawmakers have
better chance to carry their point and to
see their hopes grow into fruition than
THAT is human nature perhaps. But
make bold to suggest to all representa-
tives and senator's that no man IS fit to be
a lawgiver for a mighty people who
yields to the solicitations of the few near
him against the best 9interests of the
many whom he will never see"
When Mr.. Clark concluded he was
loudly cheered by his colleagues. who
later swarmed about him to shake his
hand.
Longworth Defends Corporation Tax
Representative Longworth Of Ohio fol-
lowed Mr. Clark In discussing the tariff
bill he spoke in advocacy of the cor
poration tax provision.
He expressed the belief that SUBJ
stantia1 addition to the revenues is
necessary not only for the purpose Of
paying off the deficit, but also to pro-
vide for a larger expenditure than has
hitherto been made for the Improvement
of our inland waterways. He also pre-
dicted that it will be the settled pol
icy of this government hereafter to tax
certain sources of wealth which today
pay no tax to the government.
Mr.. Longworth said:
Il have heard it frequently said here
heard it said only the other day by
the leader of the democracy, the dis
tinguished gentleman from Missouri.
Mr.. Clark, and his statement was
greeted with great applause on that
side Of the chamber-that this PROPOSE
ton, the corporation tax. was evolved
merely for the purpose of beating the
income tax in the Senate.
II have no hesitation in agreeing to
a part of this statement. 1t did beat
the kind of income tax that was pro-
posed in the Senate, and / am glad of
it.
But with the other part of the state
ment of the gentleman from Missouri
that the corporation tax was evolved
for that purpose l take issue. For 1T
was evolved. practically in all it's de-
tails, long before the Bailey-Curn Minis
amendment was ever heard of-before
even this Congress was called into extra
session.
Credit Due Taft.
There is one man, and one man 'only
who is primarily responsible for the evo-
luton of the corporation tax and that
is the President of the United States
And if it shall become a part of the per-
manent law of this country, as l believe
it will, he is entitled to all the credit for
it.
II know of my own knowledge that the
thing was in his mind many months be-
fore he was inaugurated, and that before
his inaus.ur alton he had sought the advice
OF ran- we'll known economists upon the
question
oDletIlOn TO tile ldA VI per cent upOH
the net earnings of corporations have
been many the speaker admitted. but he
submitted that they have come from
those interested in the corporations. He
estimated the revenue it would produce at
Sc5 600 600 at least. annually. This would
be simple and easy of collection.
To refute the argument that the tax
would fall upon the widows and orphans.
Mr. IIongworth urged that it would really
prove to their advantage, as it would
conduce to the wise and intelligent adj
ministration of the corporations of which
they are part owners.
In conclusion Mr.. LongwOrth said:
II believe that in evolving and ad-
vocating the passage of this law the
President of the United States has re-
deemed in the fullest measure his pledEe
tina. !,e would, during his administration.
proceed along the paths blocked out by
his predecessor, that he would use every
effort to bring to his policies their fullest
fruition."
Two Per Cent Increase, Says Under
wood.
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama. one Of
the democratic members of the ways
and means committee, opposed the con-
ference report. He said the President
made it plain that the republican party
Is pledged to downward revision. and the
question to be discussed is whether this
| bill Is downward revision or not
! Mr.. Underwood upbraided the re,.