Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-06
Personal Effort on Part of Senator
Brings Results.
WILL WORK FOR IT'S PASSAGE
Outlines Future Efforts in Behalf of
Proposed Change.
NOVEL IN HISTORY OF COUNTRY
First Time Proposed Amendment Ever
Got Unanimous Vote of Either
Branch of the
Congress.
CFrOm a staff Correspondent.) }

"AoE1lANG AOAN, July O.-ASpeClal Tele-
gram when the tariff bill was founder
ing in the waves Of a very greatly dis
turbed sea, Senator Norris Brown OF Ne
braska introduced a joint resolution pro-
vidng that an income tax amendment to
the constitution Of the United States should
be submitted to the several states for rat
ificaton When the Brown resolution was
introduced It seemed hopeless Of passage,
hopeless of even consideration, but as weeks
have gone and the makers f the tariff
nave realized the necessity of the provis-
ion for a tax on incomes. the need for
some such amendment to the constitution
has grown. The result came in the unani-
nous vote of the senate today in favor of
the resolution as presented by the junior
senator from Nebraska. Seventy-seven SEN
ators, without dissenting voice. went on
record in favor Of submitting to the legis-
latures of forty-six states OF the union the
question whether the constitution OF the
United States should be amended TO the
extent Of vesting in congress the power
and authority to levy an income tax.
Browns winning Way.
Maybe luck played some part in SEN
ator Browns case by reason Of the dis
cussion growing out of the consideration of
NiAS NaiALA UNI pal NlShldAlS WIN
to the income and inheritance taxes. But
luck was buttressed by the campaign car
ried on by senator Brown, strengthened
by the support OF President Taft which
brought about the notable victory of today.
1t comes tc but few men in a lifetime
to have his name associated with a reso-
luton providing for a constitutional
amendment Every senator was advised on
Saturday by letter from Senator Brown,
calling attention to the consent order TO
take a vote at l o'clock today. and he re-
quested their presence and support. And
when the vote was taken, after three hours
of discussion. in which ratification by con-
vention as well by legislature, was
thoroughly threshed out, and seventy-seven
senators of both parties went on record.
1t was ascertained that the biggest vote
polled at this session of congress was that
in favor OF the Brown income tax amend
ment.
1t is understood that the house leaders
have agreed upon a program which will be
| to take up the corporation tax amend
ment and the resolution Of Senator Brown
independent Of the tariff bill, which will
be sent directly to conference.
Plan of Campaign.
| When the house agrees to the Brown
resolution, which has the sanction of Pres
ident Taft and the administration, it is
Senator Browns purpose to communicate
with the governor of every state, with
every national committeeman and every
chairman of each party, calling his atten-
ton to the resolution adopted by the
two houses of congress. and in the case Of
each governor, asking that In his message
to the legislature, a recommendation be
given OF submission of the proposed amend
ment to the state for It's adoption by the
people. The history of the nation does
not show a unanimous vote Of either
branch OF congress upon a resolution OF
submission to the several states of con-
stitutional amendment, as was shown in
the senate today when It unanimously
adopted the Brown resolution. The four
teenth amendment was introduced In the
senate by Senator Howard OF Vermont, on
behalf of the reconstruction committee, Of
which he was a member. This committee
consisted of nine members of the house
and six of the senate. They were the real
trainers Of the proposition. On July Is.
1866 Senator Fessenden of New Hampshire
and Representative Thaddeus Stevens OF
Pennsylvania made their majority report
from the committee on reconstruction. This
report was signed by Senators Fessenden
of New Hampshire Grimes Of Iowa, Harris
OF New York. Howard Of Vermont and
Representatives Williams, Stevens Wash
burn, Morrill,, Bingham. Conkling, Bout
well and Blow. The minority report was
signed by Reverdy, Johnson, Rogers and
order. The resolution known as the four
teenth amendment passed the senate and
received concurrence OF the house June l3
1866.
Fifteenth Amendment.
At the beginning Of the first session OF
the Fortieth congress in 1858 eight distinct
amendments were introduced, the effect
: Of which. II adopted, would have been tc
extend the right OF suffrage TO freedmen
In 8 little while after three other amend
ments were introduced. OF these eleven
amendments seven were presented in the
house and four in the senate With one
exception they were all referred to the
= committee on judiciary in their respective
houses on June IL, 1858, Mr.. Boutwell, Of
Massachusetts from the judiciary com
: mittee Of the house, reported Joint reso
: luton proposing an amendment to the
constitution which gave rise 10 an eX
: tended discussion. Both the senate and
the house passed different amendment
= and asked for a committee Of conference
t The controversy was finally adjusted b!
i the conference committee reporting tn
g fifteenth amendment, in the precise form
o in which it was finally Incorporated in tn
constitution. Both houses accepted III
resolution as reported by the conference
committee bur IN ncWise as unanimou
as the passage Of the Brown Amendmen
/, today. The fifteenth amendment wa
! k,r NxE 4
1 nays and in the senate by SO ayes 10 l
b nays. Thus the fifteenth amendment wa
y | recommended 10 the states by congres
on February Is, 1858. siN DAYS before IN
(Continued on Second PAGE,