The Washington herald., 1909-06-16

President Taft Will send special mes
sage 10 the Senate to-day. according to /
present arrangements. in which he viii /
urge legislative authority TO tax the in
comes Of corporations available for pay
ing dividends. and other legislation 10
enable the States to vote on a proposed I
amendment to the Federal Constitution, /
permitting Congress to tax the incomes
Of individuals.
This message will remove all doubt OF
the Presidents support OF the two propo- |
sitions mentioned. which the Senate lead
ers intend to offer as substitutes for the
Bailey-Cumnlins tariff bin amendment TO
levy q tax at once on the incomes Of
both corporations and individuals. II
the message is not transmitted to-day, 1t |
will be sent TO the Senate tomorrow
It's effectiveness will be lost unless 1t /
reaches the Senate before Friday after
noon, when. according TO previous ar
rangements. a vote on the Bailey-Cum-
Minis amendment will be taken.
Agrees to Aid AIdrich.
When it was agreed between President
Taft and Senator Aldrich that a proposal
10 lew a tax on what amounted 10 the
uet earnings OF corporations should be
offered in the Senate as an amendment 10
the pending tariff bill. the President ex-
pressed his willingness 10 assist Mr.. AID
rich in every possible way in furthering
the adoption OF this amendment, even 10
the extent Of sending to the Senate a spe-
ciaI message recommending that II be
accepted
Subsequent 10 that agreement the Presi-
dent and 0fr Aldrich decided that an
amendment 10 change the constitution, so
as to perm the imposition Of a tax on
the incomes individuals. should be
onered also, am it is understood that IN
HIS message N aft will urge the adop-
tlon OF this pna,ioI as well as that
relating to cor rnings.
The knowledge - e President would
back up these two prCA )sition in the spe-
cial message disconnected the irsurgent
Republican Senators. who have been in
sisting that the Bailey-Cummins income
tax amendment was bound to be adopted.
Senator Cummins told some Of his
friends that he had not given up hope yet
OF having his amendment go through, but
he admitted that several Republican Sen
atOrs who were on his list Of those who
would vote for a tax on individual in
comes had been won over TO the other
side and would vote against his PROPOSE
ton in favor Of submitting to the States
the question Of amending the constitution
SO as 70 permit an income tax 70 be
levied. and would vote also for the pro-
posal to tax a proportion OF the incomes
Of corporations.
Senator Bailey, Mr.. Cummins' Demo-
cratic ally, did not share IN the faint
hope which Mr.. Cummins held out to
those OF the insurgent Republicans who
are still true 10 the income tax cause.
He was credited with expressing the be-
lief to his confidants that the zig was
up" and the Finance Committee. which
will offer the two amendments mention
ed, would be victorious as usual
Republican Regulars Confident.
The leaders Of the Republican regulars
are satisfied that their forces will carry
the day. Everything indicates that their
hopes and beliefs are well founded and
that mere handful Of radical Repub-
licans will furnish the only help which
the Democrats viii get in their effort "a
put an income tax law on the statute
books
II was said around the Senate yester.
day that Senator Cummins had begun e
regret the arrangement which he had
made with Senator Bailey to help the
Democrats carry out their platform
pledge 10 assess a tax on individual IN.
comes
From a party standpoint, the credit Of
enacting an income tax law would go Z
course, individual Republican Senator:
r. yho would join the Democrats in voting
for the proposition would manage 70 ge
some credit IN their own constituencies.
The attempt Of Senator Cummins an,
some OF the more radical Republican
Senators to help the Democratic party hal
not served TO improve conditions on tn
Republican side OF the Senate. except fl
that It viii enable some Senators OF in
surgent tendencies to regain good stand
Ing in the party fold
Senator Nelson Of Minnesota. who ha
acted pretty consistently with the in
surgent Republicans, offered an amend
ment yesterday 10 change the Constitu
ton so as 10 permit the imposition OF
tax on individual incomes, and Il is as
sumed from this that he will vote wit
the majority Of Republican Senator
against levying a tax on individual in
comes at this time, and vote with then
for the proposed taxation Of corporation
incomes and the provision to amend III
Constitution
Taft Encourages Republicans.
The interest which President Taft /
showing in the tariff bill has given mucI
announcement to tho majority OF Re
publican Senators.
They have been and still are in full sym
pathy with HIS intention to avoid an
action which might be construed as a
attempt 10 coerce members Of the legis
iative branch into voting for or agains
any proposition. but they believe he /
fully justified and has adopted the prope
course in deciding 10 send TO the Senat
q special message urging the amendator
measures which the Finance Committe
will offer.
From the beginning, Mr.. Taft has re
Rarded the tariff bin as a Republica
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