The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-22
Iowa Senator Is Bombarded By Questions Upon His
 Amendment
ONLY ONE WEAK POINT
 IN PROPOSED MEASURE
Those Who Favor the Income Tax De Not Think There Will Be Any Great Trouble In Getting 
 1t Adopted.
By PATTERSON sTEALEY.

By PATTERSON STEALEY.
 Washington, April 21-Cspecial.) )-sena- tor Cummins of Iowa offered his income
 tax amendment to the tariff bill today ' had been his intention to submit but d few brief remarks on the subject, re- l serving for later date a full discussion of the principles involved. but before the | new Iowa senator had taken his seat he :, had covered much of the ground owing to
 questions hurled at him by Aldrieh of l Rhode Island Smith of Michigan. Page . of Vermont. Rayner of Maryland and . Bacon of Georgia.
 Senator Cummins held his own through
 out the debate. He showed conclusively
 that he has the details of the income tax feature and the revenues of the govern- ment well in hand, and the more experi-
 enced senators made little out of him.
 The subject of an income tax has be-
 come so absorbing that practically the
 entire Senate was plunged into the debate.
 and not until late in the day was there
 any discussion of the tariff per SC.
 Senator Cummins plainly indicated that
 he is going to be thorn in the side of the
 republican organization. He is utterly
 fearless, has little regard for the Senate rule that new senators should be seen but
 not heard and withal has the ability to cope with the opponents of the tax as well as the hide-bound protectionists. The weak point in the senator's amendment is found in his exemption of corporations, but the advocates of the income tax as a
 whole believe a way will be found to ef- feet a union. ;.
 Injury Not Intended. Senator Cummins took particular pain.
 to diselaim the idea that he had offered his amendment with view of injuring the protective tariff systematic argument
 that Senator Aldrich and his followers l have been pouring into the ears of doubt
 ful republican senators. Senator Cum l mins declared that he was as good a protectionist as any other republican in the body, but he made 1t plain that he will oppose the high rates that are being levied and in colloquy with Senator Bacon indicated that if he had his way with it, he would reduce tariff rates and
 make up possible deficiency through the income tax feature.
 There was a good deal of gossip ar
 the capital today that before the mat ter was over with President Taft would come out against the income tax The President, 1t will be recalled during the campaign came out for an income tax ''in time of great necessity and it prob ably has been pointed out to him that hs
 can easly say that such a necessity does not now exist. At any rate the organiza- tion appeared to feel pretty confident to-
 day that they have the President oa
 their side.
 Views of Taft.
 There are not a few senator's that is lfPaf, af1re yhn ,,ft tl,. ion that MT Aldrich has captured the President not only the income tax, but also on the tariff generally, which
 means that he will approve any bill they send to the White House. However. the organization Is not relying upon the Pres
 ident entirely. It Is reported today that free hides which was placed in the Payne
 bill by big majority in the House is to
 be placed by MT. Aldrich on the dutiable , list. The present duty is 15 per cent There is some talk that Senator Aldrich may make 1t 25 per cent. 1t Is also be- lieved that the Standard oil company
 will get back some of it's protection. These instances are simply cited to
 show the manner in which it is hoped to trade off the income tax. With this schedule and that loaded down, the or
 ganization hopes that when the break comes the income tax will be defeated. Practically everything else will be sur
 rendered to that end. The uncertainty of
 the situation is therefore apparent. Com
 bined with it all story was in circu-
 lation that Senator Aldrich has captured
 four democratic votes in case they are
 necessary to defeat the Income tax fea- ture.
 Democrats Deny Reports.
 The democratic leaders. however deny
 that they will lose any votes but the
 report circulated with a good deal of effectiveness among certain republican senators who are Inclined to vote for the tax provided it could be passed. Even
 then the treasury department came to the relief of Senator Aldrch today through the medium of a statement to the effect that the bill as reported to the Senate would yield more revenue than the Rhode Island senator has estimated.
 None of the experts at the capitol ex- cept Senator Aldrich can figure out how this can be true and Senator Cummins made 1t apparent that 1907 prosperity. could not be counted upon with as much certainty as the Rhode Island senator pre- tended.
 Abandoned Vessel Sighted.