The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-04-29
IN WASHINGTON
senate Having Hard Fight on Tariff
Bill.-Aldrich May Be Beaten
Income Tax Not Likely just Yet
Our Weekly Letter.
Washington, d. c.

GouDle IN trying TO pass the Aldrich
Bill. Senator Aldrich laid the Bill
before the Senate In a speech of
only three quarters of an hour,-the
shortest speech ever made in submitt-
ing tariff bill. He said that the
Bill, as he has framed it and intro
duced IT will bring in all the money
which the Government needs to pay
Its expenses. If this is true there
will be no need for an income tax.
and Senator Aldrich is opposed to
the income tax.
There are two classes of advocates
for the income tax. The Democrats
uphold 1t as a reform in TAXATION
almost a socialist measure. They also
favor 1t because the Republicans do
not do so, just to be contrary. Then.
In the second place, there are a num-
Der OF Republicans who believe in
1t because it will bring in the money
which the nation needs. These in
dependent Republicans do not think
that the Aldrich Bill will yield as
much revenue as the Rhode Island
Senator says it will They think that
an income tax is sure to come within
few years and that the Republicans
had better make a trial of it now, as
soon as possible, and get the credit
for 1t. On the other hand the regular
RQnuhlfcanc hova natbfno e. 80.
against the income tax. They admit
that IL man pays taxes in proper
ton to the amount of money he make
each year, the rich men viii pay a
far larger share of the country's ex-
penses than at present. But they
hesitate to make a start on a new
kind of taxation so long as the time
tried tariff will furnish all the money
required
/ The matter hinges to a large ex-
tent on the attitude of President Taft,
and President Taft is keeping quiet.
1t is known, however. that although
he would be perfectly willing to af-
fix his signature to an income tax
law, yet he is not in any haste to
have the country begin a new ex-
pertinent If the old methods are still
doing the work well. He insists that
the tariff shall really be revised
downward, and he is inclined to think
that the Aldrich Bill does not lower
the rates as a whole. Therefore even
If the Bill In its present form would
yield sufficient revenue without an
income tax feature Taft would still
oppose 1t as leaving the tariff rates
too high. II Aldrich wants Taft's
support he must lower the rates on
several important goods and then
show that he can raise money enough
with this weaker bill to pay the
governments expenses, without re-
sorting to an income tax.
But Aldrich is making great strug
gle to get the Republicans in the
Senate into line against the income
tax. No good Republican likes to
side with the Democrats and help
them pass a measure which they adj
vocated long before the Republicans
did. Still, 1t is true that Elihu Root
Ex-Governor Cummins, Senator Bur-
ton and others of the new men seem
to have been income tax men from
the start; and that even some of the
old-time regular Republicans, like
Senator Nelson and Senator Dolliver,
have torn away from the Aldrich
crowd this week. Dolliver wanted a
place on the Finance Committee, and
his action may simply be in retalia-
ton upon Aldrich for not giving him
the position. 1t is thought that un-
less Taft comes out strongly in favor
of an immediate income tax provision
the other fractions Senators will
swing into line, and Aldrich have
his way. But the debates this week
are warm, in the extreme.
There are a large number of mill
ionaires in the Senate, and it has
been figured out that these gentle
men alone would have to pay well
over a million dollars year to the
Government If an income tax law
is passed. That is one reason why
some of them do not dare to oppose
the law.
The sensation of the week has been
the attack made upon Census Maker
S. N. d. North by Secretary Nagle of
the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor. Mr.. North is supposed to take
his orders from Mr.. Nagle, since the
Census Bureau comes under the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor. Mr..
North is apparently headstrong, proud
and self-opinionated man, and he has
built up a strong body of friends anon
the members of both houses of Con-
gress. Thus he has felt safe in doing
just about as he pleased in his work.
Secretary Strauss was willing to put
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