The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-07-27
SENATOR NIXON ON
INCOME TAX

changes made, but on the whole,
don t believe the new bill 10 much bet
ter or much worse than the old Ding
ley law" So says United States Sen
ator Geo. 8. Nixon of Nevada, who 10
spending few days at the Fairmont,
as quoted in an interview published in
the San Francisco Chronicle.
This tariff question has kept busi-
ness conditions in the east in an un-
settled state,' continued the Senator.
As soon as it is settled-end IN.
doubtedly it will be settled yer short
prosperity will return fully and
quickly. 1t doesn't make 30 much
difference how the tariff is settled, a.
that it shall be settled.
"The west and middle west have
Jared very wel4 in the matter of tariff
regulations. california has been par.
ticularly well handled. Wool, lumber,
fruits and, in fact, about everything
which California produces in any
quantity, has been protected. We Of
the intermountain district have fared
well, too. Lead, antimony, wool, hides
and other of our products have receiv-
ed protection.
"The policy has been toward gen.
eral protection rather than favoritism
|or radicalism. Senator Aldrich il =
man who believes in protection, and he
believes, too, that if the interests of
one district are to be protected, those
of all should be. He comes from a
manufacturing state, but he was will
ing to have the raw products Of the
west protected. On the other hand.
some of the men from Massachusetts,
and other manufacturing states, tried
to shut out the raw materials from the
list of protected articles.
Cannon favors the same policy
general protection. Both are great
men-the denunciations Of their oppo-
nents notwithstanding.
II am in favor of an income tax. il
it can be made constitutional. But
there is little virtue in passing such q
law now, without some provision to
make the law constitutional. 1t is like
going back on a road where q bridge
has been washed out, before you are
sure the bridge has been rebuilt.
''The supreme court has declared the
law of 's7 unconstitutional, and it ap-
pears of very little use to attempt to
enforce another law now, until the
supreme court can declare it constitu-
tional. For that reason it is proposed
to submit constitutional amendment
to the various states for ratification.
The amendment will make the income
tax constitutional and have no doubt
that it will be adopted.
"The government must raise money
to cover the annual deficit in some
way. Suppose there is deficit Of
$50,000,000. That must be raised in
some way. An income tax is q fair
enough way. But what 10 the use Of
trying to raise it if we are sure that
it will go to the supreme court ON .
test case at once, and be declared un-
constitutionalf
"There was some talk that the SEN
tors voted according to personal inter.
ests. 1t was charged that the senators
who had nothing voted for the income
tax, and that those who were wealthy
voted against it. That's all not; there
is no truth in it.
"In the meantime, while the way 10
being paved for q constitutional in.
come tax, am in favor Of corpora.
tion tax to meet that 100000, 900 de-
felt.
"This is not an individual tax. No.
body can tax man for doing busi-
ness. That is his inherent right. But
when men combine and incorporate un-
der the laws of the land they are ere
ceiving something from the govern.
ment, and they should pay for it. Tho
government has a constitutional right
to tax them for their right to do bust
ness. Let the United States tax the
corporations / per cent of their net
earnings. That will remove the an
nual deficit. 1t is mighty good thing
to have to fall back on in an exigency.
81 think the Philippines got about
what they wanted out of the tariff leg
islation. The amount of sugar and
tobacco whcih is free listed is fully
adequate to cover all their possible
shipments to this country"