The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-07-08
Washington, d. c.
then come,
July 3. 1909.

July 3, 1909.
The corporation tax amendment to
the tariff bill has been passed. The
politicians all admit that the plain peo-
pie of the country will be glad because
of this; but politically the situation
is charged with thunder. Senator
Aldrich admits that he does not like
the tax as a permanency, for the
reason that he believes that the pro-
tective tariff ought to provide the Gov
eminent with revenue, and would be
apt to be lowered IL there are other
sources of revenue, such as the cor
poration tax. But for two years yet
he thinks that there will be deficit,
even with an adequate protective tariff
and therefore he is willing to place
the tax on the statute books, with
the open intention of repeating or
modifying 1t in a short time. He thus
frankly states that he does not
agree with Pres. Taft, who wished
the corporation tax to remain a per-
manent law.
Early this week, as soon as the
regular schedules of the bill had been
completed by the Senate and the
speeches on the corporation tax had
begun, Senator Aldrich went away
for few days vacation. Qt is ru-
mored that he took a short ocean voy
age) 1t was evident to him that
the expressed wish of President Taft,
together with the hot temperature,
would put an end to the debate, and
he felt that the Senate would come
safely to his conclusion without his
presence. 1t i3 seldom that any lead
er has been so sure that he had
the Senate under such absolute con-
troll that he could afford to tic it han
and foot and go away for rest.
The events justified his foresight.
The Senate listened without interest
to the impa3sioned attacks of Sem
ators CUMMING and Borah, who point
ed out that President Taft had last
summer plainly stated that he PREFER
ed an income tax to a corporation
tax. They also recalled the fact that
in the famous Spreckels sugar case
the Supreme Court had held that a
tax on the gross earnings of corpora
tons was an income tax and unconsti
tutional, and reasoned that tax on
the net earnings amounted to the
same thing. In the face of the de-
sire OF President just elected, with
whom Congress dare not break SO
soon, the Senate decided that the only
arguments to be considered were
POLITICAL rather than logical. The
heat continued to PROSTATE many OF
the strongest members OF the Senate
Senator Bradley was unwell during a
portion of the week. The temperature
in the Senate chamber was nearly
ninety, and by some prejudice electric
fans we're abandoned and every SEN
ator welded a palm fan.
In the absence Of Mr.. Aldrich they
were as sheep without shepherd and
no one really dared to put any Inn
portsnt question to vote. On Thurs
day afternoon there was great excite
ment when In the course OF debate II
suddenly became evident that thu
amendment could be passed ther
and there If any one would dare te
take the initiative. For few
moments it looked as IL the Senate
would fix Tuesday for voting on Tho
amendment; but just as everyone wa
holding his breath the situation wal
saved by the objection of Senator Bulk
ley, and presently the Senate ad
journed. 1t is not known whether Sen
ator Aldrich was really In Washingto
all the time, as his secretary claimed
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