Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-24

stated, Senator Cummins' goal is the
presidency of the United States. That
is his objective point If he can de-
feat the present leaders of his party,
there is nothing that can stop him
from getting the nomination. No one
realizes this more than the Aldrich-
Taft Cannon followers.
"Cummins must be sat upon-he
must be sat upon hard!" That is the
word that has gone down the Inc to
the standpatters. The Cummins amend
ment is said to have certain flaws. 1t
wouldn't make any difference to the
Aldrich crowd whether it had or not,
however. They would not permit, if
, any action on their part could prevent
it, any important amendment coming
from the Iowa senator TO be tackled on
the tariff bill. The better the measure
, from the standpoint of the people, the
less chance Senator Cummins would
have of success in getting it enacted
| into law.
Will Cummins defeat Aldrich? Many
are asking this question. 1t is easily
answered. Senator Cummins can not
succeed in having his income tax
amendment incorporated into the tar
] if bill The Aldrich crowd has con
gress securely in its control
| There is one move Senator Cum
Minis could make however, that would
defeat. in the opinion of many, the eff
forts of Aldrich to prevent him from
winning the plaudits of the entire
west
If, after seeing that he could not
succeed in having his income tax
amendment adopted, Senator Cummins
would induce his followers to vote for
the Bailey income tax amendment, it
is the opinion of many it might be a
master stroke for the Iowa senator.
| Whether he would do this is the
question. Some say he would and some
say he wouldn't
| Democrats for Income Tax.
The democrats will vote almost sol
idly for the Bailey income tax amend
ment. The democrats are in good
faith in their efforts to give the coun-
| try such a law. which would require
the rich to help bear their proportion
of the expenses of the government, and
tend to tighten the burden of the poor.
If the democrats can not have the
Bailey amendment passed at this SEES
sion, they will make income tax an
issue in the next congressional cam
paisn. If Cummins and those pro
Sressive" senators cooperating with
him vote for the Bailey amendment. it
will become law, as the democrats
and insurgents outnumber the stand
Eaters.
| The only objection being urged to
the Cummins amendment is that, ac-
cording TO its critics, il allows 10 es-
cape from taxation foreigners holding
stock in American corporations.
The Cummins amendment provides
that corporations shall not be taxed
but that all stockholders whose in
comes from all sources exceed $4,000
shall be taxed. Senators Smith of
michigan and Gaynor of Maryland take
the position that half the stock in
American corporations is held by per
sons not legal resident of the United
States, and over whom an income tax
law would have no jurisdiction. In
comes of this class of persons, it is
claimed, would go untaXed
1t is contended that the Bailey
amendment guards against this alleged
defect of the Cummins amendment by
providing for per cent tax on al
incomes over $4,000, including those
of corporations and individuals. Thi!
provision would result in the taxing
OF incomes of aliens by levying on lht
incomes OF the corporations in which
the aliens might hold stock. Senator
Cummins contends the Bailey amend
ment would result in double taxation
on the incomes of the corporation ant
again on the same money as the in
come of the individual stockholders.
Bailey Would Double Revenue.
: Cummins believes his bill would pro
duce about $40,000,000, while Bailey:
income tax would bring in about $50,
: 100000 in revenue.
The CumminS amendment exempt:
incomes below $4,000. On incomes no
exceeding $4,000. a 2 per cent tax i
levied. This applies to the incomes O
all individuals, corporations being eX
; empted for the reason above stated
On incomes not exceeding $4,000 tn,
tax is 21a per cent; not exceeding $40
900, 3 per cent; 100000, 80 per cent
$4,000, 4 per cent; 100000, pc
cent; on incomes exceeding 100000
& per cent.
,, From practical standpoint, LOW
: ever, it really makes little differenc
what either the Cummins or Bale,
amendments provide. 1t is doubtful
s income tax legislation will become
v reality until there is a majority O
,. democrats in both houses to pass sue