The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-26
Attention Is Turning to Income
Tax Discussion.
Taft Thinks Situation Doesn't
Warrant Radical Action.
WAITING ON TARIFF.
After That 1t Will Be Known
What Is Necessary.
Special Taxation Will Come if
Money Isn't Sufficient.

Washington, April 26.-In connection
with the talk about an income tax, it
is a sad fact that the imaginations of
certain congressman have been vault
ing around in the vicinity of the White
House in a wonderful and picturesque
manner.
Some Of the lawmakers who want to
/ see an income tax made a law at the
earliest moment possible have spread
the idea that President Taft wants it
right away. Others who are on the
opposite side of the question have
opined in an audible way that Mr.. Taft
would fight such proposition to the
last ditch. All of which is extremely
interesting, exciting and turbulent.
The only trouble about 1t is that none
Of it fits the present situation.
The Presidents views are now what
they always have been. He, in common
with many other statesmen, does not
think that the present situation calls
for any agitation in regard to an in
come tax or any other form of special
taxation. 1t is claimed by the franz
ers Of the tariff bill that 1t will raise
all the revenue sufficient to pay the
running expenses of the government. If
this is SO. 1t is manifestly unnecessary
at this time to resort to special taxes.
If on the other hand, it is found that
the measure cannot raise the revenue
deemed sufficient for the welfare of the
government, Mr.. Taft and his advisers
will turn their attention to whether an
Inheritance tax, an income tax, or a
tax on the dividends of corporations
should be used for raising money So
far. however, the president has in no
way authorized any one to say what his
attitude toward any form of taxation
will be. His expression in his in
augural address still holds, and, if it
m cyef Ia mo
he will carry that out.
The truth of the business is that Mr..
Taft has not gone into the business of
changing his mind every week or so.
bill looks like after the senate has
passed it and the conferees of the house
| and senate have put 1t into final shape.
| Those gentlemen who think they can
do anything with the bin they please
and not run the risk of remonstrance
from the executive department of the
| government will be doomed to meet a
shock If they go too far.
In the meantime. neither the oppo-
nents nor the friends of the income tax
| proposition can use the president as a
means of touting their own game The
| first thing on the programme Is the
passage of the tariff bill. II that fills
the bill and gets the money, that is all
| there will be to the situation.
| If it doesn't raise enough money, the
4
This is the view Of the administration,
as described by the friends of the presi-
dent. He is keeping his hands Off the
| income tax agitation in the house and
| senate. and he is not authorizing state
ments that he is opposed to 1t or de-
nlanding it.
The washington Post says: Osborn E.
Willis, of Kansas City, is at the Riggs,
and discussing prohibition in Kansas,
AZ lic caid a.
ment of the prohibition law during the
past two years is cutting down reve-
nues of the federal government in Kan
sas. Most of the joints have been run
ceipts lately have come from druggists
and boot1eggers. After June 1, when
the new law goes into effect. the drug
gists will quit taking out government
liquor stamps. The boot1eggers then
will be the only source of revenue to
the government from the liquor busi-
ness in Kansas.
when joints were allowed to run
openly" continued Mr.. Willis, "their
owners promptly paid their govern
ment tax. But when Kansas made the
possession of a government liquor
stamp prima facie evidence that the
holder was violating the law, many
| joint keepers quit taking out stamps
until they were forced to do SO. Now
that they have been driven out of
/ business, Kansas revenues in that line
come from the druggists and bootleg
gers. We will soon lose the druggists;
| then we will have nothing but boot
Ieggers. And they are tough lot to
round up"
| Speaker Cannon has appointed
| Congressman Dan R. Anthony MEM
ber of the committee on enrolled bills.
! Mr.. Anthony served ON the military
committee during the last congress.
Senator Bristow presented in the
Senate petitions from citizens of Bart
lett and Courtland, Kan, praying for
a reduction of the duty on raw and re-
| fined sugars. A similar petition from
Scranton. Kan, was presented by SEN
ator Curtis.
Kansas postmaster appointments
kBurdfck. Nortonville; Henry A. P1att,
Overlook.
Kansas postnasters com nissioned:
| Dwight E. Lawler, Riverdale; Robert
! H. Montgomery. Oswego: James w.
McClain, Point Rocks, Morton county.
New rural mail routes to be estab-
lished in Kansas on June 1: Route No.
/ out of Cambridge, Cowley county:
route No. 1 out of Paradise, Russell
county; route No out of SeIden,
i Sheridan county
The star mail route service between
woodsdaIe and Moscow. Kan. will
he discontinued on April 80 and su-
perseded by rural free delivery.
senator stewards Body Crenlated.
washington. April 26.-The body o.
xx-;17.oro N Stewart former Iruffaf