The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-14
THE INCOME TAX.

The Burlington Free Press in dis
cussing the proposed income tax
amendment to the Constitution refers
to the Springfield Republicans COM
ment on the speech of Hon. Joseph
A. DeBoer, as presiding officer of the
Republican State Convention, held in
this city, June 80, and says:
President DeBoer, who by the
way was found in the convention to
be in close touch with the sentiment
of the delegates as a whole upon ev-
cry one of the vital subjects discus
sed, including taxation and purer pol
| itics, unquestionably interpreted the
sentiment of the Republicans of YER
| mont in relation to a federal income
tax for national purposes.
The traditions of the little republic
| of Vermont in the colonial period
have descended so strongly to even
| the present generation that the sons
and daughters of Vermont are as
| jealous of their State rights as many
a Democrat of the old school, but as
! demonstrated by their part in the
| Civil War never to the point of dis
| ullOu ONtI any ~ lhIlplt tidN WOulU
weaken the bonds of holding the in
dividual commemorative in a grand
United States of America.
"As the Republican shows, it
would require something like the
pending income tax amendment to
, enable the federal government to at
tempt to equalize income taxation in
the different States and distribute
+bo oUain AMONG tho States
and the plan would unquestionably
result, as it suggests, in building up
the richer States and impoverishing
the smaller and less wealthy States.
For this reason also, the people of
Vermont would unquestionably OBJ
iect to the federal income tax amend
ment, even if such step did not open
wide the doors for the taxation of in
comes for any and every Populistic
scheme that might be conceived at
Washington.
IF the national government ever
has at it's command such tremendous
resources in time OF peace, as this
amendment would place in its hands,
all incentive to economy in the adj
ministration of affairs would be
| thrown away, and Congress, which
! in our estimation, is already mex
cusably prodigal in the scattering OF
; funds, no matter which party happens
to be in power, would enter upon a
career of lavish expenditure such as
the world never conceived of in its
, widest dreams.
: we regard the federal income tax
proposition as the first step toward
the abandonment of customs duties
and internal revenue from luXuries,
as well as all protection on American
= industries and labor, incidental OF
: otherwise, in connection with the
: maintenance of our government. we
} can thus readily understand why the
esteemed and able Springfield Repub-
e Iican should urge the consideration
: of this measure upon the people OF
New England.
I'VE can also understand why Re-
publicans and protection Democrats as
t well as Democrats and State Rights
4 Republicans should combine to defeat
d this proposition for it means
t strongly centralized federal govern
: ment with unlimited powers OF tax
d alton within its grasp. The name
3 that shapes taxation sways the world
Many an institution and interest has
e been taxed out of existence, and witt
4 the great corporate interests reaching
), out after more and more power
Y throughout the Nation as well as II
j Vermont. the people need to jeal
S ously guard their rights in every d.
= rection lest they find themselves The
: victims OF a powerful and highly cen
S tralzied government absolutely con-
e trolled by the trusts"
! 1t is a significant fact that the Re
n publican platform made no allusioI
h to the income tax. If Vermont hat
: been favorable to the system there il
{ no reason to doubt that resolution
would have been presented, commit
ing the party to a ratification of th'
9 amendment.
o The Journal believes that the sen
: timent of the State is hostile 10 III
S approval in its present form. Nor
: attention should be paid to guardin:
= the rights and privileges of the State
O a fact pointed out very forcefully b.
S some of our most distinguished
|. statesmen. Surely the Nation ough
t. not to encroach on the sources OF tn
: income of the States as it ha
!. abundant opportunities of its owl
: for raising revenue. AS the Free
If Press intimates, to give Congress THU
o added source of income, not needed
e at the present time, is to invite ex
= travagance. The power to raise sucl
n a tax will not long remain unused
# Until it is needed much more urgent
J. ~ than it is at the present time WI
b are better off without it.
y HONORARY COLLEGE DEGREES