Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-04-01


ing close watch on the action of the
various state Legislatures, There are
both friends and foes of the income
income tax proposition in congress,
but even among its friends there is
sharp difference Of opinion as to
whether such O. tax law ever properly
could be enforced, because of the
proneness of men to hide the facts
concerning the amount of their In
come.
The proposed amendment to the
constitution which will make legal be-
yond all question the laying of the
tax. on incomes has been ratified al
ready by the following states: South
Carolina, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Illi-
| nois and Alabama. 1t has been reject
ed by Virginia. The legislatures of
the following states are either now in
session or have just adjourned and as
yet no action has been taken by them
on the constitutional amendment:
Rhode Island, Ohio, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, New York and Maryland.
Why It Was Submitted to States.
1t will be remembered that during
the tariff debate early last spring the
administration and the Republican
leaders suggested that the income tax
amendment to the constitution should
be submitted to the state legislatures
for action. This unquestionably was
done in order to discourage income
tax debate and the introduction Of
amendments to the tariff bill. OF
course 1t Is not intended to say that
the administration was not sincere in
its desires to have income tax legisla-
tion, IL 1t ever should reach a legisla-
tive form. put on safe constitutional
grounds. It is believed that President
Taft Is In favor of the income tax pro-
vided 1t can be shown that it is nee
essary in order to raise revenue, but
his friends say his judicial mind" is
such that he does not want any legis-
lation to go on the statute books un-
less it is absolutely certain that it has
the constitution back of it.
AS has been said, there are many
friends and many foes of the income
tax amendment proposition in con-
gress. Most of the friends of the
I
south, while the foes as rule come
from the east and northeast Three.
fourths of the state legislatures must
ratify the proposed amendment before
it can be put into form and be given
a place in the constitution of the
United States. Within the next year
Fl states through their legislatures
will have a chance to ratify the
amendment. The states that have rat
flied it and those whose legislatures
are now in session but have taken nc
action, already have been named. The
legislatures of the following states
will meet and either sanction, reject
or ignore the amendment within the
next year: Indiana, Iowa, Missouri
Minnesota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kan
sas, Nebraska. Nevada, North Caro-
line, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Ore
gon, North Dakota, South Dakota, wy
oming. Washington. Wisconsin. Texa.
and Tennessee.
Twelve That Are Doubtful.
1t can be said that the general opin
ion is in Washington that all of tn,
states last named will sanction tht
amendment. In three of these states
the Legislative sessions will open il
the late spring or summer of thii
year. There are IL states which will
have legislative sessions in 1911 ant
in these IL there is great doub
whether affirmative action on tn,
: amendment will be taken. The L
states are California, Connecticut, Del
aware, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Mon
f, tana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia.
Roosevelt We'll Informed.
, 1t is pretty thoroughly establishe
: fact that Theodore Roosevelt has 4
his possession an exhaustive lette
2 written to him by Senator Elihu Roc
> of New York and giving in outline a
t account of the Taft administratio
( from the fourth day of last March u
8 to the time that the letter was penne
!. early in February of this year.
3 There cannot be the slightest dout
, that the New York senator, who wa
4 Mr.. Roosevelts secretary of stat,
; wrote the letter in the hope that
3 would Offset the statements of a nun
! ber of people who had gone out
4 meet Mr. Roosevelt to tell him thf
from their point of view. that of pr
gression," the Taft administration hs
= been dire failure.
In several speeches made recently b
l. Democrats of prominence and in on
s or two letters by men of that part
5 of almost equal prominence, 1t hs
g been held that Mr.. Roosevelt himse
h is likely to be big figure In the ne,
5 national election. In these Dem
4 cratic epistles there has been lackir
Q something of specific detail, and OPT
y ion is pretty evenly divided as
Il whether the present minority part
l. hopes that the former president wi
T. again be a candidate'or that the hoI
/, is he will sanction the Taft admin
l. tration and continue to support
Q through its present term. includiI
l. the time when the present presidel
may be candidate for reelection.
Q Rely on Third Term Issue.
n There are many leadiAg Democra