The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-13
IRWIN SCORES INCOME TAX
SENATOR MADE ABLE ARGUMENT
AGAINST ITS RATIFICATION.
Claims Complete Surrender of State
Rights. Giving Congress Power to
Even Tax Municipal Revenue.

hISnCS. Giving congress IONer W
Even Tax Municipal Revenue.
ATLANTA.-The debate over the
income tax waged for two hours Fri
day in each house of the Georgia leg
islature, and a vote was reached in
neither. The discussion was contin-
ued into this week.
The indications are that in both
houses the vote on the ratification
of the amendment will be very close.
Probably the ablest argument yet
made in the senate on the questoion
was made by Senator Irwin of the
Eleventh, who spoke against the rat
ification of the measure.
The senator began by begging the
indulgence of the senate in consum-
ing so much of its time. He did so
because they had under considerable
the most momentOus question which
had been presented to them for
generation. Probably they would not
have to consider another question of
such grave importance for more than
a generation again.
Significance of Their Votes.
II want you who are voting for
this measure" said the senator, Ito
fully understand the awful signifi-
canoe of your vote. If you make
mistake the mistake is irremedicable
Once place this amendment in your
constitution and you will never be
able to get it Off 1t will confront
your children and your children's
children down to your remotest de-
scendants.
I'VE who oppose the amendment
are not in such a position, do not
have such a tremendous burden of
responsibility. 1t will come, and in
the near future too, when we will
have an opportunity to vote on a
democratic income tax.
Il am unalterably hostile to this
republican measure which would sur
render into the hands of a republic
can congress a large part of the
rights of the states which they have
not yet been able to encroach upon.
Now only two reasons so far as
l know have been advanced in favor
of this amendment first that it
would place the burden of taxation
upon the wealthy Glass; and, second,
that it would reduce the protective
tariff.
Il emphatically deny the validity
of either of these reasons, and l know
of a score of reasons that might be
urged against the measure.
Last Vestige of State Rights.
THE proposed amendment con-
veys and delegates to the government
the last vestige of states rights, open
ing the door to direct taxation, which
our forefathers had so zealously clos
ed. Under its provisions the federal
government may tax gross as well
as net incomes. They could place
a burden upon every man, woman
and child in the United States.
They would have the power to go
further and even tax the very income
of your state itself. They may make
it impossible for you to maintain a
state government. Think of that
you who favor the measure. They
may tax your state and municipal
bonds. | assert, and you cannot dis
prove it, that this infamous amend
ment gives the national government
power to tax the incomes of all the
municipalities, counties and states in
this union.
But you say that congress will
never exercise the right. Show me
a single power ever granted by the
federal constitution which congress
has not exercised and l may believe
you. I can cite you dozens of powers
not granted which republican con-
crosses have usurped. Certain it is
that / would never be willing to
trust republican congress with the
enormous grant of powers contained
in this amendment.
The measure before us was not
penned by a democrat, was never
concurred in by democrats, but was
fathered and foisted upon us by our
political enemies. If it is a demo-
cratic measure where are the gener-
ais who are leading the fight in it's
favor? How many of the organs of
public opinion in this state are urg-
ing it?
Il tell you, and sooner or latey
you will find it out to your sor-
row, should this amendment be
ratified, this is republican
trick. 1t is a Trojan horse rolled
up to the walls of democracy, and in
stead of having concealed with it.
men it has tons Of dynamite. You
say that it will lower the tariff
answer CndI II is scheme whereby
an eXtravagant republican admins
tration will raise revenue regardless
of the tariff. Then they can make
the tariff so high, if they want to,
that the government will not get a
cent of revenue from it.
"This amendment is cunningly
worded. 1t is a trap, a dead-fall, to
catch democrats. Are you going to
fall in it?"