The Washington herald., 1910-07-10
Senator from Nebraska.

tuition, SO that Congress shall have
power TO lay and collect taxes on IN
! comes and inheritances, from whatever
source derived. without apportlonment
among the States and without regard TO
any census or enumeration. The resolu-
| ton was afterward withdrawn so that
might strike out the words and in
/ heritances. It was then reintroduced.
passing the Senate by a unanimous vote
and getting every vote but twelve IN the
House OF Representatives. The amend
ment has been sent to the country and
/ has been ratified by the States Of Ala
bama, Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma,
South Carolina. Mississippi, and Mary
/ land. The States of Massachusetts,. Vir-
ginia, Rhode Island. and New York have
| rejected the amendment, the senate OF
New York ratifylng it. but the lower
| house rejecting & by a single vote. The
| legislatures Of Ohio, New Jersey. Con-
Recticut. and Georgia, although IN ses-
sion during the past year, refused 70
take action.
III eight more States vote the amend
ment down. it win be lost. but do not
! fear It's defeat. I believe it will be ac-
cepted and become the law OF the nation.
The legislatures OF many States will not
meet until next year, and by that time
| the country VIII be pretty well informed
with respect to the desirability of author
| izing the national government TO tax
| incomes. The ratification Of the amend
ment does not mean that incomes VIII
be Immediately taxed; they may not be
taxed for a long time. However, the
power VIII be conferred upon Congress
and viii be ready in the event OF a ma
tional emergency"
Some Influence at Work.
"Are efforts being made to beat the
amendment as it comes before the legis-
latures OF the different StatesT'
Il have no definite information on the
subject. but l know that eminent and
high-priced lawyers wrote long opinions
on the amendment and that the opinions
were taken to Albany and distributed
among the members OF the legislature
Somebody. obviously, was vitality inter-
ested in the matter"
'It Is your belief that all incomes
should be taxed?"
Yes; as my resolution reads. from
whatever source derived which includes,
| OF course. rents. dividends. interest on
all kinds of bonds, and salaries. How
1 /
| comes OF less than 5000 Above that
sum I would lay a tax OF 2 per cent
/ following the rule that the larger the
/ income the greater the rate II a man
with an income or a salary of 5000 a
year were taxed 2 per cent on 5000, or
only $40 annually, he would not be I'M
patriotic enough TO complain
And the mass OF the people would
escape?"
Surely" Senator Brown replied.
How would the money so collected be
spent I asked
ct would go into the national Treas
ury and be used for various purposes-to
carry on war, TO meet a deficit in the
public revenues, or to reduce the taxes
on cotton goods and woolens," Senator
Brown said, with q smile.
When you were elected to the Senate
| in 1907" I remarked, ''the newspapers Of
Nebraska boasted that you would be the
poorest man in the upper branch Of
Congress"
Poor at the start.
II am not Dragging about my poverty"
Senator Brown answered. but I guess
the newspapers were right. My brother
Frank can make nothing and save money
I can't. STILL impeeuniosity has its COM
pensatlons. am not afraid that the
banks VIII break. When stocks ara up
do not know #; when they are down
do not care. So have time to think
Of other things. A certain Senator often
invites his colleagues 10 dinner. giving
them TO understand that neither legisla~
tive nor social favors are expected in
return Well I so to his magnificent
home. and Rhila I am no Axnerk fn