The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-18

now possesses ample power to tax
incomes. The Supreme Court simply
decides if Congress wanted an IL
come tax it must apportion it among
the several States in accordance
with population. The Court has held
that the income tax IS valid, but 1t
must be upon a basis Of population.
The constitutional amendment seeks
to correct this disproportion. Under
the new amendment every man would
pay the same for the same income
lwherever located. He wanted to
know where there is q South Caro-
lima Democrat who would not be in
favor of an equal tax rather than
making this State pay fifteen times
as much as New York for instance.
Senator Bailey said he was a real
old time Democrat, who still quoted
Jackson and Calhoun. He still be-
lieved it is better to be free than it
is to be rich. It is not true that
such an amendment would abridge
the rights of State. No change but
one is proposed, and that is that the
income tax should be levied upon the
wealth rather than population. The
present Constitution permits an in
come tax based on population rather
than as proposed it shall be upon the
basis Of wealth. Everything the
State can do or tax now it can do and
tax after this amendment IS adopted.
All this amendment proposes is to
substitute the rule Of uniformity for
the rule Of population. He insisted
that under present conditions there
is now ample authority to levy an IN
come tax. He could readily see how
a man can favor a national income
tax nd oppose State income tax.
He believed the income tax was the
fairest tax ever yet devised. If we
can keep up high priced cotton and
bring the cotton mills down here this
section will be the richest section in
the world.
Explains the Amendment.
It is only a question if they do not
grow too fat and quit the Democratic
party and quit work. Mr.. Bailey
explained his income tax amendment
which exempts all incomes OF, $4,000
and under. He exempted all under
$4,000 because the tariff reached 9th
ers quite eno. gh. His amendment
proposed 3 per cent. tax, anc that
was cut to 2 per cent. He d''' not
believe the prosperous men would
commit perjury to save few dollars.
If they wanted to swear to a lie he
would let the devil settle with them.
! He believed the rich men would VIII
ingly pay the tax. All argued that
taxes should fall on those best able
to pay. The correct thing to do is to
tax what men have and not what
men want. The poor have no prop
erty to demand and protect. Senator
Bailey went fully into the eompara-
tive duty Of the rich and the poor,
and he said he was really surprised
that the rich did not offer to pay this
tax. He said he despised the dema-
gosue. The demagogues never try
to teach their children not to try to
prosper. The only man worse than
the demagogue was the tax-dodger.
He believed in and trusted the man
who behaved himself whether rich or
poor. He paid a high tribute, to the
Texans who traced their lineage to
the Palmetto State.
An Appeal to Democrats.
Speaking to Democrats he said if
South Carolina were 10 reject this
amendment it would be forever killed
and the Democratic party would be
held responsible. The Democrats Will
come to make the tar if. The country