The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-18

Governor swanson special message
Legislature to ratify well recognized
Democratic principle. The proposed
constitutional amendment opens the
1 way for the Federal government to
lay and collect taxes on incomes. That
the Federal government should be
given this power was specifically de-
manded by the last Democratic ma
tional platform. and with the principle
voiced by this demand The Times
Dispatch is in hearty accord.
1t has recently been stated that
eleven States are practically certain
10 reject this amendment. If twelve
States reject it, 1T is dead. IT is pos
sible that the action of the virginia
Legislature may be decisive II is of
the utmos, consequence, therefore,
that the Virginia Legislature should
decide the matter Alright. Curionsly
enough. this exceedingly important is
sue has so far aroused little or mol
discussion in Virginia. 1t is of the
discussed in the mosr exhaustive way
before any vote upon II is taken
The Times-Dispatch has always be-
iieved in the income tax as Offering
fair and just means of equalizins
the burdens of government. At the
same time, it recognizes that there are
arguments of serious weight TO be
urged against the adoption of the
present amendment as drawn. These
arguments must be dissectcd at con-
can be fully examined. For the pres
ent 1t is enough to Indicate two OF
them.
The large and benefcent purpose
OF Federal income tax is to transfer
the burden of taxation from the backs
of the poor. where the tariff has to a
large extent placed it, to the shoulders
Of those better able to carry It, Gov
arnor swanson seems confident that
this is how such a tax would work
out in the present case. But would
that necessarily be the case? The Re-
publican party is now in full control
of Legislation, ana the Republican
party believes that the high protective
tariff is the author of American pros
perity. Would the Republican party
see in the new revenue from an in
come tax means to remove or great
ly reduce various onerous duties? or
would it see in that revenue prcteNt
for Keeping such duties at point so
high as to be productive of little or
no income?
The amendment as proposed confers
upon Congress the power 10 lay and
collect taxes upon incomes, from
whatever source derived" How are
these last four words TO be interpret
ed? Do they mean that Congress, if it
it upon all? Or do they mean sim
them upon all? Or do they mean sim
4 ply that thetwholetneld Of incomes is
opened to Congress, and that that
body can select for taxation any class
or classes of incomes at its discretion?
If they mean the latter can Congress ,
and will Congress use discrimination
to tho injury of any States sections. |
industries or classes of individuals |
Congress has long been charged with /
using its tariff-taxing power In dis
crimtnatory and unfair way. Arc
there any guarantees that Its employ
ment of the income-taxing power wiIlI
not he justly open 10 the same
charges?
These impress us as serious ques-
lions, entitled to the fullest and most
careful consideration We are any
thing but ready to waive them aside
as trivial or merely obstructive At
the same time II must be remembereu
that no phrasing of the amendment
could be devised which would not be
open to objection on one score or
another, and none whose meaning and /
full reach would be absolutely clear
in advance. A decade of decisions by |
the United States supreme Court wilIl
be necessary, in any case, to fix that
meaning, and it is Impossible to fore
see and forestall every possible objec-
ton. For the next Congress already |
\
enjoys the widest use of the taxing
power through the custom houses.
and, whether we will or not, we are
already trusting TO the fairness and
good sense OF that body as warrant
that its powers win be justly exer-
cised.
------=--------------=S----zz--
A NEWSPAPER WOMAN ON NEWS 1
PAPERS.
We note with interest that the eN-
cellent paper on What Is News?n read |
by Miss Lula Q. Andrews, of the FARM
vile State Normal school before The
Times-Dispatch Correspondents Asso-
citation last November, Is published in
the Sewanee Review for January. The !
paper is acute and sane, and fully de-
serves the permanency OF print. Miss
Andrews knows something at first
hand about newspapers: she is clever,
observant and an independent thinker;