New-York tribune., 1910-03-25
B0RAH In A TILT
DEPENDS THE WEST
Idaho Senator Drazcs Fire of
". ID. Guthrie at Dinner.

Senator william z Borah. OF Idaho. de-
Tending the proposed federal income tax
amendment before six hundred members Of
the Economic Club last night. expressed the
hope that some day he would lead his state
delegation TO a national convention TO
choose Governor Hughes as the Republican
candidate for President William d.
Guthrie. OF this city. who took the other
side OF the question. said that although a
Republican he thought Mayor GaynOr at
the head OF the national administration
could effect the saving of t30O0t0.O00 a year
which Senator AIdrich had said was now
wasted In the government OF this country
We have a forest reserve in Idaho in
which we could put the whole State Of
New York and lose it, exclaimed Senator
BOrah In defending hts state against Mr..
Guthrie's charge that II had cost the ma
tiOnal government a hundred times more
than II had ever paid IN taxes. But II you
will withdraw your Eastern votes" ne went
on. we will soon abolish these reserves.
which are forced on us By the East
If New York wants any great public
work the people OF New York State pay for
g. as they did for the Erie Canal and their
docks" said Mr.. Guthrie. but millions
have been spent for conservation in Idaho
by the national government"
New York goes down In her own pOcketT'
retOrted Senator BOrah. Where else in
the world should she go? She has Il all
Every dollar spent by the national govern
ment in retaining arid lands in Idaho is
said back 10 the national government many
fold by the purchaser. but We vote money
IN Congress 10 dig creeks in New York
State that could not float duck one month
IN the year
New York Is suspicious OF any man that
comes from west Of the AHeghenies." con-
tinued the Senator
"Oh. no, no q" said the audience
Il don't mean that they regard him rs
dishonest" he explained. "IIe would come
and settle in New York II that was the cas-.
but they know that he has not the chance
20 know What is going on IN the great world
outside"
Senator Borah qrOted John Sherman IN
favor OF an incoIae tax. adding He was &
man from east % the AIleghenies: he wore
clothes and not a blanket"
He reasoned that while the United states
had the power to tax state bonds as the
states have power 10 tax national returns.
II was no more to be considered as. q. gov
ernmental possibility than that the United
States should tax the bends OF Canada. thct
vas separated by geographical boundaries.
Taxation On property and income is the
golden rule Of taxation said the Senator.
To-day consumption. and not wealth
bears the taxes. The man with a large fam
ly viii pay almost as much as the man
who draws $l2.000O00 a year income II We
should come 70 New York for S30OOO0,0OO A
year you would take interest 10 know what
we are doing with II. Yet Senator AID
rich SAYS that amount is spent wastefully
each year.
If the Constitution stood to-day as il
was written and was interpreted by Wilson
and Chase. there would be no need for
this amendment. Remember the abolition
Of the income tax was passed BY only a
single vote. We are the only government
that ever existed without the legal power
20 tax wealth
Senator Borah denied that the proposed
measure was a Western product and pointed
out that il was written by Senator Elihu
Root. OF New York.
Mr.. Guthrie pointed out the danger Of
graduated taxation He said II was Inspired
BY the West. which had received many times
more from the thirteen original states than
II ever paid in. He said the rich men OF
New York would readily pay If il was
necessary
Austen C. Fox. who also opposed the
amendment. dvelt principally on the am
blguity % the measure. while lawson
Purdy. who favored the measure. pointed
20 the example OF England and argued that
n New York had 10 pay large part OF the
tax. IL was because New Workers drew
prohts from all parts OF the country.
Francis Lynde stetson. president Of the
club. presided al the gathering