Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-23
|FAVORS INCOME TAKii
Senator Brown Urges Amend !
ment to Constitution.
POWER FOR GOVERNMENT
Takes Issue With Gov. Hughes Of J
New York.
ALONE IN HIS ANTAGONIST
Cites Time When Country Might
Need Authority to Raise
Fund Quickly. ~
POWER FOR GOVERNMENT
ALONE IN HIS ANTAGONIST

Admitting that he had greater re-
spect for the New York senate than
for New York out OF the Senate" SEM
ator Brown of Nebraska. author OF the
income tax amendment. today joined
the debating society which is composed
of Gov Hughes on the one side and
some OF the members OF the United
States Senate on the other 81
Mr.. Brown spoke in the senate 10
the resolution of Senator Borah direct
ing the Senate committee on the jl-
dietary TO make an inquiry concerning
the legal effect upon state securities
of the adoption of the income tax,
amendment TO the Constitution. -.
lie devoted his efforts especially to-
demonstrating that the New York gov
ernor had been wrong in his assumr-
ton that the amendment would have
the effect of laying burden on states
and in showing that even il il did have
that effect il should be adopted by the
various state legislatures.
Hughes Stands Alone Zoo
Accepting the governors pronounce
ment an evidence of opposition. MIR.
Brown declared that in his antagonisiu
Mr.. Hughes stands alone among all the
governors who have addressed their
legislatures the subject Of the
! amendment Alabama, Ohio, Virginia.
New Jersey and other states have gov
comforting the power. but favor the
proposed amendment which, If adoptea.
confers the power II cheers our
| hearts 10 read in the press that Presi-
| dent Taft agrees with the Governor OF
New Jersey. who in a message to his
legislature February Z, and since the
New York message was transmitted.
| took immediate and direct issue with
the Governor of New York"
Calling attention 10 the TACT that no
| one, in Congress or out, had pointed 10
| the possible effect of the amendment OH
| state affairs, Mr.. Brown said:
In this body the state OF New YoE
| enjoys representation of the very higA7
est character and most eminent ability
and yet New York on the roll call, al
shown in the Congressional Record, was
| i'm favor of this amednment as IL passed
Congress and was silent as to any sus-
geston that the language was faulty
have greater respect for New York IN
| the Senate than I have for New York
out of the Senate on this question.
Provision for Approval.
THE fathers provided that amendments
to the Constitution should be ratified by
state legislatures. The approval of the
governors is not required. They do not
even have the power to veto a legislative
| ratification resolution of any proposed
amendment. although, / suppose. as
| friend of the state-a sort of amicus
| curiae-a governor may volunteer
| harmless veto in advance of action by the
legislature IL he chooses to do SO.
| He contended that the amendment does
not alter or modify the relation todpy ex-
| listing between the states and the federal
government.
THAT relation will remain the same
under the amendment as il is today with
| out the amendment, he said. 1T is con-
! coded by all that the government cannot,
| under the present Constitution, tax state
| securities or state observation-disclosures. Nor
| can the state lay its taxing niger on
| federal. bonds or federal agencies. Eath
| is beyond the reach of the other SO far as
taxation is concerned The proposed
amendment in no sense seeks, nor can IL
| reasonably be argued to suggest, any
| change in the independent or sovereign
| rights of either sovereignty as enjoyed
and defined by the courts ever since the
| government was organized.
Not Regarded as Sequence.
| Still, 1t does not follow, even If Gov.
| Hughes were right, that the amendment
| should be rejected. On the contrary, II
follows that it should be ratified. because
under that Interpretation all incomes
| would be treated alike. No exemption
| would be allowed and no exceptions per-
mitted save as Congress might and
should exempt all incomes up TO cer-l
| tain amount"
Arguing that as the safety of the
state depends on the safety of the nati0E..
| he said:
| city of New York, | can imagine thes
borrowing capacity of the Empire statch
| might be impaired. But the imparmentsE
| would be measured by the danger thca
| assault brought to the republic: In otherk
| words, New Yorks credit will be pro7
| tected in proportion to the ability OF th.1
| federal government to protect itselfs
against the enemy. &
When Authority Is Needed. &
"When regiments must he equippedE
| and armed. when battieships must htr
rushed to the scene of danger withougs
| counting the cost, this government s4,ouldt
| have the power to lay its tax upon tho
| incomes of those who have them. 4
| hope the emergency l have describeE
NAV never arise. But, should IL come.
the republic must be clothed with fulI
| and ample authority 10 lay just share
of the burden upon the income of the
whole country.
He declared that if New York shoult
reject the amendment IL would do so
because of inherent objection TO any tax
on incomes. and not because OF ann
pacity. Indeed. the experience of all
income taxing nations had shown taat
the credit of the stae is not impaired
by imposing a tax on ITS bonds = ,.,E
nations plan of government depends on
the coexistence of state and federal au-
tEvriy, -. said that mater ,oNla H. pc
stitution. If that must result at all. it
must come through revolution, and he
did not believe revolution TO be in sight.