Ripley County democrat., 1910-09-30

ed in the interests Of the great trans
portation lines of the country.
1t was cruelty dissected In the Sen
ate by the Democrats assisted by La
Toilette, Cummins and others. and
was so changed from its original form
that its authors could hardly recognize
H. II 1t did nothing more than give
the Interstate Commerce Commission
cont oil over railroad rates, it was q
step forward.
have contended for years that all
corporations are subject to regulation
by the state. They get their life from
the state. They are not vested with
the prerogatives Of citizenship, and
should not be permitted to exercise
the rights Of citizenship.
The national intelligence, or the
national conscience, whichever we
may call it. has been thoroughly
aroused on this subject. The eyes Of
a tremendously interested country
were fixed upon the Congress Of the
United States during the framing Of
the Payne-Aldrich Tariff law, and also
during the drafting of the Railroad
Rate law. When the latter was being
discussed that national conscience was
more alert even than 1t had been dur
ing the debate on the tariff law.
The transportation interests of the
country had welded such a powerful
influence over legislation in the states,
as well as in Congress, that their
every movement during the discussion
of the measure was closely scruti-
nized. The owners of railroads should
acknowledge the right Of the govern
ment to regulate them. They are
common carriers, are given the right
Of eminent domain, are servants of the
government, in that they carry its
mails, and from every viewpoint
should be subject to regulation.
The alliance between the protected
industries and the transportation In
terests was formed for mutual protec-
tion, but they have not been satisfied
with that; combining with the great
financial interests Of the country
these, together, have built up power
which has dominated the Republican
party. The Quickening Of the public
conscience has had the effect Of caus-
ing these interests to take their bear
ings.
Their practices In the past have
gone into history not to be repeated
in the future. What the people Of this
country desire and demand, and what
they are going to have, is equality Of
opportunity, an end to special privi-
leges and the enactment of laws that
will prevent all inequalities Of oppor-
tunity.
Corporations, however helpful they
may be in promoting our material in
terests, and essential though they may
be in the development Of our re-
sources, will no longer be permitted
to frame the laws Of our country or
select those who administer the laws.
Individualism Is the cornerstone Of
our free institutions. Our laws must
be made first for men and their vel
fare; the protection of property must
not be the primary, but the secondary
consideration.
Income Tax.
At the beginning Of the Govern
ment, practically all powers Of taxa
ton we're vested in the states. Gus
toms duties could be imposed by the
states on goods arriving not only from
foreign countries, but from the sister
states. First, this right Of imposing
tariffs was taken from the states and
reposed in the General Government.
Through the extension Of practices
from time to time established, and of
the latitude permitted by the courts,
the taxing arm of the National Gov
ernment has been strengthened, but
there is one subject Of taxation to
which 1t is not even yet permitted to
extend.
The most equitable Of all methods Of
taxation because It Is fixed directly In
accordance with a mans ability to
pay. a method of which almost every
other government Of civilization can
and does avail itself, is denied to the
Government of the United States.
That is, Of course, income taxation.
The right to tax incomes is still re-
served to the states. II the states
now exercised that right there might
be the more objection to comforting 1t
on the Federal Government. but none
of the states exercise the right.
4 It has long been urged that our sys-
tenn should be changed so as to sup
plement the general taxing authority
with the right of levying income taxes.
It might not always desire to exercise
that right in ordinary times. even II
conferred, but the right should exist,
to be exercised in time Of stress,
should It be needed.
Attempt was made In Mr.. Cleve-
lands time to place this recourse at
the disposal Of the national treasury.
but an unexpected decision by the
courts blocked the wise design. Four
teen years passed before there was a