The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-02-10
SENATOR BORAH
ON THE INCOME
TAX AMENDMENT
Believes It Is the Only Thing
Which will Prevent a So. :
cial Upheaval
TAXATION MUST Be TAKEN
From ARTICLES OF CONSUMPTION

nVVVsfVA VI Amendment imperative
II Incomes Which Sustain Luxur,
DO Not Escape.
Washington, Feb 10.-Scnator vii.
nam T.: Borah of Idaho took occasion
in the senate today to attack the DO.
sitfon OF those who oppose acceptance
ny the several states of the proposed
amendment to the constitution of the
united States which would permit the
ievying of a tax on incomes withou,
apportionment between the states.
Incidentally the senator paid his
respects to Governor Hughes of New
York, including him by inference
among those who profess to be il
FAVOR of an income tax but oppose
practical measures which would per.
init Its enforcement. His allustor
was of course to Governor Hughes
annual message to the New Yorl
state legislature urging defeat of the
proposed amendment on the ground
that its language might be SO con.
, structed as to authorize congress te
tax incomes derived from state and
municipal bonds.
Senator Borah pictured the mint
of the public as in a state of suspi.
cion and discomfort toward the gov.
ernment, and declared that the peo.
pie could not much longer be withheld
from radical action IL taxation were
continued in protection of wealth and
in exemption of incomes which sus.
tain luxury and breed idleness and
idiocy.' The senator said in sub.
stance:
"The history Of the income ia,
since 1S94' has not been one which
any citizen can recite with pride. For
a hundred years a rule of construc.
tfon as established by the men 'whc
helped TO- write the constitution had
received the approval of an undivided
court time and time again. During
this period there sat upon the bench
OF the supreme court some of the
greatest lawyers of that or any other
period of this or any other country
During this period the wealth of this
country had not become SO domineer-
ing. so powerful, SO determined tC
have its own way. During this period
therefore, we had under the consti.
tuition the right to impose a part OF
the tax upon wealth and a part upon
consumption and We did so.
I'm 1894 and 1895 these .precedents
were overturned, this constitution re.
ceived an Interpretation unknown to
its makers. In the face of two most
powerful dissenting opinions to which
two other judges assented, the hu.
initiating and astounding doctrine was
announced that the makers of the re.
public had hedged wealth about sc
that the taxing pow of the gov
ernment could not ro..ci, it even in
time of war; that the founders of q
government based upon equality and
justice had made it impossible te
divide the burdens of government be-
tween consumption and q large class
of gathered wealth. Last session OF
this body we were called upon tc
ratify and declare by express act our
assent to that Interpretation. Under
the rule of the majority we did SO.
We submitted this proposed amend
ment to remedy this supposed hideous
defect In the fundamental law.
Only One Remedy.
Now the scheme and plan is to
defeat the amendment. Having as a
law making body solemnly accepted
this construction Of the constitution,
thereby making it impract!cable again
to appeal to the court, if this amend
ment can be defeated this, the gov
ernment of the people, for the people
and by the people. will stand alone
among all the civilized nations of the
earth shorn of the power to tax that
form of wealth best able to bear the
burdens of government.
THAT is the scheme and plan. and
such men as the great governor of
New York is giving them great aid
and comfort. Men say with great fer
vor of patriotism, I am in favor OF
this power being given to the govern
ment to be used at least in time of
war and straightway proceed to help
defeat the amendment If those who
are the real enemies of this meas
ure would come into the open. its
COuIu uCtI Will GIiShh AoA AhoA y
successfully.
"Mr. President. no one ever saw this
country in just the condition it is to-
day. Never since this government
was launched has there been such a
restless spirit among the great mass
Of the people. such ugly questions.
such persisten inquiry. No part of the
government seems to escape chal-
lenge or criticism, and 1t is fast be-
coming popular to scoff at the con-
stitution itself. An unQuiet dissatis-
fled, suspicious public mind is the
public mind of today.
Heavy Burdens.
"You can dcfea this amendment.
In view of the class OF men who are
joining the crusade against it | think
you will defeat il. The forces which
propose to encompass its defeat will