Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-07-07


subjects ct action by the people OF
this State
TAXATION THE MAIN ISSUE.
The issues which confront the peo-
pie to-day are many and varied and
differ in the degree Of their inpor-
tance. The elimination Of so-called
graft the enforcement Of law. quick
justice in the courts, economies In
government, preservation Of State
rights. restriction Of United states
territory, extension Of American com |
merce, just income tax reserved to
the States. the election OF United |
states senators by direct vote. non
Interference by corporations in poll
tics, popular instead of class legisla-
tion-all OF these are both State and |
national issues and all are coupled to
the question OF whether the policy |
shall be one of progress and self-as-
sertion or whether matters shall he |
pc United to drift Each of these sub
tects also presents to either of the |
dominant parties problems for their
self reform. For that reason they do
not critically effect either but both
history and organization supply to
the Republican party the first chance
and the primal duty Of settling these
issues by the enactment of proper
laws.
1t Is a satisfaction of tho hour that
conditions have shaped themselves
to the advance announcement OF
declaration Of principles on the part
OF the republicans of this state
Among these none has moro funda-
mental significance than taxation,
through the exercise OF which the
government, both State and national.
supports itself and distributes the
cost upon the Individual Until taxa
ton problems are adequately disposed
Of there can be no true ana sure
progress. Vermont probably has as
good laws any other STATE OUT
they can be improved. There is neeo
OF law enforcement There Is neen OF
law enforcement. There is need or max
| ing every man hand In his list unoer
oath and BY legal machinery checking up
and testing its correctness. The OFFSET
must he abolished and the tax on in'ans'-
/ bIcs. so-calied, bonds mortgages Stocks
! and notes. must be reduced to minimum
/ or discontinued altogether. There must
! he y classification of subjects ana tru"
adjustment Of Same as between state ana
nation. The federal government must
depend upon what It now has under the
| constitution, tho States upon corpora
tion taxes. licenses and fees, and the
municipalities upon property taxahon'
| There Is also good reason for making use
| Of collateral inheritance and direct IN
| heritance taxes for the use of tho state
In my opinion the reform Of taxation viii
work to the certain and lasting advantage
of our state and of all It's people, a.
| though am aware that ii will involve
some hardships for the time being while
such an adoption is being adjusted Ia
individuals and to business Such taxa
ton reform should be accompanied by
greater attention to the expenses of gov
ernment As for the tax on income, such
n tax Is the most simple and the most
| lust theoretically and I am heartily In
favor Of its uae but consider it impracti-
cable under state jurisdiction. New York
called this populistic and sociaistic be-
cause It was held there that said State
would pay 50 per cent. OF the total. do
not know as to that figure but DO know
| that 1t would be unwise for any State
to SO vote on any constitutional amend
ment as to deprive itself Of this means Of
self-support It Is all right for the
federal government to lay. as per constt-
| tuition, an income tax "accordinE to
population but it should not interfere
with the right of States to tax individual
incomes. If their constitutions, permit nor
need this latter form OF taxation be
feared If graded in amount
Credits, private, corporate and munich
pal will adjust themselves 20 such n form
OF taxation. 1t would seer. that men of
large incomes, from whatever sourca
derived. should pay propoTionately large
sums to the government but such tax
should be paid to the State. and therefore,
since the latter probably could not en-
force such law in an equitable manner.
IL would seem to me wise that way
should he found OF extending federal
jurisdiction 70 the collection of such 81
tax, but that the tax should be paid back
by the government TO each State, that
being n legitimate of the federal gov
eminent In protection and service Of the
States of which 1t is composed. So far
as the general government Is concerned
II should rely upon, and 1t will be ade
Quately supported by relying upon. its
existing constitutional powers as to taxa
tion provided (and regard this point OF
the utmost consequence there be institut-
a.! I proper economy as 10 ltS DISCOURSE
ment accounts.
PROGRESS IN PARTIES.
Perhaps the convention may hesitate to
endorse the proposed suggestions of a
progressive political advance on the part
of the Republican party in this State. 1t
does not seem possible however, that this
can be true in view OF the conditions
which maintain among the active peoples
OF other States and OF the gradual and
sclfexplanatory evolution in American
politics. These political suggestions are
not more theories but the expression of
political laws and OF popular reeds.
They exist because OF necessity and they
will prevail IN some form whether we
to-day endorse these principles or not.
. The Republican party was born Of com
promise discussion and out of the evolu-
ton of the country's needs. 1t was
created TO solve the problem Of the ma
ton and 1t has existed because It solved
that problem and all the other great sub
, jects which followed. It is a party both
OF initiation and of adaptation and II
has been peculiarly party OF progress
and OF action. II is now engaged here
, and In tho nation in the discussion OF
new and untried experiments in govern
ment with a View to conserving the In
terests Of the people Of this nation and II
= is trusted by that people to effectuats
their we'll being and their will. Let no
man conclude against the adoption OF