The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1910-03-04
BORAH ON INCOME TAX.
Substance Of Idaho Senator's
Recent Speech.

Recent Speech.
The following associated press dis
patch Of Feb. 10, mention Of which
was made in this paper at the time,
is published this week by request in
its entirety:
Washington, D. C.-Senator
William E. Borah, of Idaho, took
occasion in the senate today to
attack the position of those who
oppose acceptance by the several
,, states Of the proposed amendment to
the constitution Of the United States
which would permit the levying Of a
tax on incomes without apportion-
ment between the states. Incident
ally, the senator paid his respects to
Governor Hughes of New York, in
cluding him by inference among
those who profess to be in favor Of
an income tax but oppose practical
measures which would permit its en-
forcement. His allusion was, of
course, to Governor Hughes annual
message to the New York state leg
islature, urging defeat of the pro-
posed amendment on the ground
that its language might be so con-
strued as to authorize congress to
tax incomes derived from state and
municipal bonds.
Senator Borah pictured the mind
Of the public as in state Of sus-
picion and discomfort toward the
| government, and declared that the
people could not much longer be
withheld from radical action if taxa
ton were continued in protection ol
wealth and in exemption Of incomes
which sustain luxury and breed idle
ness and idiocy."
The senator said in substance:
The history of the income tax since
1894 has not been one which any
citizen could recite with pride. Fol
a hundred years rule of construct
ion as established by the men who
helped to write the constitution hac
received the approval of an undivid
ed court time and time again. Dur
ing this period there sat upon tht
bench of the supreme court some O
the greatest lawyers of that or any
other period Of this or any othel
country. During this period tht
wealth Of this country had not be
come so domineering, SO powerful
so determined to have its own way
During this period, therefore, WI
had under the constitution the righ
to impose a part of the TAX upol
wealth and part upon consumption
and we did so.
I'm 1894 and 1895 these preced
ents were overturned, this constitu
ton received an Interpretation
unknown to its makers. In the fac
of two most powerful dissentin,
opinions, to which two other judge
assented, the humiliating and as
founding doctrine was announces
that the makers Of the republic ha'
hedged wealth about so that the tax
ing powers of the government coul
not reach it even in time Of war; tina
the founders Of a government base
upon equality and justice had mad
it impossible to divide the burden
Of government between consumptio
I. and large class of gathered wealth
Last session Of this body we wer
. called upon to ratify and declare b
; express act our assent to that intel
= pretation. Under the rule Of til
!, majority we did so. We submitte
d this proposed amendment to remed
e this supposed hideous defect in ii
e fundamental law.
d Now the scheme and plan is
d defeat the amendment. Having as
II law making body solemnly accepte
this construction Of the constitution
:. thereby making it impractical
again to appeal to the court, if tn
u amendment can be defeated this, Il
y government Of the people, for Il
- people, and by the people, "
- stand alone among all the civilizt
Al