Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-26
DAVID B. HILLS GREAT
SPEECH ON INCOME TAX
Exposition of What Local
Government Does.
New York SUM-

Perhaps TIE finest intellectual ex-
preston, the most statesmanlike and
weighty uttterance, the highest public
service of David Bennett Hill, isl
found in his two great speeches
against the Federal income tax. He
spoke in vain for the moment, at least;
le fought in vain delusion indus
triously propagated by demagogues
md spread now from the Populists to
tie Republicans as we'll as to the
Democrats. 1t is we'll worth a
thoughtful mans while to read these
extracts from Mr.. Hits speech in the
Senate, June 81, 1884,
Much is said about TIE general
Government protecting property, and
tLlat therefore property should pay
axes directly to it. Such protection
S more of a fiction tan a reality
more of a theory than a practical re-
4ult. In truth and in fact the property
lI'1 personal liberty of the citizen is
protected almost exclusively and en-
-irely by his town, county and state
governments. The local governments
ire tlOse which protect property and
PERSONAL rights, which supply IL
With fire and police protection. with
sewer privilege, with pure and whole.
some water, witt gas and electricity
Tor our streets, which maintain on
pavements and roads, which arrest
md punish our offenders, which sup
port our public schools and sustain
ny n 4 Loo, Oh
md charter our public conveyances
protect our suffrage and maintain pub
lie order everywhere, and which makes
life worth living.
The obligation of ourselves an6
our accumulated property is to TIT
state and local governments, and not
20 the general government. except in
the remotest degree.
In fact the general government has
out a limited jurisdiction over us
which is defined in the Constitutiol
can legislate bat little in regard tc
our domestic affairs. All TIE various
relations of life and our business, our
occupations, cur contracts, our homes.
)ur comforts and privileges are all
regulated by the state and not the ma
ton.
The nation cannot give us honest
governments, it cannot protect us from
maud, speculation. robbery, mlrder
ire, darkness, bad highways, ignor-
7nce, pauperism, intemperance ana
rime generally or from any OF the
)t- 'ar evils the the prevention or reg
llation or control of which requires
The expenditure of public moneys
The very nature of our government
prevents such protection and forbils
such interference with the domestic
affairs of states.
The jurisdiction of tie general
government lis very much restricted
1t can do three things under the Con
Stitution Constitution, Article 4, Sec. |
ion Al: First, it can guarantee TO
every state republican form of gov
eminent, a comparatively easy task
usually entirely fulfilled wien thu
state is first admitted into the Union |
second, it must protect each of then
from foreign invasion, a danger which |
no one need ever fear; third, it must |
protect them from domestic violence |
but only when asked by tie Legisla. |
-ure or Executive of a state, for occas-
ions for interference to discharge this |
last duty have been very rare in The |
history of the country.
1t may therefore be safely assertHC |
t1at the new found theory for to,era1-
'ng an income tax in time of peace BE- !
oaIse of the protection which the gen |
eral government gives to wealth. PROF.
arty and individuals has little CT
nothing to support it. The same falls, |
t '3ory has been especially invoked t |
justify AN income tax upon corporl- |
lions, AMI it has been urged that as |
are invested with vast |
powers and privileges not enjoyed b |
individuals and receive much protec- |
lion in their vast undertakings, and
are as "a rule prosperous by reason O
opportunities afforded to acquire
wealth i5y their aggregate capital, they
are fl subjects for an income tax The
first answer to this plausible argd
ment is tblt corporations already pay
TO the states their full share of tax
alton. Ii they do not they can be
to do so by the states then-
se.yes, and their failure of fullfllment
Of that duty is a matter of no concern |
to the general government.
The next answer is that these cor
9orations are created by the various
states and not hy the general govern.
nent, and their Obligations are to ii
states and not to the nation The COZ
oorati0ns created by Congress are few
ndeed-they can be counted upon the
ends of your fingers. They cut re
figure among the great mass of the
of to country"