Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-11
FOES OF INCOME
TAX DENOUNCED
SENATOR B0RAH SAYS PLAN
FOR DEFEAT IS READY
SAYS FAINT PRAISE WILL DOWN
MEASURE
General Unrest and Future Trouble
Attributed to Fact That Idle
Rich Do Not Pay
Their Share


William e. Borah of Idaho took oc-
casion in the senate today to attack
the position of those who oppose ac-
ceptance by the several states of the
proposed amendment to the constitu-
tion of the United States which would
permit the levying of a tax on incomes
without apportionment between The
states.
Incidentally, the senator paid his re-
spects to Governor Hughes of New
York, including him by inference
among those VINO 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 logis-
lature urging defeat of the proposed
amendment on the ground that its Ian
guage might be so construed as to
authorize congress to tax incomes de-
rived from state and municipal bonds.
Senator Borah pictured the mind of
the public as in q state of suspicion
and discomfort toward the government
and declared that the people could not
much longer be withheld from radical
action if taxation We're continued in
protection of wealth and in exemption
of incomes which sustain luxury and
breed idleness and idiocy." The sem
ator said in substance:
No Chance for Pride
"The history of the income tax since
1894 has not been one which any cit
izen can recite with pride. For hun
dred years a rule of construction as
established by the men who helped to
write the constitution had received the
approval of an undivided court time
and time again. During this period,
therefore, we had under the constitu-
tion the right to impose a part of the
tax upon wealth and part upon con-
sumption, and we did so.
'In 1894 and 1895 these precedents
were overturned and this constitution
received an Interpretation unknown to
it's makers. In the face of two most
powerful dissenting opinions to which
two other judges assented, the humil
iating and astounding doctrine was
announced that the makers of the re-
public had hedged wealth about so
that the taxing powers of the govern
ment could not reach it even in time
OF war; that the founders of a govern
ment based upon equality and justice
had made it impossible to divide the
burdens of government between con-
sumption and large class of gathered
wealth. Last session Of this body we
were called upon to ratify and declare
by express act our assent to that in
depreciation. Under the rule of the
majority we did SO. We submitted
this proposed amendment to remedy
this supposed hideous defect in the
fundamental law.
Planning for Defeat
"Now the scheme and plan is to de-
feat the amendment. Having as a law
making body solemnly accepted this
construction of the constitution, there
by making it impracticable again to
appeal to the court, if this amendment
can be defeated this, the government
of the people, for the people and by
the people, viii 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.
"Mr. President, no ono ever saw this
country in just the condition it is to-
day. Never since this government was
launched has there been such rest
less spirit among the great mass of
the people, such ugly questioning, such
persistent inquiry. No part of the gov
ernment seems to escape challenge or
criticism, and it is fast becoming pop
ular to scoff at the constitution itself.
An unquiet, dissatisfied, suspicious
pubic NINA is Lnc puDllC illllu OL w.
day.
you can defeat this amendment.
In view of the class of men who are
Joining the crusade against 1t / think
YOU will defeat it, The forces which
propose to encompass its defeat will
not stop on the hither side of the most
disreputable methods to accomplish
their purpose. But when the people
learn what you have really done, the
manner in which this has been manip-
ulated, it will so far toward exciting
to renewed force that feeling of wrath,
of class hatred already too strong
among us. 1t will do much to foster
disrespect for and breed disloyalty to
the government.
DeIuge Predicted
'cWhen those who are i'll able to
meet the burdens of government see
its enormous expenditures continue to
increase. larger armies and larger
navies, increased burdens everywhere,
and learn Furthermore that all this
must be met by tax on consumption
while incomes which sustain luxury
and breed idleness and idiocy go un-
taxed, they will have little mercy with
Won in the hour in which you must
plead with them against radical
changes in the government. I do not
know how long we can deal with
patient people in this way. But / ven
ture to prophesy not much longer.