The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-28
ANIMATED DEBATE
UPON THE TARIFF
Payne-AIdriCh Law Is Upheld
By EouteIIe
HULL CHARGES Hi POCRlSY
Tennessee Congressman Points To
Governor Hughes and His Attitude
Upon the Income Tax AS
inconsistent.
HULL CHARGES HI POCRISY

Washington, January 27.-An animated
political debate with the tariff as its CHER
feature entertained the House of Repre-
sentatives today. The agricultural appro-
priation bill was under consideration, and
speaking it Representative Boutelle OF
Illinois upheld the Payne-Aldrich tariH
law as one that would be eminently sat
isfactory to the country and especially to
the southern states.
The entire day was given up to speeches
that were largely OF a political nature.
The Senate received the postal savings
bank bill. which is an administration
measure, and referred it to committee. 1t
probably will be reported out tomorrow.
A bill was passed providing for the dis
position by lottery of unallotted Indian
land in South Dakota, but not before Sem
ators Gore and Burkett had bitterly as
sailed the system.
Charging hypocrisy on the part of many
public men in openly advocating the rat
ification of the constitutional amendment
for an income tax, while secretly attempt
ing to defeat it, Representative Hull of
Tennessee, in the House today, pointed to
Governor Hughes of New York as illus
trating this class of advocates of an in
come tax. This is notably illustrated"
he said, by the action of Governor
Hughes of New York, who recently
emerged from the penumbra of colossal
wealth which never pays dollar of fed
eral taxes and constituted himself a
spokesman long enough to proclaim an is
sue in this battle to perpetuate its i'm
munity from taxation.
THE governor could not content himself
with a personal declaration against this
amendment, as was his privilege. but SO
eager was he to throw himself between
the plutocracy and the people that he sent
a lengthy message to the state legislature
expressive of his so-called official views
condemning the amendment. In SO doing
he was guilty of an officious impertinence
and a negligent disregard of the spirit of
the constitution. His action was that of
an official meddler. To prevent miscon-
struction of their attitude, other gov
errors may now feel obliged also to trans
init their views to their respective legis-
latures.
interposed to say that II the gentleman
from Tennessee knew the governor of
New York as he did he would not accuse
him in such a manner.
After being subjected to close scrutiny
by prominent lawyers and undergoing re-
peated revisions the bill embodying the
Ideas of President Taft and his cabinet
for q federal Incorporation act now Is
ready to be introduced In Congress.
Presumably in its main features the
bill is In accord with the Presidents
message on the subject and the prelim-
mary. draft which was published several
weeks ago.
Corporations given charter under the
bill will be held to a strict accounta-
bility for tho observance of its provisions
for no less than three distinct methods
are available to dispossess them of the
privilege of doing business. These are
the right of Congress to alter amend or
repeal charter; the right of the COM
missioner of corporations who issues the
charter to sue for a recelvership in
case of violation of any of its fea-
lures or for alleged insolvency and the
right of the Attorney General to begin
proceedings for annulment for violations
of the Sherman antitrust act. Proceed
ings instituted by the commissioner of
corporations or by the department of
justice may be resisted by injunction or
by other legal means.
Advocates of the bill believe it is gain
ing some favor in Congress. Monopo-
lstic combinations of great interest, it
is declared, will be prevented, but ample
provision is made for the organization
of business interests within legal lines.