Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-06
ON STATES
Gov. Hughes Message 0ppos-
ing Income Tax.
INTEREST AT THE CAPITAL
Conceded New York Will Not Ratify
Proposed Amendment.
TWELVE STATES ENOUGH
Feeling That Many Members Who
Voted for Submission Knew What
INTEREST AT THE CAPITAL
STATES ENOUGH
TWELVE
Feeling That Many Members Who
Voted for Submission Knew What
They Were About.

Great interest was manifested at the
Capitol today in Gov. Hughes message to
the New York legislature advising adj
verse action on the ratification. OF the
constitutional amendment authorizing
Congress to levy an income tax. The con-
sensus Of opinion was that Gov. Hughes
arguments may have far-reaching effect
upon the action of other legislatures
which will consider the question OF rati-
f1cation this month.
The withholding OF !. ratification by
twelve states will defeat the amendment
Georgia and Connecticut thus far have
refused acquiescence, and the belief is
general that the Empire state will en-
phatically reject the amendment.
1t will be recalled that when the reso-
luton carrying the constitutional amend
ment was pending in Congress last sum-
mer grave doubts were expressed by the
advocates OF the income tax OF ever
curing favorable action by the states
The heartiness. not to say unanimity with
which known opponents of the income ia <
tell into line in favor OF the resolution
was enough to excite mistrust and il was
excited and openly voiced i'm Congress.
The proposition to submit the consti-
tutional amendment to the states was a
part of the compromise which expedited
passage of the tariff bill and the adop
ton of the provision for a corporation
stage of the tariff proceedings the in
come tax advocates were intent upon
adding to the tariff bill a straightout
proposition for tax on incomes.
Doubt as to Validity.
Senator Cummins of Iowa and half q
dozen other republicans were in favor
of it. and OF course the democrats We're
unanimous. A count of noses disclosed
~, ;,,t I'll
Senate in favor. of adding the income
tax provision to the tariff bill. II would
have gone through the House sailing.
Of course. doubts were entertained by
many senators TO the validity OF the
tax as thus proposed. Men differed in
both parties on that subject. In reality
it was that honest difference of opinion
which permitted the compromise.
Anyhow, Senator Aldrich and the other
leaders satisfied themselves that If it
came to test vote In the Senate on the
plain question OF adopting or rejecting
the income tax amendment to the tariff
bill it would carry: There was night
conference at the White House and hur-
ried consultations among leaders in both
houses OF Congress.
AS a result. the corporation tax was
proposed as the immediate sop TO the
radicals, with the additional promise that
Congress should submit the income tax
to the states to secure constitutional
sanction before action by Congress. TIE
republicans who. on test vote would
have felt required to vote to add tie
income tax to the tariff bill. admitted
the doubt of the constitutionality of the
tax as thus enacted, and lent their sup
port to the plan TO submit IL TO the
states.
The Senate leaders won out and the
Joint resolution was passed through both
bodies submitting to the states a pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution of
the United States giving Congress abso-
lutte and unqualified power to at any
time pass bills imposing a tax of any
amount upon incomes OF all character.
Considered as Settled.
AS stated. many senator's and repre-.
sentatives voiced the opinion that the
income tax question was thereupon set.
tied for many years to come, as accord.
ing to their views it would not be diff
ficult to induce twelve states to withhold
sanction.
The Georgia delegation In Congress were
the hottest advocates OF the income tax.
and some of them kept hammering away
to expedite sending the resolution to the
states. The Georgia legislature was in
session at that time and soon as IL got
the resolution promptly sat down upon
il, whereat there were loud cries of sur
prise among the Georgia congressman.
Alabama. which was then going wild
on the prohibition question and in a
frame of mind to adopt sumptuary legis-
lation of any kind. as promptly ratified
the amendment. Connecticut soon after
pigeon holed the resolution. the under
standing being that II will not see the
light Of day very soon.
This month and next month will witness
the assembling OF the Legislature of a
ratification of the amendment will come
before them.