Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-07-13
WASHINGTON CORE.
sPoNDENcE.
BY clyde u. Taxenner.

o history was its failure to pass in
ONE or inheritance tax legislation.
III of the first class nations of the
world have either an income tax or
N inheritance tax, and many, have
10th.
) We now raise practically all ma
ional revenues by placing tariff
AK on things eaten, worn or used
~ the people. This system is UNI
Just because it requires the working
nan to pay not less than one thous-
md percent. more taxes in proportion
% his income than millionaire.
Our protective system of course re
luires the millionaire to pay tax on
that which he eats, wears or uses.
but lit does not tax him to the ex-
bent of one penny on his wealth.
Thus 1t might, and no doubt fire.
quently does happen, that section
hand on THE railroad with a family of
six or seven children pays more tow
ard running the national government,
toward building battle ships and
maintaining them, toward keeping
our standing army, than the million
aire bachelor who is too proud to
marry and raise children.
President Taft, and President Taft
alone, must bear the brunt of re-
sponsibility for the failure of Con
gress to tack an income tax provision
on the Payne-Aldrich bill. A major
ity of both houses were On favor OF
an income tax. AldrichI saw that an
income tax amendment would be pass
ed, and, as usual, appealed to Presi-
dent Taft for aid.
The President knuckled absolutely
to the will of Boss Aldrich, urging
Congress to pass corporation tax
instead of an income tax. To fool
and console the people the treach-
erous Aldrich then smilingly CON
scented to a ratification of a constitll.
tional amendment legalizing an in
come tax, well knowing hat ways
could be worked out to thwart such
ratification, at least within the life
of the present generation.
But there remains still another
chapter Of this legislative swindle
that the American people ought tt
know about. AS an excuse for hav
ing killed an income tax, Presiden
Taft stated that the corporation tai
should contain a publicity clause
which would enable the government
and the people to secure information
about the working methods of the col
porations. He held out the hope this
publicity clause would make IL pos
stble for the government to hold
the law-breaking trusts responsible
in court for their acts.
So Congress passed the corporation
tax, but jokered the people by pur
posely failing to provide funds for tn,
handling OF data which would come
in under the publicity clause Ever
this was not enough. Congress, in
the session Just closed, completed the
swindle on the public by striking ou
1.-THE publicity feature altogether
And Mr.. Taft himself had declared
the publicity clause was the mos
valuable feature in the bill! How
long are the people going to stand
for such treachery as this?
Senator cIapp's Illustration,
Senator Clapp of Minnesota, Re
publican insurgent, was recently Civ
Ing me an interview on the business
OF a tax on incomes. Finally he
stopped abruptly and pointed out Of
his window. "Tavenner", he said
notice that marble wall yonder
Which stone bears the greatest
weight? The stone at the bottom
or the one at the top? BBefore yor
answer will add that is just the
way 1t ds without an income tax.
Until the present tariff schedules are
revised along lines of justice, and
until we have an income tax to take
some OF the burden of taxation from
the man at the bottom, that stone
wall will stand rs deadly parallel
to existing conditions
The Issue.
Two big state conventions were
held recently. Pennsylvania Replbli
cans declared as follows on the tar
iY:
I'VE believe that the tariff bill
recently enacted is in accord w!tf
the Republican policy expressed In
it's last national platform. We agree
with President Taft that it is the
best tariff the Republican rarty has
ever passed"
Said the Ohio Democrats:
We demand a revision Of tho rrer
ent unjust and oppressive tariff, re
ducing the rates so as to lower the
prices imposed on the consumers"
Consumers, 1t is up to you. Think
the matter over!
What Demdatie Leaders Think.
I'm my opinion the mex. House
will be Democratic by ? majority Of
between forty and fifty" said Chair
man James T. Lloyd, of the Nationa
Democratic Congressional, committee
Mr.. Lloyd is in close touch with polit
ical conditions in practically ever.
congressional district In the country
and is generally reputed among his
colleagues as more likely to be over
cautious than over-confident, If any
thing, when making political prognas
ticatons. Minority Leader Cham1
Clark predicts the Democratic major
ity in the next house may possibly