The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-28
rRE INCOME TAX AMENDMENE.
nnesreSiang nemaFks &C che Hon. Charles
u. Llttlesieaa On FeaerNl Power.

RnesRosaang memaFks &C ne Hon. ChaFies
Y. LAttlelaeln On FetierNl Power.
RSoss q wesMs asdress AsfOrs no hsTeAsnss cSu1
Of Bossoa.
Tho Federal Congress has to-day all
the power that Il ought 70 exercise, and
I say that &C a time when the history Of
the legislation OF Congress shows 70
peated instances Of tho unWarrantod use
Of the power they now have 20 accom-
pliah indirectly Interior results. Il has
become . common practice 60 pass legis-
lation justified by ono provision Of the
Constitution 70 accomplish anOeher result
NOT contemplated thereby. and by indi-
rection 70 work direction out. The cor
pOEation tan IL an illustration. could
30 over piece after piece Of legislation 60
show that Congress is always reaching
out, especially through the Interstate
commerce clause. 20 control matters that
do not come within the legitimate scope
OF their power. I am not in favor of
vosting Congress with any further power.
They have all the power now that they
can safely and properly exercise.
In regard to4hat power have had some
personal experience. A few years ago
some legislation was passed known az
railroad rate legislation. Il originated
In the House % Representatives. inspired
by a gentleman who then occupied the
highest place In this Government and
who 10 now. II remember correctly. In
the dark continent. boarding the lion In
his den. the elephant In his jungle, the
rhinoceros In his lair. the hippopotamus
In his wallow. and the serpent In his slime.
When originated In the House Of Repre-
sentAtives IL was deliberately drawn for
the purpose Of preventing tho court from
reviewing the decisions Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. That commits
sion had the proud record OF having had
Il demonstrated that In cases that came
before the court for review thay had
guessed wrong moro times than they had
Guessed right. took the responsibility
OF making a speech against that bill on
the floor. in which speech I protested
against the enactment Of any legislafion
depriving tho court OF the power TO re-
view tho question OF WHISTLER q railroad
company had been deprived Of ita rA9hts
by the decision OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
The Republican and Democratic parties
and they are both In 1.-THE Republican
and Democratic organizations on the eve
OF Congressional election had entered
into defensive and offensive alliance by
virtue Of which they refused to have that
ball as reported changed by the dotting
OF an or the crossing Of a Z. IL was a
running for popularity for the next Con-
gressional campaign. ! Offered an amend
ment providing for q review by the courts
Of the United States. drawn by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. and Il was
howled down. I could not get votes
enough for q roll call. Do you think am
anxious 10 invest that body with more
power9
In the due course OF time that bill went
To the senate Of the United States. having
still behind IL the gentleman who then
welded the big stick-and he welded il
an vigorously a. he could. IL was forty
or nifty days in the Senate. and among
the leaders for a review by the court was
a mild, lovable. courageous gentleman
with q head full OF brains. who Gomez
from Massachusetts, Hon. W Murray
Crane. There was put into that bill IN
the Senate a provision providing that the
decision Of the commission should be re-
viewed by the same tribunal that passes
upon your rights and mine. giving the
railroad company under the Constitution
and under the law the same rights that
every other citizen has under the law.
l lived Co see the distinguished President
Of the United States come one Of his grand
lofty and political somersaults and say
that whoever was not in favor Of that
amendment was opposed 60 the bill. And
l lived TO see another very able and dis
tinguished gentleman say. in a speech
delivered at Columbus. Ohio, that II that
language had not been written into the
hill It would not have been worth the
paper upon which IL was written. and his
name was william n. Taft
say il with no reflection upon that
body when say that IL il political body
Il - affected from start Co finish with
political considerations. The members
81 Congress are. as a rule. men OF ability
and character. who love their country and
desire In do the right and proper thing.
But do say that first Of all that body is
political in character. and that political
considerations to a large degree control
its action. And when the fathers saw At
by fifteen amendments To restrict and
limit the power OF Congress and Of the
courts. I am not In favor at this late day
in the year Of our Lord 1910 Of vesting In
them more power by adopting this amend
ment and subjecting the instrumentalities
- the States 20 the control 81 the United
States under circumstances where selfiah
consideration will he almost sure 70 drive
men to relieve their own constituents and
impose burdens ON other constituents. 90
situated a. IN bear alone burdens Of that
peculiar character.
I believe thoroughly with Hamilton.
believe in the wisdom Of the fathers.
believe the Government should stand
an IL IL and that we should not change
this fundamental Law under conditions
like these II We desire to have and TO
perpetnate a government of the people.
for the people and by the people. this
question Of determining what the public
burdens shall be and how they shall be
imposed-whether In . manner that win
conserve or will tend to disintegrats the
great republic-is one Of tho essential
things for W TO consider. The dual