New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-03-11
CONCERNING THE INCOME
TAX BILL.
Bv Senator VIM. E Borah of Idaho

/ In order that the people 81 tht
I United States should be fairly
taxed-that Is. burdened only witt
their far share of the enormous
amounts levied upon them by eve
state and national taxation. | al
vocated an income tan which
should reach the wealthy. VII st
personal and family expenditure
can never subject them - SUCH
relative taxation as tails through
the tariff and real estate assess
mants on the men of moderate IN
come and family responsibilities.
In order that a part of them at
least should understand why my
associates and myself jguor d
were party considerations i'll cur
action in Congress. at the SuggeS-
ton Of the editor of the National
| have given herewith a summary
of ideas and argument advanced
in an address on the subject,
Those who are members If the
majority in the Senate and Wao
are advocating an income tax do
not coucede that they are OUTSIDE
Of party lines or that they are ad-
vocating policies or principles
which are new or radical. We be
lieve we are advocating policies
and principles that are well accept
ed as part of the faith to winch
We subscribe, and that we are al
vocating principles as old as tn
revenue laws of the United States.
We advocate an income tax not as
a temporary measure for the pul-
pose of securing revenue for temp
orary purposes, but because we be-
lieve it should be a permanent
part and portion of our revenue
system.
| have reread within the last few
weeks the cultured and faithful
biography of John Sherman Al
though read with that object in
view. | did not find that that
great leader in his day was given
to radicalism. socialism. or that he
was often swung from his moor
ings as a conservative statesman.
! lie was one Of the steadfast and
sturdy councillors Of this country
in very trying hour. Long after
the war had closed and after we
had had the experience of an III
come tax for some several years,
after We had known its benefits
and its defects. its failures and It's
virtues. and after the necessity
of maintaining it as war tax had
passed, this distinguished leader
Of his party in 1871, said:
What John Sherman Said.
They have declared it to be IN
vidious. Well, sir, all taxes are III
vidious. They say it is inquisitor-
al. Well, sir, there never was a
tax in the world that was not in
quisitorial the least inquisitorial
Of all is the income tax. There
never was so just tax levied As
the income tax. There is no OBJ
lection that can be urged agains,
the income tax that | cannot point
to in every tax. Writers on
political economy as well as our
own sentiments of what is just
and right teach us that a man
ought to pay taxes according TO
his income. The income tax 81
the cheapest tax levied except one.
Referring at that time to the
bank tax.
Again he said:
1t is the only tax levied in the
United States that falls upon prop
erty or office or on brains that
yield property, and in this respect
is distinguished from all other
taxes levied by the United States,
all of which are levied upon con
sumption, the consumption ot the
rich and the poor, the old and the
young.
What President Harrison Said.
/ would also call attention to a
later Republican leader. While
he was not at the time specifically
discussing the income tax, he was
discussing the basic principles upon
which that tax is based, and tina,
is the obligation of property and
wealth to the Government. when
protects property and wealth.
This is the language Of Mr.. Har-
rison. after he had retired from
the presidency:
eve live in time Of great agl-
tation. Of a war of clashlng
thoughts and interests. There is
a feeling that some men are hand
icapped that the race is sold that
the old and much Wanted equal
ity of opportunity and of right has
been submerged More bitter and
threatening things are being said
and written against accumulated
property and corporate power than
ever before. It is said that. more
and more. small men, small stores.
and small factories are being
thrown upon the shore as finan-
cial drift; that the pursuit of
has reached a stage