The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-18
For. Doubtful

New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia. Louisiana and Utah have already giv- | the Legislature favoring and the oth- CT opposing the measure. The New Hampshire Legislature will not meet | again until 1913, and sentiment is not fixed there, but action is expected in the other States within a year. Gov. Foss of Massachusetts believes in the tax and has urged it, and now that it is laid aside for the present year public opinion is veeering his way. The Democrats will put an income tax plank in their platform, following last years precedent, and the Republicans will not openly op- pose it. They were content last year to straddle the iSssue. It is thus likely to be agitated with some effect in the approaching. legislative cam paign. The politicians expect the next Legislature to adopt it.
 Gov. Wilson sent a. message to the New. Jersey Legislature urging the amendment, but in the confusion of sentiment in that body ratification failed. The fall elections will make many changes in the Legislature. In the opinion of those who keep close watch on tendencies in that State, the next Legislature will adopt the amendment, as it has strong public support.
 Virginia has displayed little interest
  session, voted almost unanimously for it and the House of Delegates rejected N. Speaker Richard P. Bird led the opposition. It is supposed that he and his allied political interests will again fight it and public opinion is lukewarm regarding it. It is not an issue in single legislative district. The State may be classed as doubt full.
 Although sentiment is not pro- nounced in West Virginia the impres- sion there is that the amendment has a fair chance with the next Legisla- ture. Only one vote was case against it out of eighty-six in the House of Delegates last session. Che Demo- cratic leaders talked It down in the Senate. which rejected it by vote of IT to IS.
 Louisiana is counted for the amend ment. In the last session Gov. Saun- ders opposed ratification without referendum. His influence prevail ed in the Senate. although the House voted affirmatively. Gov. Sanders has since publicly announced that he fayors ratification, thus removing he only active opposition. All the can didates for Governor at the coming election are for the amendment.
 The Utah Legislature will not con- vene again until 1913. The amend ment was defeated last winter through V who urged that if there is to be an income tax the States should be the benefciaries. Spry will run again for Governor and if elected he will no doubt use his influence as before. Democrats favor the tax. If they carry the next election the amend ment will probably be ratified. In Pennsylvania. Florida and Minnesota one House ratified the amendment last session and the other failed to act. The next Pennsylvania Legisla- ture will meet in 1913. Public opin- ion has not expressed itself in that State. The measure got no further than committees in the last session. It's future seems to depend upon the will of Boies Penrose.
 Minnesota is in the doubtful list, due to indifference rather than to ac- tive opposition. The House voted for the amendment last session, but it went into committee in the Senate and did not emerge. So far as known, the Senators are not unfav- orable to ratification, but there is no assurance that it will be pushed. Flor ida is doubtful, as is also Arkansas, where the Legislature ratified the res olution at the last session and the Governor vetoed it. The right of the Governor to take such action is ques- toned and the point has not been settled.
 Delaware and Wyoming have not yet voted. There will be no session of the Legislature in either State un- til 1913. Opinion in both is that the measure will then be ratified The State Inheritance Tax law has work ed we'll in Wyoming for four years and general sentiment favors the Fed eral income tax.
 This summary provides the requir- ed five votes by 1913 without refer ence to the admission meanwhile of Arizona ana New Mexico as States. |