New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-17
aVERNOR DIX URGES
PASSING INCOME TAX
,.Ds That Assembly Take Action
m Amendment Without
Further Delay.
,rNDS LETTER TO FRISBIE
chester Platform Pledge
Meant What IT Said, De-
clsres Governor, and
Should BE Kept.

II DUVuiN LIZ Az
,,,ny. May Ex-Governor Dix to-day
letter to Speaker Frishic Of the As
-, urrine the House 10 take action on
,sndins income tax amendment to the
.a states Constitution. The Governor
s.,es the income tax pledge Of the
..,oster platform is binding on the Demo
II, nsrtv. and in closing says that there
.,s MOI Nc the slightest question that
,elre viii he fully redeemed, and that
-..,out further delay
M wagner resolution raufying the
.,6ment PASSED the Senate on April 10.
= has since been held up In the Assem-
Judiciary Committee.
coyernors Dixs letter follows. in part;
Daniel II. Frisbie. Assembly Cham
4 bsr Albany. y \.
nssr Mir speaker; ! cannot refrain from
! -rsss,rc TO YOU my belief that the time
4 ~ arrived for the Assembly 10 take ac-
l m on the PENDING income tax amendment
I ne United states Constitution.
4 a., tho hearing last week before the Ju-
| 5o-v committee OF the Assembly state
l -,r,s we're made and arguments advanced
I. N should not be allowed 10 go unnouced
hos whose right to speak for the ma
1 r,y PARTY cannot be questioned.
i ,'s dificult 10 believe that any citizen
! !, seriously urge that the income tax
sfre Of the Rochester platform is not
r5ire uuou the Democratic party. for
4. reason that the language of the piedSe
.ss an" amendment and not me
| -s,drnerr I need not say TO YOU that
| ,ssn This platform plank was applauded
- sdoptef by the convention every dele
s,e within the convention and every ciu-
.n outside the convention understood II
20 4 declaration for the income tax IN
-roraa0ce with the constitutional amend
lent hen rendinG. an amendment that for
-orihs had been subjected 10 analysis
,rd discussion. To assert otherwise Wouid
. 10 charge that the Democratic party
.sol,ed 20 triCkeTN and 10 luggle OF
lords In order 10 obtain votes. T-ls DO
nj and win not admit \ square repu-
gs,ion Of the principle Of income tex would
- honorable But 70 seek to defeat the
r.n6csiior q the pending amendment on
80 tslm that the Rochester platform IN
e income tax pledge used the word "sn
and moi the IS 70 assert that the Demo
rsfie rsrty is willing 10 commit an act
mai would SAVIOR OF perfldy and dishonor.
Tor myself and the party ! repudiate the
suggestion.
Calls Pedse Binding on Party.
When Z accepted the nomination of. the
Roehesier. convention and the platform
upon which ! was nominated I did not
understand OF believe that the income tax
psdse was suoterfuge 10 obtain votes
iy = tricky use OF words. IN the fullest
sense ! accepted the pledge as one oindine
The party 10 a ratification Of the pending
amendment
n any form deceit Is contemplate.
When made an instrument by political
PARTY 70 obtain power by .deceiving the
vter IL constitutes a wicked and DANCER
ous BETRAYAL Of the people. Indeed. II
senns 70 me- that II the words from what
sgsr source derived would leave the
smendmen: ambiguous as 10 its power 10
IA incomes from official salaries and from
,ends az states and municipalities. the
amendment should he opposed by whoever
s1heres 10 the democratic maxim Of laws,
quality Of privileges and equality Of bur
lens
No country i'm the world which imposes
a. income tax eNempts from its provisions
re bonds or instrumentaliies of the state.
;rest Britain collects income tax fom the
rcone OF British bonds that are owned
within the state OF New York and the
United States. Citizens OF the state or
yew York or of the United states VINO
axe un,their residence In foreign countries
re In those countries subject 10 tax on the
:come they receive from the bonds Of the
Tinted States or Of any state or munich
Slifv within the United states. II seems
r0iesque that the United States alone OF
Il the great nations of the world should
a den "a the power 10 levy and collect
~ unon the incomes Of its citizens within
n own boundaries.
Opponents OF the amendment assert that
',sy favor an income tax. but oppose the
ending amendment for the reason that
',s Inclusion Of the four words from
whatever source derived gives 10 Congress
ne broad power 10 tax income from state
md municipal securities and from salaries
" state and municipal officials. In other
7ords they stand for an income tax that
amor he assessed uniformly on I'll IN
urss 10 matter from whatever source
.fa,-f rsfsc e. do
~ public Sergice and on income on invest
,s1's III trade. commerce ana financial
I'D industrial enterprises.
Z Il possible 70 conceive any PROPOSE
- more unfair and more antagonist 70
rs American IDEA Of equality and to the
.snoc~at'c principle Of opposition 70 privi-
80 Than an income tax 81 levied that II
t'ld divide the people 81 the United
'siss into two clssses-One subject 10 tax
Don income for the expenses Of the ma
Mrsi aot eminent the other privileged by
rsmptcn from such a tax? The priNt-
.ssG ciass so created would consist Of TWO
fns-te ~ our population public officials
~ oTceholders md owners 81 state and
rir.cipa securities. Profes sional men.
z'mers and artisans would be subject 20
- tax with the merchant business man.
gsrrer and owner or investor i'm PRO
Nftive enterprises ~ every sort
Interest and Principal Sure.
ne purchaser Of state and municipal
-r1s 'rveSfe his money with a view OF
Waning absolute security. lie lncnrS
',-s If the risks Of bad investments. poor
ts1s panics or financial or industrial de-
rsss on. Back Of hir bond is the pbghted
Arb Of the state or municipality, ana
kNsed 20 ID, ment ~ interest and prin-
rrs' g. tho public property Of the state
~ municipality and private property Of
Pen citizens 40 matter what may hap
it1 % other forms If Investments his in
hrfst and principal arc sure to he paid
r-en duo Pesides these signal advan-
ffes ~ is demanded that ne shall he
TsnIt from The possibility Of an income
az for tho maintenance Of the national
iorernrrenf tax that on an investment
" $4,000 .n state and municipal bonds
would prohs bly, not exceed $50 year.
The advocates ~ an Cmasculated amend
mem would impose q tax on incomes that
re earned outside the public servic" or
eTre from Investments i'm productive on
~ prisfe fHat erf subject 20 aN tho haz-
{" trade oud commerce and augment
t'e na'ionG wealth and widen the field for
--t.'rss eIfor.riee commercial develop
"''i and tio employment OF labor.
Tho Governor saws that the idea 81