New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-06-08
THE ENTERPRISE AN ID
Observer, CONSOLIDATED
Subscription $3.50 Per Annum
\. N, FISHER, Editor and Proprietor.
THE INCOME TAX.

The income tax proposltlol
which passed the House at BATON
Rouge a few days since, and
which will come up for final adop'
tion by the Senate in a few days
Is one that will be disastrous &c
the sugar indus Try of the state
if it is ratified by our law makers
While the proposition is a Dem
ocratic measure, and many legs
Oators feel that they ought to ac
cept it, being Democrats, sun,
they little realize that 1t wi''
mean free sugar and cripple the
main industry of the State II the
law is ever enacted by the Fed
eral Government. We reproduce
the subjoined letter on the sub
ject: ,o,a
New Iberia, June 4 1917.
Hon. Walter j. Burke, Baton
Rouge, La.
Dear SRI cannot refrain
from sending you some comments
on the income tax proposition, a
proposition that passed the House
Of Representatives almost unan-
imously and with very little dis
cussion and deliberation. These
frequent communications, ! feel,
have a tendency to become a
nuisance and to furnish waste
basket material and the use OF
choice explosives. 1t is, however,
with the endorsement OF ii. n.
Pharr and some of the Burguie-
res and King, after a close and
careful scrutiny Of the question,
that | was urged to send you this.
Let me state before hand that We
win disagree on the question con-
corning its label; it being dent
ocratic measure and a part OF the
democratic platform. 1t is also
the tail end Of that cyclone OF
radicalism sweeping over this
country, and uprooting every
landmark of sane and conserva-
tive principle of political econo-
my. In its path, that whirlwind
of frenz.ed legislation is fast raz-
ing to the ground every old in
stitution representing The spirit
oil rs, breathed into the life OF
the Republic by our forefathers.
According to the authorities of
political economy, an income tax
is a fine. a check, on man s indus
try, sobriety and frugaliiy.
It is an inducement to improv-
idence. to prodigality and shift
lessness. In my opinion, it con-
stitutes a premium on high life
and high steppers and encourages
the growth Of an unlimited capac-
ity for spendrhriftness.
In the East, country override
veloped ard overpopulated, where
incomes are being inherited and
legally protected for future gen.
erat:ors. the income tax may be
q burning problem But, in Lou
isiana, a State having scarcely
Outlivel the scars and the raw
ages of an internicene conflict;
continually exposed to the havoc
Of turbulent foods and epidemics;
with geographical and climate
disadvantages; an income tax has
to be built and maintained by
brain and Drawn, by wits and
works, by unin errupted caution
and energy. The industrial his
tory of the State is as familiar
to you as to me, and the gradual
slow development of our resour-
ces against artificial and natura,
and difficulties and
is part of the sirug-
giles and the burdens Of the life
Of our State.
There is hardly any device or
machinery of human Ingenuity
attractive enough nowadays to in
duce the investment of foreign
capital, sufficient in quantity, to
make any impression on our in
dustries and wealth. Our per-
spectuses are doubted; our recla-
nation enterprises subject to
1kepticism; the publication of our
assets discounted and charged
With the printers deception and
he promoters cunning.
Then why, as we all feel the
nd of fate, should the Legisla-
= consign to the punishment Of
ternal contribution to the Fed
raj treasury, the successful and
aost energetic citizenship of the
tate.
This is chastisement not need
d to forget the pains and the !,
Dllies of former decades. Scour-
e. and plaques are not necessar-
= manufactured in Egypt, our
oil evidently produces anything
nder the sun. England and
GERMANY are differently situated.
Feudsl;sm in Europe and hered-