The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-12-21
pRouTY URGES INCOME TAX
Chairman of Commerce Commission
Makes Strong Address.

Makes strong AuuTCSo.
Montpelier. Dec. 19-The COM
mittee on federal relations gave a
yublic hearing in Representatives.
hail this evening on the joint reso-
luton respecting the ratification of
an amendment TO the Constitution Of
the United States providing for an
income tax.
Charles A. Prouty, chairman OF the
interstate commerce commission was
the principal speaker. He confessed
to having been much chargined when
the last Vermont Legislature refused
to ratify the amendment, pledglng
himself at that time to come TO Yer
mont and do his best TO show some
members of a future Legislature the
error, of their predecessors. The ques
ton is one of ever increasing import
ance. the government can never
spend less than 1t spends today. Six
teen years ago the Appropriation for
the interstate commerce commission
was 100000; this year is $l,500,000.
So it is with all departments. In 1900
Vermont spent S6O5,O0O; in 1910 it
expended S1,290,00O. You all re-
member" he said, when the finger
of scorn was pointed at the billion
dollar Congress. The incoming
democratic Congress may get along
with little less but soon two bill
lion dollar Congress will be the regu-
lar thing. We have a dual form OF
government and that results in dual
taxation. States mainly pay their
taxes by direct taxation and thecre-
tically this is correct.
IAN income tax may be used for
either state or national taxation il
this amendment is ratified 1t can be
laid by the national government or
the state. From the first our nation
al government has derived its taxes
from other than property as popula-
ton and property differ in different
localities. Next to farming our rail-
roads are the most important factor
in this country For every 81 paid to
the railroads 81 is paid to the ma
tional government. We derive this
income partly from customs and
partly from revenue.
I'VE are about to enter upon
career of tariff for revenue only The
tax on imported articles finds its way
TO the ultimate consumer. Tax tea
or coffee 10 cents per pound and the
consumer pays 10 cents more; in
other words the taxes which support
the national government are paid by
the people. On the whole and broad
ly, the taxes are paid by the consum-
ers, and the consumers, are the poor
people They pay an undue share OF
the taxes. You may not say who
pays the taxes of this country, but
you can say who does not pay it.
Uncle Russell Sage died worth six
ty or seventy millions of dollars. He
paid no taxes to the national govern
ment. Aunt Hetty Green pays no tax
es. These illustrations point my
meaning, the wealth Of this country
does not contribute to the support Of
the national government. The fed
eral government should be invested
with authority to compel the rich
man to bear his share of the support
of government. Even if the govern
ment ought not in ordinary times, to
impose an income tax, it should have
that authority in case of il becom-
ing a necessity.
In 1912 it was proposed to lay an
income tax, and not dissenting |
voice was raised by the men then |
living VINO wrote the constitution. |
Civil war, no man can tell when a
crisis may arrive The income tax and |
the power of taxation should be /
granted the federal government as
IN emergency measure. The object. |
ion comes from the man who has got
il to pay. and he doesn't want to
pay IT, He belongs to no party BUT
belongs to all parties and his hand
has been heavy upon the Legislature
Of the country and he has yet to be
'eckoned with.
Years ago John D. Rockefeller ar
'anged with the Pennsylvania rail
Dad to pay him a rebate on every
)arrel of oil he shipped and every
)arrel shipped by his competitors
lie and his people are still astute in
lViduals, they do not want this tax
eyied
III you will run down the opposi-
ion TO this bin. you win and the
nan who has got the tax to pay.
rhey viii tell you DC is inquisItoriaL
every tax on everything but visible
property is nquIstor.al Every tax
20 everything but visible property IS
pound TO ba q Discriminating taX.
"As read over the inventory 3 am
obliged 90 sign and swear Go every
rear. cannot see how this state can