Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-26


less Increase in population and in wealth
than any one of the 81. The amount paid
then was insignincant in compa rison with
the whole. and relatively it would be
moro insignificant to-day. These figures
confirm what must be the natural infer
ence, namely, that hardly any State. in
deed probably no State, would pay as
little under the income tax, in proportion
to its wealth and It's population, as Yer
mont. In other words, Vermont would
pay its part of the national tax more |
easily under an income tax than by any
ether tax which has been up to the pres
cnt time devised.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN 1895.
Bear in mind that up to 1895 it was sup
posed that the federal government had
authority to impose an income tax. The
Supreme Court then decided that such n
tax was unconstitutional. and this
decision was accepted at the outset as
final. 1t was acceptable to the dominant
interests, am while some suggestion of n
constitutional amendment has ever since
been before the country, 1t was generally
understood that an income tax could not
be laid.
As time went on the sentiment OF our
people upon this subject changed. In other
countries the income tax came gradually
to be universally adopted. AS everybody
knows, England has laid this kind of
tax for half a century. with the awaken
ing Of democratic ideas other countries,
upon Investigation, adopted the same form
of taxation. To-day nearly every con-
siderable nation In Europe derives IL SUBJ
stantial part of it's revenue from the in
come AK.
When our act Of iS9i. which was later
declared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court. was before Congress for considera-
tion. one of its most earnest opponents
was Senator Hill of New York. This
gentleman made an earnest and an able
speech, in the course of which he urged
with much zeal that while it might be
true that monarchical England employed
this form of inquisitorial AVIATION liberty
loving France had never submitted to it.
While no income tax has ever been
actually levied in rance up to the
present time. that country several years
ago voted for the principle. a bill has
already passed one branch of tn Legisla-
tlrc and IS before the other. and in the
near future France will have a most
complete system of income taxation.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT vEERING.
In our own country it became evident
that public sentiment was veering strong
~ In that direction ana that no political
party could hope to maintain itself which
did not favor that kind of taxation. In
1893 President Taft sent to Congress a
message in which he favored the submits
sion to the people of an income tax
amendment, and soon afterwards such an
amendment was submitted by Congress.
The proposal to submit it passed the SEN
at" without a dissenting vote. and was
adopted In the 1lous by a vote OF SIS to
II.
Under these Circumstances It went to the
States for ratification. 1t being univer-
sally assumed that ratification would
follow speedily and as a matter Of course.
And so it would but for one of those UNI
expected misadVentures which sometimes
happen, Governor Hughes Of New York
sent to the Legislature of that State a
message in which he expressed the opin-
ion that under the proposed amendment
the federal government might tax In
comes derived from the securities of the
state governments; that this would ar-
feet the borrowing power of the States.
and that the amendment ought not,
therefore. to be ratified.
Governor Hughes was wrong IN his law,
a. Mr., Root of that State at once point
ed out. So far as | know. the legal pro-
fession, aside from that branch of IT
which belongs to the corporation frater-
nifty. has almost uniformly agreed with
Mr.. Root. Even If Governor Hughes had
been right in his law. the effect upon
the price of State bonds would have been
inappreciable.
TWO MORE STATES NEEDED.
But while the objection Of Governor
Hughes was not a valid one, and while
his own State has declined to follow his
lead, having cast its vote for ratification,
still his message gave to the opponents
of this measure the opportunity which
they had desired. Mr.. Hughes was a good
lawyer. he is now perhaps a better one.
he had stood steadfast in the ranks of the
reformers and the integrity of his motive
was above question. Laying hold on the
idea which he suggested, the enemies of
this measure have been able to induce
several Legislatures to withhold their APP
prevail.
l'p to the present time 81 States have
ratified. and TO make up the necessar ~
threc-fourths only two more are required,
\ State cannot withdraw It's assent
when once given. but a succeeding
LEGISLATURE may ratify Notwithstanding
that it's predecessor has declined to do SO.
When II Is remembered that there are
II States still to act, hut little doubt can
be felt of the ultimate result. The friends
of the measure confidently expect that the
necessary number Will be obtained before
the Winter has passed. Ought not YER
mont To now allan herself in favor of
this amendment?
SPEAKS AS \ REPUBLICAN.
speak as a republican. | have never
voted any other national ticket, and
trust may never feel bound to do so.
hope, ana expect, that the Republican
rarity Will bc SO reorganized and reju'
vcnatcd as to become rhe great construc
tive party of the future as it has beef
of the past.
But this never can %tranSpirc unless thu
leadership of that party is prepared e
recognize the change of conditions and OF
sentiment, The wealth Of this countri
deserves IA prominent place in thecouncil!
of any party. 1t has an enormous STAKE
in our national legislation. and the mel
who control it are of strong intelligence
and wide experience. But they must ap
proach these questions from a different
angle. But they must rise above con
sidcrations of mere scliishncss.
No party can expect to control the des
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