Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02
Division of Sentiment on In
come Tax Measure.
FATE IN SENATE DOUBTFUL
House, However, Certain to Pass Bill
Within Ten Days.
TARIFF REMOVED FROM SUGAR
Senator Smoot Expresses Opinion
That Republicans Will Oppose It.
Other Views.

House and Senate leaders of all shades
of political belief gave themselves over
today to discussion of the sensational
action of the House democratic caucus
last night in indorsing what is in effect
an income tax on all net incomes, in
cluding salaries, above 5000 That the
House will pass the measure by party
vote within the next ten days or two
weeks was taken for granted.
The plans of the House leaders had not
been wholly disclosed today, but it was
apparent that the biz to extend the ex-
else tax law now relating to corporations
SO as to include copartnerships and in
dividuals was to be urged upon the
House ahead of the bill to put sugar on
the free list. The democratic leaders
want to be sure that the deficit will be
provided for before the duty is removed.
..ie new plan of the democrats took
their republican colleagues by surprise.
Many of them had not recovered suffi-
ciently today to be willing to talk for
publication The bill holds that working
for salary is just as much q manner of
doing business as investing money in an
enterprise.
1t is said that in the Senate. in all prob
ability. party alignments will be broken,
although party leaders make no such con-
cession publicly. Senator Smoot of Utah.
a member of the Senate finance commit
tee. which will deal with the bill, declared
there was no possibility of the measure
passing the Senate.
Views of Senator's.
Il do rot believe" he said, that any
republican senator, regular or insurgent,
or that many democrat. will stand for
this measure that would destroy a great
industry The income tax proposition is
absolutely uncons, .utional. To call it an
excise tax instead of an income tax, that
has already been declared unconstitution-
al by tie highest court in the land, is SIM
ply quibbliEg on words. 1t is an income
tax pure ar. simple"
Senator Kern of Indiana who was
democratic candidate for Vice President
in the last national campaign, said that
the measure was good one.
Il am and always have been in favor Of
an income tax he said. Il also am in
favor of free sugar"
Senator Martin of Virginia, democratic
leader of the Senate, unqualifiedly de-
clared for the bill framed by his party in
the House.
The measure. he said. lis eminently
wise and ought to pass. There is no
doubt In my mind as to its constitutions
atty
Senator Poindexter of Washington, pro-
gressive republican, said: II am very
much in favor OF an income tax. ! have
been favoring it for years."
Little Difference to Consumer.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota, a
member Of the Senate finance committee
expressed doubt if any change in the
tariff on sugar would make any differ
ence to the consumer. He said that the
income tax proposition was lost in the
Supreme Court of the United States by
very much of divided court" and that
the constitutionality of an income tax
was difficult matter to determine.
Personally" he added, II am inclined
to think that Congress has the power to
levy such n tax"
Senator Bacon of Georgia one of the
democratic leaders of the Senate, who did
not attempt to speak for his party as he
had no opportunity to talk with any sena-
tors regarding the bill, said that IL the
bill passed the House 1t would find .suf-
ficient support in the Senate
II have always been in favor of an in
come tax said Senator Overman OF
North Carolina today. Il think 1t is a
just tax