The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

(By Robert f. Wilson, special Wash
ington correspondent to The Re-
porter
Washington, May 1O.-Declaring
the belief that in casting his vote
for an income tax, he was carrying
out the desire not only Of the demo-
Gratis of his district, but OF SO per
cent of the rank and fire of republic
cans and progressives as we'll, Con-
gresham Clyde H. Tavenner of Hi
nois, made a speech on the floor OF
the house, on the income tax which
was given close attention by both
republicans and democrats.
AS Washington newspaper CORE
spOndent, Tavenner has been advO-
eating an income tax for years. Many
of his articles on the subject have
been sent broadcast over the country
by the democratic congressional
committee. Tavenner's speech was
warmly applauded on the democratic
side
when ] went before the. voters,
in the campaign last fall said Tav-
enner, II made the declaration, re-
peating it over and over, that should
be elected, ! would make con-
scientiOus endeavor to ascertain how
they desired me to vote on important
legislation, and then vote that way. ]
made that declaration in every good
faith. | desire no greater tribute
when ! shall conclude my services in
this house, than that the people OF
my district may say of me: He
made a practice of asccrtaining how
the people of his district desired him
to vote on even the simplest piece OF
legislation, and then voted that way.
In keeping with my prediction
promise, it is my intention to cast
my vote, on behalf Of the Fourteenth
Illinois district, for the income tax.
l believe in all sincerity, Mr.. Chair
man, that in doing so, | am carry
ing out the desires of not only the
democrats in my district, but OF full
ly so per cent Of the rank and file
Of republicans Of my district, and Of
the prOgressiVes, socialists and prohi
bitionists
The income tax is a part of the
program OF this side Of the house
to reduce the eVer-increasing cost Of
living in this country. The program,
and it is being carried out, is to take
some Of the tax off Of such articles
as WoOlens, cottons, sugar, meat and
lumber, and then put tax on the in
comes of the wealthy. Strange to
say, up to this moment wealth has
not been taxed to the extent OF a
single penny to defray the expenses
of the national government. This
is almost unbelievable, but it is alb
solutely true, and will not be de-
MED on this floor or elsewhere.
1T is true that wealth is taxed for
the benefit of cities, counties and
states, but revenue for building bat
tleships, maintaining the army and
navy, and running the national gov
eminent, is obtained solely by taxing
the things eaten, worn and used by
the people. Since the poor eat as
much as the rich, and wear clothing
on which the tariff tax is higher than
on the qualities worn by the rich,
| it is obvious that the poor contribute
as much toward bearing the burden
of national taxation as do the rich
| Under the present fiscal system of
the United States, nearly everything
| is taxed save wealth. Wealth alone
is excluded from taxation. And l
submit that wealth should be the
first thing to be taxed. The pending
bill, removing a very moderate pOr-
ton of the burden Of taxation from
the bending backs of the poor and
placing it on the rich, who are best
able to bear it, will go down in his
tory as the faireSt, SaneSt, and most
progressive measure ever presented
to congress with hope of passage
Mr.. Chairman, l do not believe
that it is just that the men who
own 80 per cent of the wealth of the
United States should bear but ten
per cent of the burden of taxation.
If members agree with me, that such
a condition is unjust, then l submit
the pending bill is move in the
right direction to remedy it,