The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-05-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Washington Correspond
ent of The Times.

ent OF The Times.
By Robert r. Wilson.
Washington, D. C.-Declaring the
belief that in casting his vote for ar
income tax, he was carrying out the
desire not only of the Democrats Of
his district, but of so per cent OF the
rank and file Of Republicans and Pro-
: gressives as we'll, Congressman Clyde
H. Tavenner of Illinois made speech
on the floor of the House, on the in
come tax, which was given close at
tention by both Republicansand Dem
ocrats.
| AS a Washington newspaper cor
respondent, 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. m
"When I 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, l would make con-
scientions endeavor to ascertain how
they desired me to vote on important
legislation, and then vote that way.
l made that declaration in every good
faith. l desire no greater tribute
when l shall conclude my service in
this House, than that the people of
my district may say of me: He made
a practice of ascertaining 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 H.
linois district, for the income tax. |
believe in sincerity, Mr.. Chairman,
that in doing so, am carrying out
the desires of not only the Democrats
of my district, but of fully 80 per
cent of the rank and file of Republi-
cans of my district, and of the Pro-
gressives, Socialists and Prohibition
lists.
The income tax is a part Of the pro-
gram of this side of the House to re-
duce the ever-increasing cost of liv-
ing 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 to make up for the
loss of this revenue to the govern
ment by levying tax on the income
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 nation
al government. This is almost I'M
believable, but it is absolutely true,
and will not be denied 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. I'm
der the present fiscal system of the
Unitee States, nearly everything is
taxes save wealth. Wealth alone is
excluded from taxation. And SUBJ
init that wealth should be the first
thing to be taxed. The pending bill,
removing very moderate portion
of the burden of taxation from the
bending backs Of the poor, and plac-
ing it on the rich, who are best able
bear it, win 60 down in history as
the fairest sanest, and most progress
sive measure ever presented to Con-
gress with hopes Of passage.
'.Mr. Chairman, l do not believe
that II is just that the men who own
50 per cent Of the wealth Of the Unit
~ C&a&no nk<es1s1 1.S,unxs Is.k IN vHnr ae,.&