The Washington herald., 1913-09-28
FLAWS FOUND IN Income TAX BILL

business world? 1t would mean chaos
and ruin. Now. who would be the great
est sufferer. the few, the rich. the 2 per
cent? No; the rank and file Of the people,
Of course. because they are in the major
ity. that favored IS per cent
Moral good government must be sound
in intent. thought. spirit and principle,
and our lawmakers cease 10 live I'D TO
that spirit or trust when they permit
their own selfish interest to influence
their judgment in passing laws that do
not uphold the constitution in every par
ticular. Are they doing that fellow
citizens, in this case? Are they using the
kind of scales that guarantee equal and
Just measure and weight to all? And
just SO much as you, Mr.. Lawmaker,
deviate from this sacred principle with
the people, and look TO your own selfish
interest in making our laws just 50 much
do you cease to be a republic form Of
government, and just so much do you
cease to be true Democrats
Now, gentlemen of our administration.
II this is 70 be the entering wedge Of class
legislation, pray tell me when and where
you Will stop so the citizen will have
notice in order that they can lay plans
to conform to this new policy OF our gov
ernment. Now, solely for the sake Of
argument, If you have the moral and
I'm
per cent more than another on his in
come. just because he is industrious, then
contend that you would have The same
moral and equitable right to take his en-
tire income in excess of 1900 Cyou having
agreed that those having incomes up to
that amount being the favored class,
then why would you not have the same
moral and equitable right to devise some
plan whereby you could take all of q
I TORI FNWNHC NT-T
10 bring the incomes of the less indus
trious and frugal up to that desired
amount, thereby doing away with the
undesirable poor and the undesirable
| rich. and have only the desirable class
with the desired $4,000 income?
Equitable Plan Proposed.
Suppose, for illustration, we try that
plan for a year. in order to see II ii is
satisfactory. But, of course, il would be
no more than right for the government
to guarantee all that was taken from the
| rich in this experimental manner should
be refunded with interest il the expert
ment proved a failure.
II l am wrong in theory and you, Mr.
Lawmaker.
are right. don't you think our govern.
ment ought to keep faith with the indus
| trious, who have been permitted to make
! their fortunes under present laws. which
you now claim are wrong. but were en-
acted by you and your predecessors. that
those who have large incomes ought to
be exempt, and that all further incomes
| Garner or created after the enactment of
this law should be taxed, thereby giving
notice to the Industrious that from now
on a certain per cent of their labor would
be taken for the support of the govern
ment, giving them due notice and an op-
pOrtunity to go elsewhere to employ their
talent and industry, if they do not care
to share their profit with the govern
ment as this law pTopOses-in other
words, give them a chance to consent to
work or not on this proft-sharing plan?
IT, according to your views. the 9S per
cent. or the rank and file. of the voters
are Gods chosen people. and should be
favored because He has not endowed
them with the virtue Of industry and fru-
gality. would il not be well for you TO
take a reverse view solely for the sake
of argument-to show the fallacy Of class
legislation that because God has endowed
the per cent of the people with an
abundance of the frugal and industrial
spirit, that you. the lawmaker. exempt
them from taxation of this kind as a re-
ward for their superiority in taking the
enormous burden on their shoulders in
standing at the head Of the great indus
try of our country that gives generous
wages TO the rank and file of our people?
Another Equitable One.
Do you really believe. right down in
your hearts, that the people Cthe 9S per
cent? desire class legislation that would
give them this great advantage? To test
their sincerity, suppose you put a clause
in the bill to the effect that il shall be
optional with the IS per cent whether or
not they accept this exemption from tax
alton, and il they do they forfeit their
right to vote and the rich have a voting
privilege in proportion as they are taxed.
This will be an honest penalty. and
favor this law. Therefore, what harm
could come in making this practical test?
\ Now. in closing. / will quote the
amended constitution that provides for
this new law. The majority of the States
bill to amend our constitution as follows:
The Congress shall have power TO lay
and collect taxes on incomes from what
ever source derived without appOrtion-
ment among the States and without re-
gard to any census or enumerations."
Now, gentlemen. l would like YOU to
explain wherein this amendment to the
constitution gives you the right to mako
any exemption whatsoever or to assess
one man-no matter what the reason-a
greater percentage than the other. It
seems to be conclusiveiy and without
room for argument that il was the clear
intent of our State Legislators from tho
wording of this constitutional amend
msnt that all incomes must be assessed,
no matter how big or small, and all tho