Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-04
The Sixteenth Amendment
to Constitution Is Made
Certain Of the Required
Three-fourths Vote.
WYOMING RATIFIED
IN JOINT SESSION
New Mexico and New Jer-
sey Expected to Add Ap-
proval to Change in Con-
stitution Momentarily.

washington, D. c. Feb. 3.-An in
come tax Is now one Of the provisions
Of the constitution of the United
States.
Wyoming's ratification today Of the
L. come tax amendment-the sixteenth
change In the constitution and the f1rst
since the reconstruction completed
4 list Of thirty-six states three-fourt
Of the union, which have approved I
provision. ts
Congress now will enact law to
levy the tax and it probably will be-
come effective during the extraordi-
nary session to be called by President
elect Wilson in March.
The tax itself, it's provisions and
limitations, are all left to congress-.
The new law probably would super
cede the cooperation tax and provide
for tax on all incomes above $4,000,
although there has been some senti-
ment in favor of making the limit as
low as $4,000. Congressional leaders
who have been preparing for the final
ratifcatioH by the states. estimates an
income taxNoHld bring.in about $780,
600, 900 Year to the government.
Is Now that the tax is provided by the
4 ooastituttoIL the proposed excise tax
sframed by the demOcratfc leaders in
1912 to meet the supreme courts de-
cision which held q former income tax
unconstitutional will be dropped. and
some of its provisions may be in
cluded in the new law
West Virginia ratified the amend
ment last week. One house in New
Jersey and one in New Mexico has ap-
proved it. Wyoming's ratification was
wholly unexpected at this time.
With the final ratification Of the in.
come tax constitutional amendment,
democratic leaders in congress were
today completing their planks for a
law to make. it effective. It was eX-
pected that draft Of IN income tax
law will be introduced in the house be-
fore the end of this session and will
then be reintroduced and passed soon
after the extra session convenes.
Was Looked For. ...s.....
The democrats have been confident
Of the ultimate success of the income
tax amendment and have made their
tariff plans with this in view. Repre-
sentative Hull of Tennessee who pre-
pared the excise bill which congress
failed to pass last session, Is working
upon the income tax provision. When
finally introduced the income tax will
be designed to take the place of both
the existing corporation tax law and
the proposed excise tax. 1t will prob
ably levy tax on incomes as low as
$4,000. &:.. .. ....
The income tax legislation must
originate in the house, as do the tariff
bills. While the present corporation
tax raises only about $30.00O,000. the
general income tax is expected to-
bring in nearly s100.0OO,OO0 annually
toward the support of the government.
Expected Any Time. sa "
Santa Fe, N. M, Feb 3.-Although
the federal income tax amendment was
on the house calendar today 1t was
not known when the house convened at
10 O'Clock this morning just when it
would be taken up for consideration.
There was apparent among the house
members desire that New Mexico's
vote should be the one to make the
amendment effective, but no. definite
plans had been formulated for hasten.
ing its consideration. House leaders
state that the ratification resolution
might be taken up for vote any time
before adjournment. 9.
Wyoming Decides Vote.
Cheyenne. Wy--ss Feb. 3.--Not dis
senting vote was registered in either
house of the Wyoming legislature this
forenoon on the joint resolution rati-
flying the income tax amendment to
the federal constitution and the reso-
luton is now on it's way to the COVER
nor for his signature. 4
After passing the income tax amend
ment the house then took up and
passed the resolution authorizing the
direct election of United States SEN
ators also unanimously. The senate
has a similar resolution before it.