The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Special Corr. of 1uE REpUB1IcAx.I
Washington D. C. Feb. 6. 1913.

Washington D. C. Feb. 6, 1913.
With the favorable actions of the
legislatures of Wyoming and Delaware,
the income tax amendment is now a
part of.the Federal Constitution. Not
since 1870, when the famous civil.rights
bill became a fundamental law, has the
Constitution been amended until now.
The new amendment provides: XVI.
The Congress shall have power to lay
and collect taxes on incomes, from
whatever source derived, without ap-
portionment among the several states
and without regard to any.census or ap-
portionment.
The democrats are greatly .pleases
over the final ratification of thissamend-
ment, and already at work on hill
providing for an income tax. Represen-
tative Hull, of Tennessee. who ha.
fought for an income tax Efor many.
years, will be the most active member
in framing this bill. Some favor tax
on all incomes over $500 per year, with
proportionately greater tax on income.
over $25, 900.
One method suggested to insure col
lection of tax is the British plan of
collecting at the source, by requiring
firms to certify the salaries and fees
paid their employees, and..ssto pay the
amount of the tax direct into the treas
ury. This would surely catch the
salaried man whose income is large
enough to tax. Congress will provide
every possible safeguard for the collec-
ton on great incomes and to prevent
lodging. Severe punishment for false
representation will be provided, and it
is safe to say that at the bottom of each
statesman's heart is the desire to ''get
after" some of the great incomes, the
staggering amounts of which have been
revealed by recent inquiries and court
records. The great estates of the
Astors and Vanderbilts, and the enor-
NOUS incomes of Carnegie, Rockefeller
and others will be carefully included,
and after few years OF practical
operation, tax rates may be changed
and made easier on the man of moderate
means.
The only other amendment now pend
ing is that for the direct election of
United States senators, submitted to
the state legislatures last summer; but
the advocates of several more are active
in Congress. In the Senate there was
vigorous discussion of the proposal to
limit the President to a single term of
six years; and the close vote of 81 to
Sc against the proposal to nominate the
President by direct primary, and to
elect him by popular vote, is significant
of the widespread and deep-seated de-
mand of the people for closer partici-
patton in the affairs of the government.
The Supreme Court has affirmed the
conviction of Charles R. Heike, former
secretary of one of the companies forg-
ing the sugar trust.
This means that Heike, salaried en-
ployee, must serve prison term while
the men higher up, who were really re-
sponsible for the frauds, and who profit
ed by them, may never be disturbed by
the law they have outraged.
Although it is supposed that the
Justices of the Supreme Courts have
reached conclusion in the famous rate
cases before that court, yet no decision
has been handed down. Financial and
railway interests are much disappointed
by the delay in this allimportant matter.
The wives of Senators and Congress
men have an organization called the
Congressional Club. There is high
tension over the election of its officers.
Mrs. Claud A. Swanson, wife of the
Senator from Virginia. and Mrs. Duncan
U. Fletcher, wife of Senator Fletcher
of Florida, are active candidates for the
Office of president, and the result is being
watched with much interest, especially
as women are taking such an active part
now in public affairs.