Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1913-05-15
Editor.
WASHINGTON LETTER

Declaring the belief that in cast
ing his vote for an i.3come tax, he
was carrying out the desire not only
of the Democrats of his district, but
of 90 percent of the rank and file
of Republicans and Progressives as
we'll, Congressman Clyde IL. Taven-
ner of Illinois made speech on the
floor of the House, on the income
tax, which was given close attention
by both Republicans and Democrats.
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
county by the Democratic Congress
ional Committee. Tavenner's speech
was warmly applauded on the Dem
ocratic side.
"When | went before the voters,
in the campaign last fall" said
Tavenner, Il made the declaration,
repeating it over an over, that
should ! be elected, / would make
conscientious endeayer to ascertain
how they desire me to vote on I'M
portant legislation, and then vote
that way. | made that declaration
in every good faith. | desire no
greater tribute when shall con-
clude my service in this House, than
that the people of my district may
saw of me: lie 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 5"
In keeping with my prediction
promise, il is my intention to east
my vote, on behalf of the Fourteenth
Illinois district, for the income tax.
| believe in all sincerity, Mr.. Chair
man, that in doing so, am carry
ing out the desire Of not only the
Democrats of mydistrict, but OF full
ly 80 percent Of the rank and file
Of Republicans Of my district, and
Of the Progressiycs, Socialists and
Prohibitionists. "
The income tax ia a part OF the
program of this sideso the House
to reduce the cvcr-incrcasing cost Of
living in this country. The pro-
gram. and it is being carried out, is
to take some of the tax of of such
articles as woolens, cottons, Sugar,
meet and lumber, and then to make
up for the loss Of the revenue 10 the
government by lcyying . TAX on the
income Of the wealthy. Strange to
say, up to this moment wealth has
not been taxed to the extent OF
single penny to defray the expenses
of the national government, This
is almost unbelievable, bat II rs alb
.olutaIy true. and will not bc denied
on this floor or elsewhere.
1T is true that wealth il taxed
for the benefit of cities, counties
and states. but revenue for building
battleships, maintaining the army
and navy, and running the national
government, is obtained solely by
taxing the things eaten, worn and
used by the people Since the poor
eat AS much rs 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 tax
alton as do the rich. Under the
present fiscal system of the United
States, nearly everything is taxed
save wealth. Wealth alone is ex-
cluded from taxation. And | sub
nit that wealth should be the first
thing to be taxed The pending
bill. removing n 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.
MIR. Chairman, | 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 10
per cent. of the burden Of taxation.
If members agree with me, that
such a condition is unjust, then |
submit the pending bill is a move
in the right direction to remedy it. "
II y