Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-24

n AaNSAAeI II the NOUee OF repre- 4
sentatiTes this week, on the subiec:
OF income tax, it being his maiden
effort, that the full text is herewith
reproduced from the Congressional
Record:
Mr.. Chairman, when went before
the voters in the campaign last fall
made the declaration, repeating II over
and over, that should | be elected
would make a conscientious endeavor
TO learn how the people OF my district
would desire me 20 vote on important
legislation affecting their interest,
which might come up in this body and
would then vote that way.
made that declaration In every
good faith. ] desire no greater tribute
when 1 shall conclude my service in
this house than that the people OF my
district may say OF me, He made
practice OF ascertaining how the peo-
pie OF this district desired him TO vote
on even the simplest piece OF legisla
ton and then voted that way"
In line with the projection under.
standing between the voters and my
self II is my intention TO cast my vote
as the representative OF the Fourteenth
Illinois district for the income-tAx pro-
vision OF the pending bill.
! believe in all sincerity, Mr.. Chair
man, that in SO doing ! am carrying
ont tie desire not only of the demo
Gratis OF my district, but OF 80 per cent
OF the rank and file Of republicans, pro-
greEsives, socialists and prohibition
lists.
/ have made as extended inquiries
as anyone could make, and l believe
that 80 per cent Of tie people of the
whole United States, regardless of
their politics. race, religion, color or
creed are heartily in favor of an in
come tax which proposes a tax on
wealth in lieu OF the present system,
which provides for the raising of reve-
nue. by taxing exclusively the clothes
on a mans back and the othsr things
that people must wear, eat and use in
order 70 live.
Not only the poor man, from whose
bending back some of the burden OF
taxation is to be lifted by means of
this bill, fayors the measure. / am
In a position TO say that many fair
minded men of wealth residing in my
own district, men VINO will be required
to pay considerable tax on their In
comes by virtue OF the income-tsx pro-
vision OF this BILL have written me in
most favorable tone of the measure, de-
claring that the proposition that man
should be taxed according to his abil-
/, !ty TO pay and according TO the bene-
fits and privileges he receives under
the goVerument is fair and Just.
/ am not preJudlced against wealth.
ANY man VINO has honestly acquired
wealth shows but an evidence OF mis-
industry. intelligence and skill. and
deserves the respect OF Gil. But / do
contend that men possessing wealth
should pay, ana are able 10 pay. more
teAGs than their less fortunate broth
ere who own only the clothes upon
their backs, and possibly their house
hold furniture and whose weekly wage
80 scarcely enough 70 enable them TO
provide for their families from week
70 week. let alone to lay anything by
for rainy day.
MIR. Chairman. the income tax IL part
OF the democratic plan to reduce the
eyer.lncreasing cost OF living in this
country II means the carrying out
of the program promised in the pre-
election campaign last fall. namely. to
take some OF the tax of the necessar
les OF life. suCh Is sugar. woolens. cot
tons, beef and lumber and 20 make w
for the loss of revenue thus sustained
by the government by placing a tar
upon incomes. II Is estimated that the
income tax will raise approximately
100000 C0 and that this amount Of
taxation Will be taken OF OF the vita
neoessarles of life.
But, Mr. Chairman, 10 tax wealth
ard incomes. according 20 the stand
patters and protectionists, ia class leg
islation The fact Is, however. tina
the present system OF taxing the nee
oscaries Of life while permitting
wealth 70 so untaxed Is class legisla
ton OF the grossest sort. Is 1t no
passing strange that those who com
plain Of an income TAX as class legis
latlon were never heard 20 complain
OF the existing class legislation which
taxes the hats, coats and shirts o
ths masses almost Il PEI cent, Will,
not requiring men like Rockefeller
Carnegie and other mill!onaires TO pa!
a single penny OF taxation on thei
swollen personal fortunes to the ma
tional government?
The masses OF tho people produc,
tho wealth and by legislative adyan
tssI a few get possession Of IL, ant
now these few object to the transfe
20 wealth OF even q portion OF TIL
taxation being exacted from III,
masses on such articles as woolens
cottons. sugar, beef and lumber.
The income tax is q recognition o
the demand OF the masses for a sQuar,
deal in taxation. which they are no
nov receiving in either state or fed
eral taxation Under the fiscal sys
TENS in vogue in most OF the state
the wealthy and powerful classes fin
ways to evade taxation and are cor