The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-28
BY INTERPRET
TATION.
The New Method - illustrated nv the
Income Tax and Other Laws.


To THE EprroR OF THIS suN--sE; In
our present times Of unexampled fertility
Of governmental theory. when thousand
and one consecrated reformers are bring
ing forth novel devices for the admins
tration Of affairs. political and other,
what most inspired prophet could have
forctold the advent Of a new manner Of
law making destined TO come into being
unannounced and to grow unobserved to
a robustious maturity? Yet such prod
ICY appears TO be with us in the guise
OF government by Interpretation. which
now gives unmistskable evidence Of hay
ing become an established institution.
by how many tones the Official bulle-
tins Of Interpretation Of the income tax
law exceed in volume that invidious stat
ute which they seek to explain none but
one skilled In cataloguing may determine
we have now . great bulk Of them. and
moro are being accumulated week by
week. Tho process lately has begun also
with reference to the new banking and
currency law; and unless all signs fall.
the enormity Of the issue will constitute
an epochal triumph Of extralegisiative
legislation.
This new method Of government by in
Ia Of marvellous promise and
boundiess possibilities. Judiciously per-
fected. II may prove 70 be the long sought
cathoicon for all the ills to which the
social flesh is heir. Better still. and de-
voutly to be- hoped a. q provision for the
welfare of our contentious souls. In its
multifarious adaptabiiity we may md "a
universal solvent for our opposed and
hitherto irreconcilabie persuasions re-
speeding the proper functions Of Govern
ment and so bring all parties and factions
at last into the lethal fraternity Of the
ideal state Of the Chautauquan multilo-
quence.
The practical development OF the the
DRY will be easy. To achieve this lofty
purpose OF reformation we need do no
more than ponder deeply the Sherman
antitrust law, that venerated archetype
Of the modern ultra comprehensive stat
ute wholly dependent upon interpreta-
ton. and gather we'll It's significance
then. having absorbed sufficiently the
spiritual essence Of that law. We may
erase all laws fearlessy from the records
and replace them by a single universal
law couched In the simplest and most
omniparous language to the same effect.
the sublinated substance OF the Sherman
law itself. namely: BE good" and there
after. having adjourned our iegislatu lures of
nation and State sine die. we may pro-
coed to the everlasting Interpretation of
our law by decisions OF court, OF depart
nf mi ato nd of hoo "a IN IA.
consummate satisfaction OF all and sun
dry Of our citizens.
Permit me 10 submit for the distin-
euished consideration Of your readers
this my personal contribution TO the en-
deavors Of the uplift and the gayety Of the
uplfted. They will md In It's perfected
contamination OF our present tendencies
many advantages over the outworn gov
ernmental processes OF the primitive past
and obviously no defects. The intro.
duction of 1t will be not at all revolution
airy. for the transition from the now es-
tablished method will be In no wise ab.
rupt II will satisfy the prejudices OF the
conservatives and reactionaries who are
convinced that we are acquiring too much
law. equally with the ideals OF the pro-
gressves and socialists who believe We
have not enough government II affords
"A rigid stability OF basic principle com.
bined with an unlimited nex!bility Of mp
plication; Il approaches closely to an
archy. while yet II achieves the highes,
elaboration OF paternaiism: It offers Y
legitimate field OF unend.ng adjustment &c
our own obscure and inconstant notions
OF the social sciences In all their fads
foibles and eXc-sses, without improper
restriction OF the development OF the idea.
OF the general !ons 20 come. II embrace.
In one transcendent effort Of government
every moral aspiration OF mankind, politi
cal. economic. sociological eugcnlc, IN
diyldual. theological. meteorological. II
is altogether satisfying. stimulating, en-
nobling and not the least OF its merit,
will be that under this new dspensat or
the fundamental law will be quite a:
readily grasped by women and children
as by men. and SO will greatly facilitate
| the advance OF feminism and In addit CT
will foster the production and growth Of
brand new cult OF infantsm
FRED MErcALr.
PLAINFiELp, y. j., January 81.
----------------------------