The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-16
cona 70 csr.ain rrfsat

Gong 70 cer.ain csfeat
An Unwelcome Parallel can be
drawn between conditions this spring
and exactly 20 years ago. in 1854.
when President Cleveland was presi-
dent.
Then. as nOE. a democratic admin
istration had been brought into pow
er through the just discomfort OF the
people with the perpetuation Of ideas
Of government and finance that long
since should have been amended or
abandoned altogether. Then. as now
the desires OF the people in this re-
speet were so eager and insistent as
to inspire Congress with recklessness
in the passing OF new laws.
Then. as nov. a tariff bin was
passed. known in history as the VIII
son tariff. which cut the government
revenues away below the point al
which an adequate amount OF money
for the expenses OF the government
was provided: and then. a. now. IL
was sought 20 make up this dehcien-
~ by means OF an income tax.
Then. as now. the income tax law
was attacked on the ground OF its
constitutionalig
We think IL Is very probable that
the supreme court viii upset the in
come tax on this ground. just as Il
upset the former law In Nay. 1895.
on the ground that IL called for an
improperly apporiioned tax.
But whether We are right in this
view or not. the unwelcome parallel
between 1914 and 1894 Is obtruding
itself with omlnOus clearness.
The tariff bin that has just been
passed is proving inefficient as a
raiser Of government revenue just as
the former one did
Last year the deficiency IN the gov
eminent revenues tor the first seven
months of the fiscal year was si6.-
S03.S3l.57. In the first seven months
Of the present fiscal year the dehci;
is 5l.565. 1851
This is bad enough. but il is now
universally admitted that the new IN
/ come tax law will also fail TO raise
the amount OF money that II was ex-
pected to raise. even II is constitu-
tonality is upheld by the supreme
court; and we must consider the
great probability that the collection
! Of the tax under the law will be stop
ped by an injunc ion until the court
pronounoes upon the legality of the
statute. This was the course adopt.
ed on the former occasion when the
consiitutlonality OF tho income tax
was assailed. and we should suppose
that the same course will be followed
nov.
We have the success OF President
| Wilson's administration very deeply
at heart We believe the hes. inter.
ests OF the country call for this and
call for il with no uncertain voice.
II is with a sinking OF the heart.
therefore. that we recall the result.
OF the Congressional elections In
i 1894. when business disturbances
| traceable almost entirely to defcien-
cy in the government revenue
swept tho democratic Congress out
OF existence and left President Cieye
land in the White House bitterly
disappointed and utterly powerlcss
man.
We repeat that al this dire result
was solely due to deficient govern.
ment revenue It was deficit IN
the treasury. instead OF balance
which led TO doubt as to the ability
Of the treasury to redeem its notes
in gold.
We hopo sincerely that the grew
scme parallel will not be followed l.
Its bit,er end; and Presidea. vii
scrs administration has ii entirely
in rs power to avert this fatality il
i; will be courageous enough to Sc
amend the tariff law, and amend il a
cnce. that all chances of failure o.
government revenue will be avoided
Washington Herald.