The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-06-29
REP. LENNON CALLS

Hon. Peter b. Lennon, of Lennon,
representative of this district in the
state legislature, was a pleasant call
er at The Messenger office one day
last week. Mr.. Lennon, we are most
happy to state, has made a record
during his term of service in the
legislature that is credit to him and
to the district which he has the honor
to represent. He began that service
with definite ideas which he proposed
to endeavor to work out for the bet
terment of his fellow-citizens of the
state and he has had the ability and
the tact to carry the plans to a sue
cessful conclusion, coming to be
recognized as one Of the strongest
men in the lower house. Last term
he proposed the bill, which became
law, prohibiting aliens from the
ownership of firearms, most valu-
able law, the wisdom of which will
be more fully realized as the years
go by; law directed toward the pro-
lection and perpetuity of American
institutions as we'll as toward the
maintenance of law and order. But
perhaps the most important piece of
legislation proposed by Mr.. Lennon
is that providing for state tax upon
incomes. Every thinking person
must admit that a tax upon incomes
is the fairest sort of tax, because it
is really based upon ability to pay.
Most people are also cognizant of the
fact that the various forms of
wealth, real and personal, upon which
taxes are levied, may be concealed or
manipulated so as to avoid payment
of CI of L.
penses of government. In the case
of an income tax this is more diff
cult. Furthermore, the holders of
certain forms of tax free securities,
with which the country is at present
deluged, could be made to pay their
rightful share of taxes. We are sub
joining an excerpt from a published
commentary on the propriety of an
income tax, and while we cannot say
that this idea would be wholly APP
proved by Mr.. Lennon, yet, we be-
lieve, it will at least prove interest
ing to those who are favorable to
an equitable readjustment of the tax
laws of Michigan:
"The matter of exemptions has al
ways been the bugbear of an income
tax. To my mind there should be
absolutely no exemptions on net in
comes. l maintain that every man
and woman who has an income should
contribute something toward the sup
port of his or her state government.
II the rate were made small even
down to quarter or one per cent.
on moderate incomes it would not be
a burden upon anybody. If every
person in the state were paying just
a little direct tax the tremendous
bond issues in our state and counties
would not be put over with such regu-
larity. You have heard on all sides
the phrase, "What we need is more
business in government" How long
would any private business last if
some outsider had the right to spend
all the income from the business.
That is precisely the way the state
and county business is run in Michi-
gan. The thousands upon thousands
of people in the state who pay no
taxes have the power by ballot to
confiscate the homes and farms of
the state, the very rock upon which
our government rests. Any perso 4
who has an income and will oppose
the payment of nominal tax to the
state is not good citizen
Mr.. Lennon is unopposed, so far as
We know, for denomination on the
Republican ticket, and in view of his
experience and standing, his constitu-
ents will, in our opinion, act very
wisely in re-electing him.