The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1957-07-18
SKlNNlNG THE SHEEP
BY George Peck


The English language, American
style, is one of constant change.
New words, slogans, quips max
inns, aphorisms, adages and wise
cracks are added almost with every
tick of the clock.
Some fourteen years ago, in 1913,
veteran of the Congress, Robert
l.. DOughton, at that time Chair
man of the House Ways and Means
Committee, coined new truism
that was just about tops He uttered
it in disapproval of the proposal of
the then Secretary of the Treasury
MOrgenthau that the Congress au-
thOrize more than $40 billion in adj.
ditional taxes-it was an eloquent
speech of just fourteen words. He
said.
you can shear a sheep every
year, but you can skin him only
once"
Congressman Doughton hadn't
been in Washington for 81 years for
nothing-he'd been there since 1911.
He hadn't been honored with the
craftsmanship of the most impor-
tant Congressional Committee sole
ly because of his good looks, with
which, incidentally, he was amply
endowed. The South Carolina legis-
his eyes wide open for every mo-
ment he had been at the nations
capital and throughout his four
score years he had learned many
things One of the most important
of these was that there is a limit
to how much government can
tax without destroying enterprise
and eventually creating an economic
vacuum, leaving little or nothing
upon which to levy taxes
President Coolidge had reputa-
ton of saying very little, but when
on rare occasions. he did open his
mouth, he generally said a mouth
full" In 1924, he had this to say on
taxation:
The first object of taxation is to
secure revenue When the taxation
of large incomes is approached with
that in view. the problem is to find
rate which will produce the largest
returns. Experience does not show
that the higher rate produces the
higher revenue. Experience is all in
the other way"
With each passing day it becomes
increasingly apparent that this ma
ton made grave error when 1t
adopted the 10Th Amendment { In
come Tax without putting limit
as to the percentage the Congress
could levy on incomes, inheritances,
and gifts. This failure to put cell
ing has had the effect of encOurag-
ing wasteful government spending
and of putting the Federal Govern
mcnt into many businesses in com
petition with private enterprise
Many bills are now before the
Congress and before several of the
individual States, calling for either
outright repeal of the 10Th Amend
ment. or amending it to put limit
as to the tax percentage Congress
can levy on incomes, inheritances
and gifts, except in the case of war
creating a national emergency In
the latter event. the limitation could
be temporarily suspended by j
three-quarters vote of each House
of Congress.
We have come pretty close to
skinning the sheep, and in so dong
are bordering on adopting two OF
the major planks as set forth IN
the Communist Manifesto of Karl
Marx, to wit: A heavy or progress
i've or graduated income tax to level
off incomes; and the abolition of all
right of inheritance. We spend bill
lions to combat Communism abroad
further billions at home for security
against it, the while we permit
communication of our own econo
my The Russian high command
must be laughing up their sleeves
as they observe this ridiculous per
Torrance.
All thinking American citizens
should give the matter of repeating
the 18th Amendment or limiting
the percentage of its take, their
serious consideration and study
and then advise their legislators d
both Washington and the various
State capitals, the conclusions Q
their study. 1t is respectfully su9