' FEBRUARY 18, 1910
3
The Commoner.
Itself. An unquiet, dissatisfied, suspicious pub
lic mind is the public mind of today.
"You can defeat this amendment. In view
of the class of men who are joining the crusade
against it I think you will defeat it. The forces
which propose to encompass its defeat will not
stop on the hither side of the most disreputable
methods to accomplish their purpose. But
when the people learn what you have really
done, the manner in which this has been man
ipulated, it will go far toward exciting to re
newed force that fueling of wrath, of class
hatred already too strong among us. It will
do much to foster disrespect for and breed dis
loyalty to the government When those who
are ill able to meet the burdens of government
see its enormous expenditures continue to in
crease larger armies and larger navies, increased
burdens everywhere, and learn furthermore that
all this must be met by a tax on consumption
while incomes go untaxed they will have little
mercy with you in the hour in which you must
plead with them against radical changes in the
' government. I do not know bow lnug we can
deal with a patient people in this way. But I
venture 'to prophesy not much longer.
"I hope, therefore, the governors and legis-
la.tures of this country will be brave enough
to do their duty in this m&tter. It is time the
people in this broad land bestir themselves up
on this vital question before it is too late to
do so. It would be nothing less than a catas
trophe if this amendment should be defeated,
if we are going also to be cut off from an appeal
to the court. This is in every sense the people's
fight."
Senator Borah outlined his conclusion as
follows:
First That the proposed amendment adds
nothing to the taxing power of the national
government. Tills power was complete, unfet
tered, plenary before. It can be no more than
that should the proposed amendment be adopted.
Second The proposed amendment does not
deal or propose to deal with the question of
power which is already complete, but simply
with the manner and method of its exercise and
use of that power.
Third No one has ever questioned the power
of the national government to lay an income
tax, for,, as was said by Justice, White, the
question has always been "whether an admit-
tedly unlimited power' to tax has been used ac
cording to the instruction as to method," and
it was to remedy the method alone that the
amendment was submited.
' Fourth The w.ords "from whatever source"
add nothing to the force of the amendment.
It would, in constitutional parlance, be just the
same. if it said "to lay and collect taxes on in
' comes without apportionment." for, who could
' then say that you. would not have the right to
' lay taxes upon all incomes. The present taxing
' power woujd not be a particle stronger if it said
' to levy and collect taxes upon all property from
' whatever source.
Fifth To construe the proposed amendment
so as to enable us to tax the instrumentalities
of the state would do violence to the rules laid
down by the supreme court for a hundred years,
wrench the whole institution from its harmo
nious proportions and destroy the object and
purpose for which the whole instrument was
framed.
Sixth To construe it to cover those incomes
from sources within the jurisdiction and control
of the sovereignty laying the tax is to construe
it in harmony with the principles given us by
Marshall and followed from that hour to this.
ALDRICH WILL ATTEND TO IT
The Washington correspondent for the Phila
delphia North American says that there will
be an investigation as to the cause of the high
cost of living, adding: "But Mr. Aldrich has
not abandoned his determination to control the
investigation and its results." Isn't that state
ment just a bit superfluous? Why should not
a genius who controls the United States senate,
dominates the republican party and carries a
latch key to the White House, have his way with
a little thing like an investigating committee?
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Where the Old
Ship is Leading
Wade II. Ellis of Ohio has resigned as an
assistant attorney general in order to accept
the chairmanship of the republican executive
committee of Ohio. The White House has is
sued a statement saying:
"Mr. Vorys, the member of the national com
mittee from Ohio; Mr. Walter Brown, chairman
of the republican state central committee, and
Mr. Henry A. Williams, chairman of the repub
lican state executive committee, have been can
vassing among the republicans of Ohio to de
termine who shall succeed Mr. Williams upon
the resignation which he is obliged to tender.
"After a visit to Washington and full con
ference with the senators the conclusion was
reached that the man best qualified to assume
the cares of the office as chairman of the execu
tive committee at this time was Mr. Ellis, and
therefore the president was applied to consent
to Mr. Ellis' resignation from his position as
assistant to the attorney general to take the
duties of the chairmanship of the committee.
"The president was very loath to lose the
services of Mr. Ellis from the department of
justice, where he is engaged in important work,
but as Mr. Ellis was willing to make the sacri
fice the president did not feel that ho could
insist in retaining him."
RRISTOW GETTING ANXIOUS
Washington, February 7. Senator Bristow Is
growing anxious about the fate of his resolution
providing for the election of United States sen
ators by a direct vote of the people. Today ho
asked Chairman Clark of the committee on
judiciary when that committee would report
the resolution, and Mr. Clark was not able to
make definite reply.
"Is there any prospect that the question will
be considered?" asked Mr. Bristow.
"There is," responded Mr. Clark.
Washington February 8. In connection with
a resolution offered by Senator Dolliver pro
viding for the printing of a detailed statement
of the expenditures of the agricultural depart
ment there was an incidental discussion of the
forestry bureau in the senate today. The reso
lution was adopted. Senator Dixon of Montana
raised the question as to why the agricultural
department had been singled out, and in doing
so he complained of discrimination against the
department because of the Ballinger-Pinchot con
troversy. If the expense account of the forestry
bureau was to be printed he wanted the ac
counts of the land office printed also. He want
ed to know what had been done with the million
dollars appropriated for special agents.
He also would have the postoffice department
and other department accounts printed. He de
sired especially to know whether it was true
that the government was paying the railroads
nine cents a pound for carrying matter for which
express companies paid one-half cent.
JOY ARRIVES
Washington, February 8. Caustic criticism
and dry humor, intermingled in remarks by
Representative Macon of Arkansas in the house
today, his subject being the bill of expenditures
contracted by the immigration commission up
on its recent European trip. Mr, Macon was
twice called to account for exceeding the limits
of parliamentary debate, only his quick retrac
tion averting disciplining by the house. In urg
ing the adoption of his resolution providing for
an Investigation he charged the commission with
many extravagances including an indulgence in
wine and luxuries of living, as well as "joy
rides."
ALDRICH AND TAFT CONFER
Washington, February 10. A conference held
at the White House last night between Presl
'dent Taft and Senator Aldrich was only the fore
runner of others in the near future, the out
come of which probably will be the early issue
of a statement dealing with a situation which
is discussed here whenever two or three are
gathered together, yet, which apparently nobody
thus far has deemed it prudent to make the
subject of public utterance. That situation re
lates to the possible consequences, financial, in
dustrial and political, hanging on the decisions
of the supreme court of the United States In
the pending canes of the American Tobacco com
pany and the Standard Oil company.
The Immediate subject of last night's con
ference between the president and Mr. Aldrich
was the administration's proposed amendments
to the interstate commoreo law, but the effects
of the court's decisions In tho tobacco and
oil cases were discussed and will bo further dis
cussed Monday.
Washington, February G. (Special to tho
New York World.) Tho insurgents of the Hjn
ato as a body are on their good behavior. Thoy
are not trusted and will not bo permitted to
share In party secrets or councils. The usual
conference in matters of legislation are not be
ing held. There has not been a general meeting
of republicans since Mr. LaFolIetto cut loose
against the' Aldrlch-Vroeland currency bill. A
watchful eyo is kept on every movement of the
insurgents, and war will bo opened against them
at tho first symptom of pernicious activity.
Senator Dick of Ohio was long ago chosen
to open the general attack on the Insurgents.
His text was presented to the senate, and now
lies on the table subject to his call. It consists
of a letter signed by Senators LaFollctte, Bovor
idge, Clapp and Cummins, approving a propa
ganda of progressive republicanism which was
being systematically sent out by a chosen agont
to newspapers through tho western country, be
ginning with Ohio.
Senator Dick has tossed together a bitter ar
raignment of tho progressives, showing wherein
they separate from their party associates and
can not longer be recognized as legitimate re
publicans. He gave notice of this speech some
time ago, when offering the letter. It has not
been abandoned, only postponed until somo un
toward act of. tho progressives makes its de
livery timely.
Senator Penrose also has an armful of rocks
ready to throw at the Insurgents. Senators
Aldrich and Hale have collected a mass of evi
dence against them. In fact tho regulars aro
preparing themselves for an encounter which
they regard as inevitable.
Meanwhile, the insurgents aro not commit
ting overt acts. They have all remained com
paratively qufet. Mr. LaFollette has effaced
himself and takes little part in the proceedings.
He has opened his mouth but seldom since con
gress convened last December, and that only on
routine subjects. Senator Cummins, however,
Is beginning to show some disposition to Irritato
the elder statesmen.
Washington. February 10. President Taft's
visit to New York on Saturday, it is said, will
bo made the occasion of an important political
conference regarding New York stato conditions.
This conference probably will take place at the
home of Lloyd C. Griscom, the new chairman of
the New York county republican committee. Ef
forts will bo made to have Governor Hughes
attend tho conference. The republicans are said
to be anxious to get a candidate for governor
who will have the support bo'th of President Taft
and Governor Hughes.
Washington, February 11. The fact that an
independent steamship line to the Isthmus of
Panama on tho Pacific coast would enter into
competition with trans-continental railroads was
given as a reason today for the rejection by Sec
retary of War Dickinson of an offer made to
the government by a syndicate of Baltimoreans.
The details of tho offer were given to the sen
ate committee on inter-oceanic canals by B. N.
Baker, former president of a Baltimore line, in
the hearing of the Flint-McLachan bill for tho
establishment of a government-owned line in
west coast.
Mr. Baker said that when the Pacific Mail
Steamship company gave notice that it would
insist upon receiving 70 per cent of the business
via the Isthmus, Instead of the 50 per cent it
had received for a number of years, that ho
offered to put on a line if he was given a mail
contract similar to those given other lines. Such
a 'line as he proposed to establish, said Mr.
Baker, would have connected with the govern
ment vessels between New York and Colon.
"Why was your offer rejected?" asked Sena
tor Bristow.
Mr. Baker said that the secretary of war wa3
of the opinion he had no jurisdiction In the mas
ter. He added that he understood Postmaster
General Hitchcock would have favored tho plan
If it had met with the approval of the head of
the war department.
"The whole thing here Is that the United
States does not Intend to do anything to hurt
the transcontinental railroads," ejaculated Mr.
Bristow.
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