Show A PLAY UPON PREJUDICE C OI of a tn tax upon incomes is is' a perilous proposal under republican government where all are free and equal unless the principle upon which it is based squares with the immutable stan stan- lards dards of right and justice The ratification of tho income tax amendment to the national constitution by more snore than the number of states required is ample evidence of the sentiment of the American people Public opinion may mar therefore be considered as favorable favorable favor favor- able ahlo to the tax an nn attitude defensible on the ground that hat those most able to bear th burden of government should hould assume that privilege r But public sentiment notwithstanding the tax would be unfair and vicious if f it bo be based upon any conviction that great fortunes are necessarily tho the result of special favors lawful or unlawful an anti and aro are therefore to be bo penalized Representative Raincy Rainey of Illinois scar scarcely cly strengthened strength strength- th- th ened the hands of tho the proponents of tho the tariff bill in his lis argument with reference to the tho income tax provisions pro- pro I visions ni His plea pIca a was anarchistic a n. challenge to law lawand lawand lawand and order order Instead of pleading for tho the tax on the ground that it would woud be bo collected from those best able to o pa pay it and that eventually it would relieve o the gre great t mass of the people from a n part of the tho burden under which they aro are struggling ho argued for the theta ta tax ax as ns a n punishment of the rich collected upon ullon the Ole theory that their fortunes could not have haye been amassed under other than government go favoritism It is ample evidence evidence- of the courtesy which prevails in in Congress that such an nn appeal to class prejudice ice could be heard in iii silence and antl without interruption |