Speech #690154003

I read from 112 United States: If it were necessary to prove that the imposition of this contribution on owners of ships is made for the general welfare of the United States. it would not be difficult to show that it is so. and particularly that it is among the means which Congress may deem necessary and proper for that purpose . and beyond this we are not permitted to inquire. But the true answer to all these objections is that the power exercised in this instance is not the taxing power. The burden imposed on the shipowner by this statute is the mere incident of the regulation of commerceof that branch of foreign commerce which is involved in immigration. Tell me that an act in behalf of the farmers must be cast into the wastepaper basket because it is unconstitutional. and that you can levy a tax upon every ship that comes into every port. make that ship pay so much per head for every man it brings. and then take that money that you levy upon the ship and devote it to a purpose other than the shipowner desires ! These headmoney cases go further. far. far. far beyond what this bill does or attempts to do.