Senate Chamber
Sept. 20, 1940.
My Dear Mother:
I dated my letters of yesterday
Sep. 20. You have already
received it- no doubt.
We had a great day yesterday.
The Senate, on yea & nay vote,
sustained the position of
the Minority of the Special
Committee by disagreeing
to the Brown amendment
by a vote of 30 to 44.
Sen. Burke and I filed the
Minority report and I
led the floor fight which
was so successful.
It means that we have
refused again to break the
barrier that separates
the State functions from
the Federal functions. It
saves to the several states
and municipalities and
Taxing Districts their
immunity from taxation
by the Federal government. "The
power to tax is the power
to destroy" if it applied
to such an essential function
of government as that of
anticipatory taxes by borrowing
money. The Brown amendment
would have permitted Washington
to tax St. Albans bank issues.
Best love,
Warren