The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
singular Conduct Of Congress the In-
come Tax.

out of Mr.. Shermans Tax-Tarif bill the sec
tions for continuing the income tax by the
decisive vote Of thlrty-four yeas to twenty
three nays. The people in every section Of
the country rejoiced over the death of this in
| quisitorial, oppressive and corruptiug tax. II
| was a war measure, and the couutry was glad
to see ii discontinued after peace had been
restored five years. No one supposed, after
such vote, that the tax would be revived
again or any further action upon it be taken
Mr.. Sherman, the chairman OF the Senate
| Finance Committee, who had urged the con-
tinuance of the tax, admitted in his remarks in
the debate last Monday, shat he had no hope
| the vote Of the Senate would be changed.
He suggested to Mr. Howe and others who
attempted to waive discussion on the subject
shat the question had been decided" Bat
on Friday the advocates of the income
tax, under the lead OF this same
Senator Sherman, took what may be
termed snap judgment over the Senate and
restored the tax. There was a great deal of
parliamentary flibustering over the question,
the majority voting yea at one time and nay at
another. There never was more singular
instance of Congressional inconsistency and
indecision
No further amendments being offered to the
Tax-Tarif' bill, it was reported on Friday from
the Committee of the Whole to the Senate,
when the amendments were concurred in, eX-
cept those upon which separate votes were
asked. The first of these upon which sepa-'
rate vote was asked was that striking out the
income tax sections Mr.. Wilson, Of Massa-
chusetts, moved to continue the income tax
for two years longer at two and half per cent,
instead of five per cent, as 1t now stands. This
motion was neyatived by twenty eight nays to
twenty three yeas. Then the Senate voted
upon the amendment of the Committee Of the
Whole striking out the income tax sections,
when the vote stood yeas twenty three, nays
twenty-one. This was regarded as finality.
Mr.. Sherman then made an argument against
sweeping away so many taxes, and urged that
the government could not get along unless
some Of those stricken off were retained.
Thereupon Mr. Edmunds gave notice that he
would move to reconsider the vote striking
session Mr.. Edmunds brought up his motion
to reconsider. This led to some discussion,
but finally the motion to reconsider prevailed.
The yeas were twenty-six, nays twenty-five
Mr.. Wilson then renewed his amendment to
continue the tax for two years longer at two
and half per cent. After lengthy dis
cussion this amendment was agreed to-yeas
twenty seven, nays twenty-one. The ques-
ton then being on striking out the sections
imposing the income tax, as amended by Mr..
Wilson, the Senate refused to strike them out,
thus reversing its former action. The yeas
we're twenty-six, nays 22.
This shows that the Senate got into curl
Gus middle over this income tax question.
II is not easy to understand all these parlia-
mentary lodges and rules of action; but we
suppose the income tax, as far as the vote of
the Senate goes, is to be continued for two
years longer, and at a rate OF two and . half
per cent. instead of five per cent.
The Senators favoring this unpopular and
offensive tax took advantage evidently of
great many of their colleagues being absent
to rush through their measure. The vote
was small one. There were some
twenty-six Senators absent or not vot-
ing, and there were nine short Of
the number that voted on the oath of June
for abolishing the tax altogether. This con-
duct-this snap judgment and ilibustering-
on the part OF Senator'S is discreditable to that
body Mr. Sherman himself must be surprised
at the success of his management of this
affair; for he declared only few hours be-
fore that the question had been decided and
that he had no hope the vote of
the Senate abolishing the tax would be
changed However, the House of Represen-
tatives may still refuse to concur in the ac-
ton of the Senate, and may let this abomi-
nable tax die natural death. If the men,
bers have any regard for their popularity
and the wishes of the people they will do So
They have only to notice the unanimous ap-
proval of the first action of the Senate in
abolishing the tax by the press of all parties
and shades of opinion, and the general gratif-
cation it gave to the public, to guide them in this
matter Mr.. Sherman's pretence, that this
tax is needed for the support of the govern
ment is absurd With all the taxes re-
duced or taken off by the Tax-Tarif bill there
will be still an enormous surplus income.
Even with the adjustment Of the income tax
as well the revenue would be quite large
enough, or more than enough, for the current
expenses of the government aud for a good
round sum to be applied to the liquidation of
the debt. We hope the House will refuse to
concur in the action Of the Senate on the in
| come tax.
| Virginia to Georgia we have reports of an
| excellent wheat crop; from East Tennessee
| we learn that the harvesting has been going