, 1879-03-09


The Internal Revenue Amendment bill, oassed
in Congress on Friday and signed b. the Prcst-
dent on Saturday before adjournment, contains
the Iong-demandcd provision abating United
States taxes on bankrupt banks. Thus IN az
gravating and incquttable ilnDost is taken vi
from some thousands of poor depositors, who,
not having gone voluntarily into the tar-liabil-.
ity, but forced there by the acts Of Others, have
made strong and finally successful appeal
to the clemency Of the taxing power.
This act OF grace came mainly from the Re-
publican side of Congress. True, it was not
without support from enlightened Democrats
DAVID DAVIS and ABRAM s. HEWITT, for ID
stance,-but the main part Of the opposition
which made the effort SO long came from the
Democrats; and the main support, which mads
so long an effort possible, and which led to
final success, came from the Republicans. 81 80,
Chicago has ca.rica-on this fight alone, and
unaided It is year since the first bill WAS ID
troduced, the provisions OF which were fnall!
incorporated in the general Revenue bill, and
from that time to the very closing hours ct
Congress unremitting effort and attention
were given to the matter By Chicago alone.
Even after the clause had been second tina
defeated in the House though passed BY the,
Senate, Chicago sent IN urgent telegram to the,
Conference Committee, the result OF which vas
final success.
Other cities had an equal interest in the re-
suit (St. Louis has one broken bank from which
the Government claims over $4,000, but no
other city raised hand to help along nor
spoke word in behalf Of the thousands Of
dcpositors, each too poor and too obscure to
make himself heard in the councils of the M
tion. Chicago has done it all, and she now bids
her sister cities welcome to their full share Of
the relief SO tarditY and grudgingly granted.
Our city representatives OF both parties did all
that lay in their power in favor OF the measure
ut each stage Of the proceedings. To Judgc
DAVIS in the Senate, aud to Mr.. BURcHARD IN;
the House, do the people benefited owe the
most particular acknowledgements Judge
DAVIS, from the Kindness Of his heart, gaye dn-
remitting attention to the measure, and his
great personal influence made that attention
effective in the Senate and in the Conference
Committee. Mr. BuRCHAED was member q
the Committee OF Why's and Means, and, there
fore, was in 9 position to do more than any
other member to help along the good cause;
and he did 80 help it, from beginning to end:
He was also put on the Conference Committee.
the last crucial test of the bill,-and that
doubtless was the final move that won the game.
4 discussion is row going forward IN the co.,
umns Of the New York -Na;ion as to the relative
merits Of open anl closed scholarships ihe
practice 1T Harvard and ali other colleges iuthis
country has been to restrict tile benefits OIL
scholarships to those who stand in need OF PC
cuniary assistance. NJ. T. ". HIGG1ssoS oo-
iprfe tfL This HaNfGn hh It Is uu-
initiating to poor tnen and unfair to rich nen'
and takes other considerations than scholarship
into the account in awarding prizes which should
go to the best students alone. President ELIOT
replies to this that scholarships are not re-
garded as prizes; they are intended to help 70
put poor men on the same lercl rs r'ea
ones, BY Offering the former the same opportnn-
ities for obtaining an education that the latter
enjoy; aud he believes that mo pity and no
pubic money should be wasted on young mea
VINO feel it to be q humiliation to accept ;
scholarship at Harvard Cotlege.::' Mr.. HloelS-
SON refers to the experience Of tile EnS'isu
Universities, where most OF the scholarships a1e >
open; and President ELIOT answers hm o5
quoting DR.. PArr1soS, who says that inc Ell
glish system is highly unsatisfactory 80 III =.
Harvard is concerned, the discussion Is c'osso
by the statement that mos: Of the enooW"eu1..
are limited By the terms OF the bequests 70 poo.
men. We should say, In addition TO 1n's' u'.-
President ELIOT, on the merits OF the caSe' no'
the best Of tue discussion, for it Wouid sce'n w
be absurd to distribute any part Of these 1unu1'
on q point OF pride, as prizes among goune 'n.-
who would iu oil likelihood use them meset ~
crafty luxurious tastes, while other aeses'u5
students we're deprived Of the means Oh puS@