The Rock Island Argus., 1882-08-05
THE TAX REDUCTION BILL IN THE SENATE

as it came from the house, with q senate
amendment extending the time at which
reductions shall take effect and amend
ments reducing the tev on snuff and to-
bacco from 16 to ~ cents per pound and
allowing rebate. The time which re-
manned of the session would not permit
deliberate consideration of the many
amendments offered and vet to be offered
by the opposite side, and which they had
declared their intention to discuss without
limit. He hoped this course would be
abandoned and the proposition he now
made accepted.
Mr. Bayard replied that his associates
and himself were not present to accept
the proposition. He reviewed the history
of the measure, showing that its proper
tions had gradually developed, until FINELY
it came from the senate republican caucus
with important changes. Some of its re-
ductions were only ostensible, not real par
ticularly that in regard to hoopiron and
cotton-ties. 1t was questionable whether
there was really a reduction in sugar du-
ties. These caucus measures of the other
side would not be accepted without the
freest right to debate and amend them.
Readjustment of the burdens of the tai III,
admitted to be out of date, unequel, un-
reasonable, and full of errors, was the
try, and the other side now proposed to
abandon the work of their own councils to
let the tariff go and take up this little apol
ogy for a bill.
Mr. Sherman said the other side had
embarrassed the progress of the bill by
dilatory tactics in offering amendments.
They had preferred to reduce the tobacco
tax to the amount of $6,000000 rather
than allow anv Necessary reductions of
the bill to be made, and they would have
to bear the responsibility of the failure of
the effort which had been earnestly made
to relieve the people of considerable por-
ton of the burdens of taxation. He added
that some of the amendments championed
by the minority, like that reducing import
duties 10 and 90 per cent, would be ruin
Gus to some great business interests of the
country. and, the senate being elmost even
ly divided politically, the majority had
been driven to appropriation bills in order
that the house might be kept occupied and
might not disperse.
Mr.. Beck characterized Mr.. Sherman's
charge that democrats had embarrassed or
delayed the bill as an absurdity. The
amendments he proposed had not been re
garded as superfiuous or unnecessary, End
there had been no intimation that his
course and that of his associates in the
committee on finance and in the senate had
not been dictated in the utmost good faith
by consideration for the public interests
He was not afraid TO let the bill lie over
until next session, and hoped it would then
be perfected by further reductions. regard
less of anything the packed tariff. commits
sion ght report, and would prefer to
pass the bill now as it was proposed to
perfect it.
Mr. Hoar said it had not been contended
that the taxes to be taken off by the bill
ought not to be done away with. Demo
Gratis were opposed to any relief for the
people unless they were permitted to die
tate the character of that relief. lie was
not apprehensive of the success of any
attempt to deceive the people as to which
side of the chamber was responsible for
the failure of this legislation. 1t had so
happened that whenever the republican
party seemed to be in danger of losing
popular confidence the senator from Ken
lucky (Mr. Beck) had come to the rescue
with his leadership. He remembered the
threat made by that gentleman in mid
night speech on a former occasion that un-
less the president of the United States fol
lowed certain conrse appropriations for
the support of the government would stop.
He remembered, too, when there came to
The loyal north from Kentucky the threat
TO wipe out all legislation of the war, and
again when, after Maine had 'sgone " rong"
IN a presidential year, how the voice of
Kentucky for "a tariff for revenue only
had saved the country from the sorrow and
disaster of democratic administration |
Once more the cheap, easily seen through |
buster and blunder OF the senator from
Kentucky had come to the rescue of the |
republican party. , Dir. Hoar added that |
while he regretted the Inconvenience to the |
;axpayers in their being compelled to pour |
nto the treasury thirty or forty millions of |
revenue for another year, he /
thought the republican party was TO be |
Mr. Beck replied that he hoped the SEN
ltor from Massachusetts, when he went /
nome, wonld tell the people of that state
hat his little bin to take off $50, 600. 600 |
axes was meant to relieve the poor, suf-
ering, down trodden banker. and patent |
Medicine and match manufacturers, and /
hat it gave no relief worth speaking of to
.nybody else. The poor mans blanket
night remain taxed. Bessemer steel might
emain at $2S per ton, when it can be
bought in open market for $24, and so on
With list of dutiable articles; and he (Mr.
3eck) might be held responsible for having
ought to reduce taxes. The senator was
ntirely welcome to all he could make out
# that statement.
Mr.. Vance said he did not doubt the sim
erity of the senator from Massachusetts
n congratulating the country. and particu-
arly himself, that the progeny of the repub
loan cauouS was ahout 10 die hacause n |