National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-26

he MIR, Kelley was in favor Of repeating thom-
OF wiping out the whole internal system.
He did not wish to make whisky free. on tho |
contrary he would regulate the use Of all intoNi-
Giants. The United States could not do that; IL |
could only tax aud tax blindy states could regu-
late and supervise and restrict and prohibit In |
support OF his assertion that the government did
not need the revenue derived from intenal rev; |
enue, he declared that without q dollar derived |
from that source the government this year would |
receive enough money to meet every legitimate |
demand. 1t would be a healthy day for the gov
ernmont when the harrow and fail and shotguns |
could be taken from before the eyes of the small
farmers by the repeal of what had never been a
popular system, which had been resisted by at
tempted revolution when hrst established, which
had outlined its usefulness aud become disgrace
Mr.. Willis. Are YOU willing to repeal the system
owe It for taxes.
Mr. Kelley. say that IL the gentleman has
heard my language any time in the last eighteen
months ON this subject. he understands that am
in favor of abolishng all these taxes, and grant
ground on which stand.
Mr., Long said that in rising TO speak TO the bill
ne did 50 more for the purpose OF feeling ms
ton to tho house. In his Judgment upon this
BILL he was governed neither by sentimentality
on the one hand nor on the other by any purpose
TO subordinate this practical issue TO the question
OF tarin reform or tariff protection. lie had
first considering 1t. At first, II had appeared to
him that It's tendency was to correct discrmlna-
ton which existed against whisky
had proven too much. The query arose in his
mind how, II there was such au unjust burden on
one commodity, it happened that such all cnormity
had escaped the attention Of former congresses,
and he had made further examination That ex.
animation had led him to the conclusion that
whisky was not suffering under any discrimination,
but that the effect of this bill would be to create
one in Its favor The three years extension granted
in 1873 had increased the evil of over produce
ton the refusal in 1882 had lesseued It, Which OK.
ample was this house going to follow He believed
that the gentlemen from Kentucky were speak,
Ing with the most thorough convictions. but If
this bill were passed and the time extended, when
the limit was reached, instead OF 70OO0000 gallons
on hand, instead of S66,0OOo0o Of unpaid taxes,
the amount would be increased 20 or 90 per cent.
Then the question would be, not when the tux
would be paid, but whether 1t would
became a not ana o roa se ooua s
great public policy and ar.reaching effect. II thei
bill were defeated the production OF whisky would
be stayed, and tho present stock would go Its
normal way. Fit went ont of the country to avoid
the tax tho country would be relieved. II 1t re-
manned the government would get It's tax and go
on paying It's debt. The amount at stake was
mere bagatele In comparison with the amount OF
capital seeking investment. If the government
land this, it must be remembered, was not of the
functions Of the governmenD certainly other insti-
tutions. whose function II was TO loan money,
would be glad to secure 80 good an opportunity.
They could have exactly the same security as the
government, and could demand the same bonds
that the government demanded: In conclusion,
Mr. Long made torcible presentation of the evils
of intemperance, declaring whisky to be the dyna
mite OF human civilization and responsible for
mucn national ruin and disgrace. His remarks
throughout commanded much attention, and at
their conclusion he was warmly applauded;
Mr. Foott supported the bill It was claimed
meney to the distilers. From what source was
the loan derived2 With what money did the
government part2 Not dollar of interest had the
government in a single gallon ofwhisky that was
in bond to-day, 1t was the right OF the dstilers
to knock in the head of every barrel and spill 1t
without paying the government II cent. II was
further claimed that this was special legislation
There was no other interest involved as this in
terest was, and i could not be reached except by
special legislation. Nothing else was taxed in
| the same way, and, If relief were given, 1t could
only be done by special legislation. The only de;
mnnd made by the distillerS was that they should
have mn opportunity to sell their goods as the mar
ket demanded, instead OF being forced to place
them on an already overstocked market. The
question was merely a business one.
Mr. Foran briefly explained his reasons for sup.
porting the bill, expressing his belief that when
the government could do SO, without injury to
terest II congress failed to pass the bill the in-
| dusrlal depression now existing In the country
would DO augmented while its passage would not
disturb the business interests by the sudden with
drawal of 5000 900 from circulation.
Mr. Jordan dwelt. in his support Of the measure,
upon the immense revenue which the tax on
whisky brought into the treasury. 1t was sufii-
eient IN one year to pay all pensions that were
that was DERIVED rrtin ant TiIc somr ,-ssss,i
mines in the country. If all the public lands
were sold at SIPS an acre the entire, product
|
| fifteen years. In the face of those facts IL was
proposed to repeal the tax. To talk about the
repeal Of the nerhs revenue SS h TAX waS e Ts
some republican who was In favor OF the repeal
| make an amendment to that effect ana there
would not DO twenty-five men III the mousse 10
vote for It, =,
"IIow many on your side are in favor OF it ~
| queried Mr.. Dunham.
"but not many. | will tell you who i think arc
in favor oft think they are those who intimate
fernal revenue, but that the tariff revenue Is q
celestial revenue" Laughter and applause1
Mr.. Hurd said that the discussion had been car
ried on as though the extension of the bondec
period was the principal feature OF the bill
whereas II was only an Incident, IL oil the relic
merely of the extension of the time OF the bonded
period they would be very much disappointed
In 1862 the law was passed which provided for TIT
? increased to go With the increase of taxation thu
temptation to fraud came and IL 1868 the grSe ga
, frauds were discovered, In which had been IN
volved many distinguished people. Ihci
the Limitation was made the purpose o
which was TO prevent frauds Oh the revenue
Il was a penalty on the distler, designed to pre-
vent the commission of crime How idle TO So
, that the pending question was one OF loanih
money. II was a question OF the remission Q
penalty. and in the consideration OF such ques
ton the house should be governed by precise
the same principles which governed the eNesI
tive in granting q pardon. 1t should conside
whether II was fair to the government, Just 10 IN
| Individual and eXpedient to tho community.
was fair to the government to remit the penalty
because 1t did not need the money; II was Just I
the individual, because the proof before the com
0 mittee on ways and means disclosed the dou,
b that unless relief were granted, these men woul
q | be bankrupted. They were not seeking rell'
from oyerproduction, but from the penalty Whic
Q the law had imposed upon them, when the obJe'
h which that penalty had been designed 10 secur
}, had been accomplished.
|. 1t was polite for tie community that the per
: | atty should be RENTED. IL would establish I
u PRECEDENT II was Il case entirely SUI 9srerG Bl
10 even II II did set q precedent the governmei
IF would not lose anything by do"~ gracious a
f. to a class of citizens when no I'1Tm could con
V" of IT, No government was SO strong as that whlC
was strong in the affections Of the people. II
fuse to pass this bill, ruin hundreds OF men, tut
ia thousands of men out of employment, ana col
a GEES need not complain If, as a consequence.
found mutteringS and complaining against VI
!. government instead Of loyalty and affection Tor
o Mr. Jones, of Arkansas opposed the bill. III
n dlsiilers had deliberately dug ditch and got In
\. H. md IL did not come with good grace from the
20 TO ask the government TO eXtreate them,
w Mr. Reed rdiCuled the prediction OF inc ru
10 which would follow n failure of the blu put ~
l. hitting Tor the sake of the argument that thls W
1t true he agreed that the disaster which would c
& sue in forcing 10000 900 gallons OF whiskey up
r. the market would bG small as compared win III
h which must follow the forcing out hve yea
10 hence of over l0000O000 gallons.
n Mr.. Hatch, OF Michigan, opposed the princiI
10 OF the government loanng money 10 amy 81
NJ and especially to men engaged in tho wits
u. rGnic and Mr., Price opposed 1t on business III
II. moral grounds. . ,, :,
# Mir. Dlnglcy cantended that the existing IL
ne made no discrimination against the whisky !
ny terests, and maintained that when me pohu
ne perod had been extended to three years conErt
"a InI zone IN thn utmost limit, 10 puss this /