The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-23
The Proposition to Levy an Income Tax and
Devote the Proceeds to Payment of PEN
sions-A Discussion of Great Interest.
Randall Excoriates the Free-Traders,
Especially Hewitt and Morrison.
The Democratic Scheme by Which 1t Is Hoped
to Make the Payment Of Pensions to Sol
diers an 0diOus and Unpopular Thing.
EXCITEMENT IN THE HOUSE.
An Attempt to Read Randall Out of tn.
Democratic Party and What Came of 1t.

An Attempt to Read Randall Ont of the
Democratic Party and What Came of 1t.
Special to rne indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, June 22-There was more ex-
element in the House of Representative during
one hour this afternoon than has been Witnessed
In that body for many years. General Bragg,
of Wisconsin, Abram s. Hewitt, of New York.
and other distinguished free-traders, tried to read
Samuel j. Randall and other prominent tariff
Democrats out of the party. General Bragg re-
ferred to the Democrats who voted against the
Morrison bill on last Thursday. as proselytes
and regulators of the platform on. which they
were elected, and said that they were despised
by Republicans. The reply of DIR. Randall was
full Of yigor and honesty, and the drubbng
which the distinguished ex-Speaker gave to free
traders in general, and to Hewitt ard Morrison
in particular, was thorough and severe. The
solloQuy between the various Democratic
members was in the shape of family
raw, and enough bad blood epgendered
30 prevent whatever chance there might have
been for party legislation. Intense excitement
prevailed throughout the quarrel, and the Re
publicans enjoyed it to their hearts content.
Nearly everyone stood on his feet and the up
roar could have been heard hundred yards.
While Randall was speaking, however, and dur
Ing his excoration of the hypocrites i'll his party
he was given rapt attention. His pummelng Of
Hewitt during which he showed that that dema-
gogue was representing his own views, instead
of bis constituents made the little son-in-law of
the departed Peter Cooper vince. and turn pale
and speeches.. A few times he attempted to re-
ply to some of Randalls demonstrations, but his
words stuck in his mouth. Randall de-
clared that he was the peer of
Bragg, and had the courage to ex-
press those opinions which many of his
Democratic colleagues feared to utter He ac-
quilted himself of every charge, so far as his
actions on the tariff questions are concerned
that has ever been brought against him, and
lifted the film behind which the hypocritical free
traders have been working for years.
There is but one topic of conversation in po-
ltical circles tonight. and that is the bold move
ment made to-day by the free-traders in the
House to prevent legislation upon pension mat
ters, and 80 prejudice the country against PEN
eions that, finally. they will all be wiped out of
existence. The object of the free-traders in
amending the rules of the House so as to provide
that all general pension bills shall hereafter
carry with them tax provisions for meeting
the proposed expenditure, is to preju-
dice the people against pensions
by reminding them, whenever they
have to pay this special tax. for what they pay
it They see that no pension legislation can be
enacted with such provision with it as is pro-
posed. The soldiers of the country were warned.
during the campaign two years ago. that if they
turned the government over into the hands of
the Democrats they were likely to lose their
pensions. The work of to-day fully demon-
strates the truth of this assertion. If pensions
are not all stopped within few years, it will
not be the fault of the Democrats