The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-06-24
CONGRESS.
THAT BODY CONTINUES TO
TAKE UP ITS TIME ON
PENSIONS.
REMARK OF HISCOCK, RANDELI
AND OTHERS ON TAXATION
IN GENERAL.
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, June 22.-Mr Maxey, from the com
mitt on Nicaragua claims, reported a resolution
requesting the president to bring to the attention.
of the Nicaraguan government claims of citizens
of the United States against that government The
resolution was agreed to.
The senate then took up the bill repeating the
presumption and timber culture laws.
Mr.. Blair had moved an amendment prohibiting
the acquisition in one ownership of more than
$40 acres of desert lands.
TO this Mr.. Ingalls, offered an amendment ap-
plying limitation to all public lands. The latter
proposition, which was the pending question or
to-day, was voted down.
Mr. Blair's amendment was then voted down
Yeas, 3; nays, ~. Following are the senators
voting in the affirmative; Blair, Dolph and Teller.
Without final action on the bill the senate ad-
journed.
The speaker laid before the house nine messages
from the president announcing his disapproyal of
like number of private pension bills, and they
were referred to the committee on invalid pen
sions. Several of the presidents terse sen
tences and ironical suggestions were greeted with
applause and laughter
Mr. Watson, of Indiana from the committee on
invalid pensions, reported back the resolution
calling on the secretary of the interior for infor-
nation as to the number of persons now drawing
original pensions from the government, by reason
of special pension acts, and as to the amount of
money required annually to meet obligations in
currred by the government
| Advocating the proposition, Mr. Morrison
argued that its adoption was absolutely
necessary, unless congress was prepared to grant
pensions and leave the government without means
to pay them. He thought, as the principal in these
| II mes of leckless appropriations-h meant other
appropriations than pension appropriations 1t
would be safe to Incorporate in every bill making
new appropriation of any great sum tax bill, and
| thus provide means for meeting the expenditure.
Mr.. Reed of Maine, expressed surprise that the
rule was proposed to be confined to pensions alone
There was not practical man in the house who
did not know that the proposed rule would be ap-
| nlip0 to fa9tpn uUOn every pension Dill some
method of taxation which would prove obnoxious
to men who might be desirious of voting for pen
| sion measures. Why was this invidious
distinction made purpose was to saddle on pension
bills legislation which would result in the defeat OF
| the bills themselves.
Mr. Hiscock regarded the proposed rule as more
| than an attempt to make invidious distinction
against pension bills. 1t was an attempt on the
part of the gentleman from Illinois to avoid the re-
sponsibty of the defeat OF pension Legislation by
a direct vote.
| Mr. Hiscock then went on to quote from demo
cratic platform which. he said had been framed by
Mr. Morrison in favor of the dedication of internal
revenue to the relief of persons disabled In the
line of duty in the wars of the republic and in the
payment of such pensions as congress may, from
time to time, grant to the soldiers. One hundred
and fifteen millions of dollars had been received
from internal taxes, and the pledge of the democ
racy was that this hundred and fifteen million
should be devoted to the support of all soldiers
Yet in congress, since the adoption of that plat
form, the same distinguished gentlemen who re
diers: "We have not money enough TO pay youl
pensions to carry out our pledge; we repudiate the
obligation of that war, and the taxes should b'
devoted to this holy purpose"
Mr.. Randall conceded to the other side the full
measure of patriotism In this connection, ant
claimed for his side like spirit in every particular
hoth individually and collectively; so far as h
] knew there was no gentleman on the floor who wa
not ready to do entire justice to the soldiers. Som
might differ as To the method, or extent to which
A congress might 60 None would differ on the pro
Z position that II congress did grant pensions,
/ ought honestly to provide money to pay then
| The pension bill already required eighty millio
dollars and this proposition merely says, that
congress added to that eighty million, IL should
the same time provide way of payment Tha
was the manly, courageous way to do 1t.
Mr., McKinley,of Ohio thought that proposition
If it meant anything, meant that the government
, had not revenue enough now to pay the pension
of deserving soldiers If 1t meant anything, it wa
confession before the house and country that Tn
! revenues were inadequate to meet the Just dc
mands of the soldiers of the republic If there wa
: not enough money in the treasury to pay th
soldiers, let taxation be increased and ii the gov
ernment had to resort to an income tax in orde
to give the soldiers of the republic what wa
: pledged to them then he was in favor OF an IL
come tax for general purposes.
Mr.. Jackson, OF Pennsylvania, regarded tll
proposition as a confession that the gentlema
from Illinois had learned to his sorrow that 70
the last time he had made successful canvass be
a fore the people on the issue of an attack on IN
n industries of Il o country. He believed that tn
/ proposition emanated from the highest authorit
In the country, and was an attempt to throw di
. credit upon pension legislation. He mad heard wit
!, sorrow the veto messages read from the desk, /
: which not one patriotic expression was made.
= He was in favor of reducing tariff taxes, takin
o the burden off the labor of the people, bat was
favor of paying pensions and claims of soldier
and wanted to levy tax on the wealthy men {
the country, on men who got rich when the va
was going on applause on the democrat
sde.)
a Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, said the purpose
/ the proposition under discussion was to preyel
g action ON pension measures.
q Mr. IIiscock, of New York, said that the dem'
Q cratic party had not redeemed
r single pledge il had made, but hf
p stood covering here before the country, admittn
!. that It was powerless TO lift any burden from q
people; that it had spent all the money; th
empty treasury vaults we're the fruit of democrat
victory. Applause on the republican sidel
democratic congress had been in session for 81
months; that Il had accomplished nothing, an
d that in these last days Of the session 1t stood CO.
d Tossing that II had known nothing about the r.
J, ceipts of the government, and was incompetent
If carry out any Of its promises and pledges. IA
e plause on the republican side.
After some further debate the house adjourne