Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-03
KENNA


There is no sentiment in this country
stronger now thar that Congress has neg.
lected it's duty thus far in not repeating
taxes that are obnoxious to the people and
unnecessary for public use and it we should
still neglect that duty we should be prop
erly held responsible by our Own cOnstitu'
ents. Now, sir, for one, / am determined
that this sin shall not lay at my door"
1t is not strange, perhaps, that the Sen
atUr has somewhat modified his views IN
the presence of one Democratic admins,
tratiOn and in the prospect Of another.
Further Oh, Mr.. President, constituting
himself me censor of a House of Represen'
tatiyes with a small majority, Democratic,
struggling with their Owl differences as IL
method, the Senator in his recent speech
proceeds to say:
II may also ask, why did not Congress
then apply the remedy The Forty-ninth
Congress lived it's two years and died. Mr..
Cleveland was then az now President Of the
United States. The House Of Representa-
tiyes contained a large majority OF BIZ
political friends. They aloLe had the 10.
i~tiatiVe, the organization, the constitution
al power to introduce a bill to reduce taxes,
Why was il not dOne?"
Such, sir, is the an%imadyersiOn of the
honorable Senator when a House of Repre-
sentatiyes, with a small Democratic major
ity, can not do as it pleases i'll the face Of
a determined opposition. But hear the OBJ
~seryations OF the same honorable Senator,
when q Republican Senate, of which he
WAS one, dealing with the same subject,
finds itself hopeless to carry out its will:
we acknowledge the power of the mi
nority here, almost II equal, because
whether there is q majority Of the Senate
is a question always of doubt and uncer'
tainty. We acknowledge their power; we
pay obeisauce to it; we respect theiT
power"
And such, Mr.. President, ia the testi'
mony Of enc who is not without experience
himself. why behOldest thou the mote
that is IN thy brothers eye, but considerest
not the beam that is in thine W eye?"
The honorable Senator kindly agrees
with the President that unnecessary and
extravaganza appropriations ought not to be
made. To avoid a surplus OF revenue nc
money" he says, ".ught to be collected
from the people except to meet the require,
ments of the Government properly and
economically administered" The expires
sion is supertluous on the part OF the Sena'
tor, unless it be intended to apply to the
existing condition of affairs. He Is there
fore
IN HARMONY WITH THE PRESIDENT
upon whom he made the assault, when
the President uses the following Language
in bis message.
when we consider that the theory Of
our institutions guarantees to every citizen
the full enjoyment of all the fruits OF his
industry and enterprise, with only such
deduction as may be his share towards the
careful and economical maintenance OF thS
Government which protects him, 1t Is PLAN
that the exaction OF more than this is indie
iensible extortion and a culpable betrayal
of American fairness and justice. This
wrong inflicted upon those who bear the
burden of national taxation, like Other
wrongs, multiplies q brood OF evil conse'
quenceS."
But the honorable Senator assails the
President because, speaking OF spirits, 10
baeco, and beer, the President says that
there appears TO be no Just complaint OF
these taxes by the consumers OF these artl'
cles, and that there seems TO be nothing SC
we'll able IN hear the burden without hard
ships to any portion Of the people" The
Senator then proceeds to say that
at NAV be that there is no complaint
by the consumers. But can he say that Of
the producers of these articles? They are
all either the product of the farm OF lmme'
diats fruits of the product of the farm,
Their chief cost is in the leaf tobacco, OF
the corn, rye, wheat, and harley OF the
farm. Do not farmers complain Of this
tax? If the President thinks they do MOI
he is greatly mistaken. The
traditions and policy OF q people are
against internal taxes. During ana since
the WAL they were q necessity. NOW, IL
continued, they should be reduced; espe-
eially the tax on tobacco, no longer neces-
sary, should be RENTED"
When, may / be permitted 10 ask, ola
the honorable Senator undergo a change OF
heart on this important subIeetF In .
he declared:
THE Injuries are mostly contained In
the items spirits, wines, and tobacco.
These are undoubtedly the first objects
that should be taxed"
In 1870 he declared: ,
And these two taxes on spirits and
tobacco, together with the tax on ferment-
ed liquors, over So, 900, 900, are paid with
out complaint in every part Of the United
States"
Interruptiou-Mr. Sherman: II think so
now; it il not the consumers that COM
plain, but the manufacturers, the farmers
complain"
Mr.. Kenns-'I beg pardon, but | prefer
not to be interrupted"
Mr.. ShermsD:-"I beg pardon l will not
interrupt the Senator, if he does not wish