The sun., 1888-12-14
VIII Mr.. Cleveland Veto the Direct
Tax Bil2


The measure known as the Direct Tax bill
has passed the House by q vote Of 17s to 90
1t had already passed the Senate, but mus
20 back to that body for concurrence In the
amendments now adopted. The question o
interest is whether Mr.. CLEVELAND will veto
tho bill; and. In that event, whether It can
pass over his veto.
Not only in the amount Of money, but In
the principles involved, this bill is one Of the
most important that has come before the
Fiftieth Congress. 1t proposes to refund to
the States what they paid to the Federal
Government on account OF the direct tax
laid by Congress In August 1861, and also to
forgive the debt still due to the Federal
Government by those States which never
paid their full share Of that tax. About
S1600O.0 600 would go back to the States and
Territories In various sums ranging from
Now York's $2,2l30OO and Pennsylvania
900 down to Nevada's 81, 500 and Da-
kota's $S,241. or the balances due and still
carried on the Treasury books, which the
bill wipes out Of existence, the largest are
Alabama's $511,O2s, Georgia's $477,4o4, and
Tennessee's 1921, ,763.
This bill passed the Senate last January,
after full discussion, by vote Of 4S to 10.
There was little opposition to the measure.
Only five Democratic Senators voted against
1t. The Southern Democrats In the Senate
rs rule. acknowledged the equity Of the
proposal to refund the direct tax. OF the
ten Senators voting against the bill, five
were Northern Republicans, including MIR.
BLAIR Of New Hampshire.
Three months later, when the measure
came up In tho House with the approval OF
the Judiciary Committee OF that body,
there was suddenly developed fierce and
pertinacious opposition, led by Gen. OATES
OF Alabama. and this resulted ~ the memoir
able deadlock Of last April, whAn every ex-
pedient Of obstructive tactics was resorted
to In order to prevent the consideration Of
the Direct Tax bill. The deadlock lasted for
days, and was only broken by compromise
which postponed consideration of the bill
until after election.
The vote in the House on Wednesday
shows curious fracture Of the party lines.
Members were influenced apparently by no
other consideration than their Individual
judgment. Although no Republican voted
against the BILL forty Democrats voted for it.
Mr.. RANDALL stood with Mr.. MILLS, Mr..
CARLISLE, the two BREcKINRlDaEs, and Gen.
OATES against the measure; Mr.. HOLMAN
and Mr.. SowDEN stood with Mr. REED, Mr..
BUTTERwoRrH, and Mr.. MCKINLEY In favor
of taking this money from the United States
Treasury. The New York city delegation
was equally d-CUMM1Nas. BRYCE,
Cox, and SPNoLA against tho bill, and
CAMPBEhL, MERRIMAN, COCHRAN, and FITCH
for 1t. 1t Is long time since there has been
any vote in the House SO difficult to explain
on any general theory Of local interest or
partisan policy.
The whole history Of the Direct Tax bill up
to date forms one Of the most singular chap
ters In recent legislation. The measure has
been advocated or opposed on broad prin-
eiples Of equity and justice. aud on honest
difference Of opinion as to the constitutional
powers OF Congress. More than two-thirds
OF the Senators voting. and almost two
thirds Of the Representatives voting have de-
clared for 1t. 1t Is neither job nor steal,
nor spasmodio indulgence Of extravagant
propensities; nor has 1t been pushed in the
interest OF any gang Of claim agents. But
1t involves taking from the Treasury, and
consequently from the cherished surplus,
many millions OF dollars. and the question Is.
Will the President sign IT.