The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-17
TAXES AND THE PARTIES
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CUES
TION UP IN THE HOUSE.

Discussion of the Urgent Deficiency
Bill Made the Pretext for a Debate
on the Revenue Collected From
Tobacco-Considerat of the Bill
completed But No Vote Taken.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The House in
committee of the whole to-day took up the
Urgent deficiency bill. An amendment
was adopted appropriating 100000 for
the purpose of making 100 feet longer the
drv dock now under contract to be built at
the Brooklyn navy yard. Mr.. Kerr, of
iowa. cast consideration of the bill into a
roIitical current, when in speaking on one
of the deficiency items for the Department
Of Justice, be referred to the Internal Rev
enue laws, and declared that at one of it's
/ State conventions-he did not precisely re-
member the date of the convention--the
Democratic party of Missouri had passed a
resolution asking for repeal of the Inter
| nal Revenue system.
Messrs. Burnes and Hatch said Mr.. Kerr
| was mistaken.
Mr.. Hatch said every Democratic con-
vention held in Missouri for the past ten
years had adopted a resolution demanding
that Congress should wipe off the statute
book the provision of the revenue law
which prevented the farmer from selling
his tobacco to any but licensed dealers.
A REPUBLICAN LAW.
That provision had been passed by a
Republican Congress and signed by a
Republican President; and it fastened
shackles upon tobacco growers
Mr.. Henderson. of Iowa, inquired why
the Democratic Congress did not repeal it,
Mr.. Hatch replied that he had at every
session introduced bill 10 that effect, but
that while it could pass a Democratic
House, 1t could not pass the Republican
Senate.
Mr. Rowell, of Illinois, inquired when it
bad passed a Democratic House.
Mr. Hatch replied that it had passed the
House in the Forty-sixth Congress. 1t had
heen modified in the Senate so that a farmer
could sell to the extent of 81 ,0G0
Mr. Henderson-Wh was tax put upon
tobacco!
Mr.. Hatch-For the best reason. The
Government needed money.
CHE sTNUTs.
Mr.. Henderson--How did the Government
happen to need money
Mr.. Milliken of Maine-Didn't the gem
teman from Missouri help to make the ne
cessItyl
Nr. Batch-And the gentleman from Mis-
responsibility. [Applausel,
Mr.. Henderson-The gentleman does not
criticise the Republican Congress which put
a tax on tobacco nor the Republican PreSi-
dent who signed the law,
Mr. Hatch-I do not. l only criticise the
power which put that law on the statute
books-which / regard as one of the most in
famous upon it-which prevents the grower
Of a great product from selling it to any
body but licensed dealer.
Mr.. Randall thought that it mattered not
what had been done i'll the past; let all join
hands and strike from the statute books
tie iniquitous sections [Applause.l
SHOULDER HIT.
Mr. Hatch said that he would join the
gentleman in that. When the bonds and
debts of the government, to meet which the
internal taxes had been levied, were paid,
and when the tax upon the clothing and
fuel of poor people had been reduced.
Applause
Mr. Randall suggested that the indebted
ness Of the United States was in no danger
OF not being paid.
Mr.. Hatch replied that the war taxes had
| been levied to pay war debts and as long
as q dollar of that Indebtedness remained
unpaid tobacco and whisky were fair sub
| Jects of taxation.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, inquired whether
| the internal revenue taxes.
Mr.. Hatch replied that he was opposed to
| their repeal until taxes on tho necessaries of
| life are first reduced. [Applsuse1
Several Republicans-Now let us hear
| from Virginia.
INCLINED TO BUBBLE OVER.
Mr.. Burnes remarked upon the manner in
which the House bubbled over when tobacco
was mentioned, and expressed fear that
when the other element which was covered
by the internal revenue law was mentioned
aregular Pandora's box would be opened
de then brought back the discussion to the
subject matter of the bill.
Mr. ONelll, Of Missouri, offered an amend
ment directing the Public Printer to enforce
rigjdly the provisions of the eight-hour law
Mr. Burnes raised the point of order that
the amendment changed an existing law.
The char overruled the point of order and
the amendment was adopted
Having completed consideration of the
Dill, the committee rose. Pending final ac-
tlon on the bill the House at o'clock took
n recess until S o'clock, the evening session
70 be for debate only on the Pacific railroad
telegraph biln
The House met at s O'Clock for debate
upon the Pacific railroad telegraph bill, and
t9Journed at IL O'clock. The speakers were
Mes5ls, Anderson, of Mississippi; Guenther,
ot Wisconsin,; Lind, of Minnesota; Ander-
ton t and Hopkins, of Illinois. All
favored the bill, and leld that
ss9loAdlzed roads should be compelled to full
M Hterally the requirements of their char
,ef and maintain telegraphs, and that their
gghIacts turning over to the Western
Gnlon control of the telegraph service
%ohS their lines We're illegal, void and
against public policy. There was nobody
n ri I,a, ,iac