Wichita eagle., 1888-04-03
HENRY CLAY CLUB.
Interesting Discussion over the Internal Rev
enue Laws.


The Henry Clay club met in the court
room last evening with President Lewis in
| the chair and good attendance. On mo-
ton Of Senator Kelly the president was in
strucGed to appoint a committee of three
| to assist in the entertainment of the state
convention converting in this city on the
9th of next month. As committee Col.
HaIlowelI, Senator Kelly aud G. L. Doug
lass were appointed. The president was
requested to present the matter OF enter
tanning the convention TO the board of
trade, hoping that that body would join in
the matter of making their stay in Wich-
tia pleasant one.
Messrs. Jewett and Clement who were
delegates to'the meeting OF the Republican
clubs at Topeka reported. Each gave
brief synopsis of the work done COM
prising points which made the most
favorable impression on them.
The debate on the question of removing
the internal revenue tax was called, and
Attorney T. d. Wilson in introduction
referred to the great prominence the ques-
ton of taxation has maintained among all
peoples and governments Il believe that
the coming political contest viii have
more to do with questions concerning tax
alton than any campaign for some time.
and as a result much of the personal
sings at candidates will be omitted
Taxes may be divided into direct and in
direct The former may be more simple,
but with most nations the latter system is
preferred. Many OF the trainers of our
constitution were opposed to the direct
SYSTEM but it has always been considered
q war measure, a way for bringing money
into the treasury in cases Of emergency.
For it but two reasons have
ever been introduced-from urgent
necessity and morality As to the latter
Senator Brown, Of Georgia, few weeks
ago, in behalf of the w. G. T. T.. intro
duced petition asking that the internal
taxes be removed, and the w C. I. Z.
element is the only source from which the
ethical argument has ever come. With
the disappearance of the ethical constitu-
ency disappears this argument"
"H more money was needed
in the national treasury we
would not be discussing this proposition
tonight. Since it is not needed: let the
state collect it if it needs money and if not
it need not be collected by either state or
national authority. As it is it invokes a
hardship on the country which is entirely
uncalled for pnd at present Kansas pro-
ducts bear the tax. You see it would be a
great benefit to the Kansas farmer to have
this tax removed
The speaker referred to the scheme of
Democrats to hold the internal tax and do
away with the indirect. The maintaining
of the internal meant a reducing of the
indirect which would hurt in another line
while a reduction of internal taxes would
hurt sno one He paid his respects to
Cleveland's school boy epistle, said to be
an annual message.
Attorney 4. r. Musseller was booked
for an argument on the negative and took
the position that the law for imposing
direct and indirect taxes are the
same. At present the direct taxes are
being collected from vices and not from
luxury. This state at present taxes indi-
rectly part Of the articles taxed by the
government. The amount going into the
treasury from taxes could be we'll placed
in improvements. and the amout to each
being very small has little effect on the
financial condition of the country The
man who does not drink and does not use
tobacco pays not a cent of it.
Senator Kelly was called on but stated
that owing to the lateness Of the hour he
could not respond.
Col. Hallowell was also invited for an
argument but preferred 4 to save his
strength.
Mr.. Ingalls, letter which brought about
the discussion was referred to and read
which asked how the prohibition people
would regard a reduction of the internal
revenues. Some asked for vote of the
club on the question while others thought
q vote would not give Mr.. ingalls, an an
swer to his question. The objection
seemed to be maintained, at least no vote
was taken.
AS the next best thing to do, Colonel
Hollowell, in assumed earnestness, sug-
gested that Senator Kelly call on the la
dies of the w. c. T. U. for an answer to
the question.
The suggestion seemed to be popular
one and the club adjourned with Mr. Kelly
at liberty to do whatever he pleased over
the question.