Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-06
SATURDAY. APRIL G. 1889
Bills for Raising Revenue.

We hpye looked over the speech which
hon. WILLIAM L. WILSON. OF west VIZ
ginia. made In the House OF Representatives
on the 81 OF March upon the question OF the
exclusive right OF the House OF Representa-
tyes 10 originate revenue bills, but 1t leaves
us lust as firmly fixed az ever in the opinion
that the senate has a perfect right TO substi-
tuts I new bill for a House bill whenever
the House Of Representatives has by sending
70 the Senate revenue bill opened the way
for the latter body 70 consider revenue bills.
So long s. the House OF Representatives Is
satisfied with the revenue laws OF the coun-
trv, and omits or even peglects TO
consider those laws, the Senate is
totally incapable under the Constitution oil
JsgIslating upon the subject. Even
II every senator were 10 favor OF raising
hundred millions more Of revenue than Is
now raised. and knew just bow 1t could be
done, and the members OF the House OF
Representatives were Ell entirely unfit TO
frame proper bill for eflectiuE the object
named. il would nevertheless be out OF the
mower OF The Senate 10 take the initiative in
framing such a bill. But the moment the
House OF Representatives has adopted any
revenue measure and asked the Senate to
"concur with" 1t that moment the power OF
the House and that OF the Senate become the
same. Mr.. WILSON totally ignores this view
OF the question, and gives long historical
review OF the clause Of the Constitution in
yolyed in the discussion. We quote that
clluse- as follows:
can bills for raising revenue shall originate
in tie House OF Representatives., but the Seu-
ole may propose or concur with amendments
as on other Bills"
The Senate is thus plainly empowered to
coscur in any amendments which may be
made by the House Of Representatives. But
how can the House propose any amendments
10 revenue bill when the Constitution gives
10 that BODY the sole power TO originate all
such bills? To answer this question is TO
settle the point 10 dispute; for the language
refers beyond doubt TO amendments made
70 House bills by the Senate snd sent back TO
the House for concurrence Before the first
passage Of q revenue bill in the House OF
Representatives this body cannot propose
any amendments to the Senate for the latter
10 "concur With" Before the House can
do this, the bill must not only have been
passed by the House hut must have been
amended by the Senate aud sent back to the
House for its concurrence.
What IL the limit OF the power OF the
House Of Representatives to "concur with"
Senate amendments? There IL no limit. The
House may "coDcur with any amendment
that the senate has the power TO propose. SO
also there il no limit 10 the Senate power to
amend when once a revenue bill has been
sent TO the latter body by the House.
What is the answer to all thisS Nothing
more than the fimsy argument that the
word "hmendments as used In the Consti'
tuition does not mean the same thing as the
word "substitutes" Our opponents admit
that the Senate may make any sort OF amend
ments, and as many Of them, as 1t chooses.
but claim that it cannot substitute another
bill in place OF one sent TO 1t by the House.
II this be true, then the Senate may amend
every section. or paragraph, or clause OF
revenue bill; may strike out at will and in
/ sest at will; but cannot in the form OF
"substitute propose the very same changes.
And yet substitute Is nothing more nor less
than an amendment. Where Is the senator
who can diferentiate substitute from an
smendmeht2 Until this can be done, the
House OF Representatives will Itself be
usuper il 1t shall deny TO the Senate the
right to propose any and as many amend
Inents AZ 1t chooses. Certainly IL even one
section OF a House bill be left unaltered by
the Senate, the House cannot RAISE the point
that the Senate has proposed a substitute for
the bill instead OF amending 1t.
The House OF Representatives ought not
60 waste its time IN wranging over ques-
tlon Of no importance whatever. 1t ought
10 be content TO know that the senate cannot
touch revenue bill until the subj jet has been
called to its attention by the House OF Repre-
eentatiyes.