Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-01


Messrs Eisenbrey. Higgins and Hutson,
all three Of whom were in favor OF the
bill. Its opponents were like Paddy &
owl, they didn't say much, but they
thought devil Of lot. They evidently
adopted Mr. Illusions idea OF Whats
the use of talking when you have the
| votes2"
Mr. Eisenbrey was the first one TO take
the floor. He said
.'Mr. Speaker, this bill brings before
us a question which Is OF vital import
ance to me and that class OF people whom
have the honor to represent because It
is one which relates to our pecuniary
interests II Is one which affects the
pockets, so to speak. The time was, or
| has been. Mr. Speaker, when the farmers,
the agriculturists Of this country were
not only the wealth producers, but were
also the wealth owners OF this country.
It was very natural and very reasonable
then that they should be the tax payers
of the country also Three fourths or
more Of the wealth Of tbs nation was In
the hands of farmers We we're all
prosperous and happy then. scarcely a
single family but what felt and shared this
prosperity. II did not affect us then to
support the Government which belonged
to u.s. for we, as / have already stated,
were not only the wellth producers, but
the wealth owners IS well.
But, Mr.. Speaker, times and circum-
stances have changed this condition of
things very materially. We hud that
instead Of being the wealth owners and
class, now We do believe that this
u. hn.. 49, -
natural consequences and conditions We
believe that 1t is owing in a great meas
ure to the policy which our government
has pursued and to laws which have
been enacted admit that IL Is greatly
our own fault, because II we had been
united in the things which affected us,
we could, by the force of mem befs have
protected ourselves; but we have allowed
ourselves to become blinded by party
ties, and led to ignore our own interests
and instead OF owning three-fourths or
nine tenths OF the wealth we find that
we are the possessors Of less than one
9th Of the wealth, and are still paying
nine enths OF the taxes. II
is this condition of things
that makes It so oppressive ~ this time
to be compelled to pay almost the entire
expense Of supporting or maintaiuing.tho
government. Now, there Is no fair
minded and reasonable person who will
say that this Is right or just, and yet we
fnd that whenever there 10 an EFFORT to
correct this shameful and glazing wrong
that there arises such a howl thet you
will drive capital out Of the state; you
will cause foreclosures and all such non
sense, that we find it almost impossible
to get our Legislatures to even seriously
consider the question. much less TO en-
deavor TO correct II, but let me warn you
that the people are terribly in earnest
about this matter, and If we would be
wise we had better pay attention to
their entreaties The farmers and
laborers are not organizing for mere
ohild's play They mean business, They
have allowed their interests to be misrep
resented until they have been brought TO
the very verge of bankruptcy and have
been compelled In self defence to band
together, and II we are wise we
may learn lesson from re
cent experience (the late eleotion)g
Now know that 1t is v.ry difficult
matter TO frame or prepare a bill that
will do equal and exact justice to all.
But do not believe that IL is a very
hard task to get bill or law rs just MS
the one that Is now In operation. IL
seems to me that any change would neces.
sarily tend to the betterment Of our con
dition. do not wish 20 be understood
as asking or even intimating that the en-
tire burden be taken from us we are
willing and even anxious TO bear our
share or part Of the burden of support
ing the noblest, the greatest, the most
glorious government that the sun ever
shone upon But we do ask and demand
that we be relieved from paying that
part which properly and justly belongs
20 another. We think and believe that
this Is nothing more than just aud
right.
II believe that this bill, though it
may not be perfect. is the only one that
has been presented that win do any
thing approaching justice. The increas
ing OF fictitious aggregate may give
some relief. but the same proportion Of
| II justice will remain. AS an illustration,
take farm worth SIC, 600 On that
farm the is mortgage Of 5000. You
tax the farm OF its real value and'the
mortgage at its face value. You then
have an aggregate valuation Of $4,000
on real value Of $4,000. We can very
readily zee that by increasing the aggre-
gate you not only lower the rate but
you bring In another TO help bear the
burden; but Il is simyly giving 4 half
/ loaf TO that class who are entitled TO a
/ full loaf, for instead OF paying In the
amount which the debtor owns be is
paying on just double the amount Of
| property that be owns. Where under
this arrangement does justice como inf
Under this arrangement 1t Is true that
II might give some relief; but II will
scarcely give satisfaction, because II
only partially relieves the class that is
very justly asking for relief This bill
has been before the public for a long
time Newspapers and others have en-
deavored to create public sentiment in
opposition to L.; but strange to say, but
a single femonstrance has been pre-
scented sgainst II
1T seems to me hat this Of itself Il
sufficient TO ensure the passage Of thil
bill, that has for its object mission which
none can or dare say is not just ans
right, and until some one can come for
ward and show that the demands are IN,
Just and unreasonable, 1t seems to M
that It is not only entitled to our careful
consideration, but is deserving OF gu
endorsement sHd hearty approval
, hope that the members OF this Hous
will give their votes Ia support Of
, measure which asks or demands onl
that which is Just and right"
He was followed by Messrs Higgin
and Hutson, who defended the bill on th
same line When the roll was called Oh
vote was as follows:
Yeas-Eisenbrey Hickman, Higgin