The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-04-22
FRIDAY. APRIL II, ISo2.
SENATOR HERRING AND THE TAX
BILL.

lists among certain farmers OF this
county as to my position on the ques-
ton Of Equalization OF Taxation, | am
persuaded that few words upon this
subject will not be amiss at this time.
/ make the statement noe.
FIRsT.-Because | am not candi
date for any Office, and second. be
cause it cannot be charged that am
doing it 10 gain personal favor my
only object being to correct, if posi-
bic. false impression created and
fostered by political enemies.
have no apology to make for hav
ing voted against what was known in
the last session of the Legislature. as
the "Taggart Tax Bill" l voted against
that Bill because ! believed it was un-
constitutional and, in part, az least,
burdensome and inquisitorial. was
not alone in tina, belief, but was joined
by other democrats who not only vot-
ed against the Bill but spoke against
1t.
Senator George Ross, the leader on
the democratic side, made the most
vigorous speech against the Bill that
was made during the session. Among
other things, he said, CSee Legislative
Record, Vol l, 1891, pg 263ol
"Now, SIR. representing an agricul-
al district: answerable for my vote up
on this subject to my constituents,
who are among the farmer class in this
community TO I very great extent,
say this Bill does them great injustice.
and that no Senator speaking in the
interests of farmers will dare to vote
for this amendment of the Senator
from Westmoreland."
The amendment spoken of was to
substitute section of the Taggart Bill
for section Of the Boyer Bill.
1t is a singular coincidence that the
three democratic Senators Ross, Hall
and myself, recently selected oy the
State Convention as Delegates at-Large
to the National Convention at Chica-
90 were three OF those who voted
agains; this substitution.
And besides this, it was an open
secret at Harrisburg. last winter that
certain republican Senators were using
their best efforts to place the Cover
nor in false light upon this very ques
tion. The scheme was this.
By joining with certain democrats
who were honest in their belief that
the democratic Senator's should favor
the ''Taggart BIZ for political reasons
enough votes could be secured TO send
the Bill to the Governor in such an
imperfect shape that he would be CON-
PEELED to veto it. The cry could then
be raised that democratic Governor
was against Equalization of Taxation
and all the blame be placed upon his
shoulders.
Had not these plans been forseen by
certain democratic Senators, myself
among the number, the scheme would,
no doubt, have gone through, and l
= feel justified in saying that had posi-
tive, direct and reliable information
that if the Senate should pass the
"Taggert Bill" as it was proposed, that
the Governor would be compelled to
veto IT on the ground of Its unconstitu-
tionality, if for no other reason.
The friends Of the bill refused to
alter it. Along with other democratic
Senators | then felt it my duty to re-
fuse TO vote for the Bill in the shape it
then was. In other words, the posi-,
ton we took is 10 be accounted for on
two grounds.
FIRST. Because the bill was in it
self faulty.
SECOND. Because we were unwill-
ing that Governor Pattison should be
placed in a false light upon this vital
question. Like Senator Ross and
the Governor himself | believe
that land bears an undue burden oi
taxes, that corporations do not bear
their share, that revision Of the tax
laws is necessary. l am willing to
concede that the ''Taggert Bill had
many commendable features.
But I know that it contained much
that should have been stricken out,
and the friends of the Bill in their vain
efforts at forcing it upon the people in
its crude and imperfect shape and re-
fusing to allow reasonable and, as we
deemed necessary, amendments there
to, succeeded in becoming the worst
enemies to the Bill, and its failure to
become law can be attributed direct
to them.
1t is simply piece of political dema
gogism to assert that all those who
voted against the "Taggert Bill were
enemies to the Equlization OF Taxa
tion, and before any man should at
tempt to criticize such vote, let hin
first post himself as to what the BIl
contained at the time it was Offered tc