The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-05-25
AN INCOME TAX.
Mr.. Cleveland Favors II as Revenue
Measure.

Washington Special.
After giving the subject of govern
ment finances much study and after
frequent consultations with leading
democrats, the President has decid-
ed in favor of an income tax, as a
means Of raising revenue, and in fav-
or Of the repeal of the 10 per cent.
tax on State banks and the repeal of
the Sherman bullion act.
Mr.. Cleveland has devoted all the
time he could spare from the office
seekers during the past couple of
months to reading the great debate
in the English Parliament on Sir
Robert Peel's proposition for an in
come tax. This reading has brought
the President to the conclusion that
Sir Robert Peel's great speech in adj
vocacy of the income tax has never
been answered and never can be.
A DUTY TO THE PEOPLE.
Although the eastern democrats
and most of Mr.. Cleyeland's person
al friends from New York State are
utterly and entirely opposed to the
imposition of an income tax. Mr..
Cleveland, with his usual theory of
his duty to the people, has studied
the matter for himself and has finally
decided that an income tax will be
a measure of his administration.
The Secretary of the Treasury and
the President are in entire accord
on this subject.
Details of the measure have not
been worked out or seriously eonsid-
cred. The tax will be laid on in
comes over $4,000, or it may be
brought down to all incomes over
$4,000, or may be confined to in
comes above $4,000 This is mat
ter that Congress, of course, will
have to settle. All that is determln-
ed now is that the President in his
message to congress will support the
theory of an income tax, and, of
course the details of the measure
will rest with the peoples representa-
tives.
In message the President will
send to congress when it convenes
about the middle of September, the
income tax, the repeal of the 10 per
cent tax on State banks, the repeal
of the Sherman bullion purchase act,
and reformation of the entire tariff
laws will be urged.
AN UNDERSTANDING WITH CRISP.
In this connection it is understood
that the administration and Mr..
Crisp of Georgia, the Speaker of the
last House, have reached satisfac-
tory understanding. Mr.. Crisp is
to be elected Speaker without oppo-
sition in the democratic caucus, and
he is to reconstruct the principal
committees of the house. 1t is no
secret that Mr.. Springer will not be
chairman of the next committee on
Ways and Means, and that Mr.. Will
son of West Virginia will be chair
man of that committee. 1t is also
pretty generally understood that
Mr.. Savers of Texas viii succeed
Holman as chairman of the Appro-
priation Committee.
HE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO THINK.
The definite and decided policy
thus indicated has not been conclud
ed upon by the President without
careful and mature consideration of
the varied difficulties Of the present
situation. He has had relief from
the pressure of office seekers lately
and the opportunity has not been
neglected, Since the order was is
sued barring office seekers from the
White House he has had more op
to consider great questions
Of policy and to confer with his of
fetal advisers and his party
friends. 1t has been no secret here
in Washington among prominent
democrats that Mr. Cleveland and
Secretary Carlisle have for some
time past been deyoting a good deal
of attention and much discussion
and inquiry to the financial situa-
ton.
Democratic leaders are divided as
10 the proper theory of finance and |
taxation. Some have favored an in
,ome tax, some are opposed to It,
some democrats are in favor of tax
ng sugar, coffee and tea and increas-
ng the tax on whiskey All those
who will be held responsible by the
people for the manner Of raising rev.
niue for the support of the govern
nent have been deyoting great deal
# attention and time to the method
# doing so.
DIVERSITY OF SENTIMENT.
The sentiment Of eastern demo
rats, as general rule, and the
outhern democrats, more particular
V, Of course, those from the sugar
aising states, are in favor OF a re-
IMPOSITION Of the tax on sugar. The
Testern democrats, almost without
Wtion, are opposed to a sugar
AK, and are also opposed to a tax on
Readers will notice that
II - MI