The Washington times., 1894-04-18
FOR AND AGAINST THE BILL
Senators McLaurin and Smith De-
liyered Their Speeches Yesterday.
MISSISSIPPIAN'S FIRST EFFORT
New Jersey Senator Devotes Himself En-
tirely to the Income Tax which He Re-
pudiates and Declares Is a Sectional and
Unjust Measure of Collecting Revenue.

Senator McLaurin, Of Mississippi, delivered
his maiden speech In the Senate yesterday in
defense of the tariff bill.
He held that prohibitive tariff retarded
the wealth of the country instead OF increas-
ing it, for II property be the guage Of wealth
the country would possess one-third more
property than it now has. He related an in
stance in his own experience where a lucra-
tive factory which would have afforded en-
ployment to a number Of American workmen
could not be erected because the machinery
could not be obtained in this country at satis-
factory rates, and the duty on it if purchased
abroad would be prohibitive. He considered
the question Of balance of trade which is now
said to be against this country because We
import more than We export. But Mr..
McLaurin, holding that property is the meas
ure Of wealth, contended that If in a trans
action we import s24O,OOO worth Of goods
while we export 5000. 900 worth, then we are
100000 richer than We were and the balance
of trade is in our favor. He defended the in
come tax, holding that it would bring about
an equalization Of the burdens of taxation.
pleading with the rich to cease their opposi-
ton against the measure and to accept the
demand of the people. The people rule, and
as sure as the peoble rule this tax would be
levied and the rich should meet the poor in
spirit of honesty and fair play.
This is no time" said he, in conclusion,
''this Senate is no place and this debate is no
occasion for the venting of spleen. This is
on in fo ha 90
craftsmanship. Let no man abandon his duty
because there hangs on the horizon the murky
clouds OF political reyerses. The people will
appear at the polls and their voices will he
heard: they will compose the bone and sinew
and blood and tendon of the country, and
who shine in the armament of citizenship like
diamond dust set in the background of
heaven"
Senator Smith, Of New Jersey, followed in
an earnest speech. which was devoted en-
tirely to an attack on the income tax
Senator Smith denied the necessity at this
time for levying a war tax, war being the only
contingency which warranted an income tax.
at is true that there is now a deficiency. but
it arose, not from the excess Of ordinary ex-
penditure over ordinary receipts, but from
specific acts whose requirements have been
met and cannot recur. In fact, the total of
the sums paid during the past three years for
the refund OF direct taxes. for sugar bounties.
for the extinction OF titles TO Indian lands. for
the census. for first payments upon pensions.
and for new war vessels. far exceeds the
amount of the present deficiency.
The Senator quoted statistics TO show the
marked increase in revenue per capita from
taxes on whisky, beer. and tobacco in the last
few years. He estimated the revenues for
the year ending June 80. 1895. from customs
duties and internal taxes at S4O9. .O00. .O0O
The total expenditures OF the government for
the same period he puts at 1888, 900 900. Or,
making allowance for depression in business
and scarcity OF spending money he thought
the receipts would be S374 .0O0. 600 ana ex-
penditures 1854 900 900.
He pronounced a tax which discriminates
between classes OF people, as does the income
tax, as unjust. saying:
''As between individuals it exempts the man
who earns SIS a week and taxes the man who
earns $50 week. Then, if by harder work
he can increase his income TO 800 week,
he must pey S24 for the privilege. and ever
thereafter one-fftieth part of all ne receives
in excess of $4,000.
Why the line was drawn at $4,000 was I
confess. mystery TO me until one of its ad-
vocates in the House of Representatives said
that II 1t was necessary to ix it at less than
$500 in order that the members of Congress
should not be exempt. From the standpoint
of those who honestly contend that this |
method may afford equitable taxation. the /
L
is to bear the burden of government in pro- |
portion to his earnings. there is surely no rea-
son why he who receives 50, 500 a year should |
escape while his neighbor earning "A 500 must |
pay.
The result of the last election, in which the |
Populist platform alone contained a demand |
for an income tax he considered conclusive |
evidence OF the unpopularity of the measure.
He called it undemocratic and quoted from |
Democratic leaders of the past and |
present against the system.
The Democratic party is not free-trade |
party" said the Senator. land the mere fact |
that an Insignificant number of free-trade
theorists have engrafted themselves upon it
cannot make it so. Taxes collected at the
custom houses have been the chief sources of
Federal revenues. and such they must con-
tinue to be. Nor can the utterance of n Con-
gressional convention in Missouri. nor the as
sertion of its candidate that an income tax is
just and right controvert principle declared
by Thomas jefferson. and affirmed by every
national convention since the organization of
the party. If it is the desire of the advocates
Of this bill to drive every Eastern state into
the Republican party. to encourage the Popu-
lists OF the South and West to follow up their
entering wedge" and to practically elimi-
nate the party of Jefferson from participation
in public affairs. they can find no surer way
10 accomplish their purpose than that which
they have chosen"
He appealed to the South whether this un-
endurable tax was fair return to northern
Democrats for helping to rid themselves of
oppression. He touched upon the charge of
treason by Minnesota Democrats when he
said:
PARTY ties grow weak when they make dis
regard of ones own convictions and dis
loyalty to ones own people the test of fealty.
And do not hesitate to add that even the
nisrule of the Republican party is to be pre-
'erred to the communism of the Populists and
socialists. II that be treason, then the self
appointed censors of Minnesota do right to
ay the charge at my door"
In conclusion Senator Smith said:
'The Democratic party is under a distinct
obligation to confer the boon of tariff reform
lpon the American people. We cannot hope
% overcome the present dssensions and full
Ill this obligation unless we beat down all at
empts to create discord within the rank and
strive earnestly for party harmony. With
unity of action we shall succeed. Without it
We must fail. And we cannot perform our
luty as Democrats by maligning each other
,r by making wanton attacks upon the Dem
.ratic administration.
The Purity of Men.