The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-19
SESSION OF THE HOUSE.
The Members Refuse to Kill the In
Tax.


The house today entered upon the con-
sideration Of the urgency deficiency ap-
preparation bill. The bill contained two
disputed items, the appropriation for spe-
eial pension examiners and the appropria-
ton for the collection Of the income tax
The former appropriation opened the
doors for a debate on the conduct OF the
pension Office. and especially the practice
OF summariiy suspending the payment of
alleged fraudulent pensions, and the de-
bate on the income tax appropriation was
especially lively, but the motion TO strike
it out was defeated in committee by a vote
Of 81 to 127. 1t is probable that a record
making vote will be demanded In the
house tomorrow.
On motion Of Mr.. Breckenridge the house
went into committee of the whole for the
consideration of the urgent deficiency ap-
preparation bill. The bill carried $2006595
but there We're only two disputed items,
the appropriation of S245. 900 for the coliec-
ton Of the income tax, and S250,0 600 for
the expenses Of special examiners Of the
pension Office. An attempt to secure an
agreement fixing the limit of general de-
bate failed, owing to the objection of Mr.
Bartlett, who was at the head OF the OPP
position TO the income tax, and Mr.. Hen
derson. who led the opposition to the ap-
preparation for the special examiners of
the pension Office. The latter took the
floor and vigorously antagonized the ap-
preparation for the special examiners, cTiti-
cislng severely the conduct Of the pension
office The commissioner of pensions had
E0asted that 50. 600, coo Of pension money
had been saved 10 the government last
year. The mission of examiners was 10
secure evidence against, not in favor of
pensioners and claimants. He favored an
amendment that would cut off this auxil-
iary for more examiners and keep in
he fell q III 1bnr--
Mr.. Sickles. amid the roar Of republican
applause repudiated the charge of who.e-
sale fraud made against pensioners and
declared his unaltera5le opposition 10 the
appropriation un.ess it could be authora-
lively shown that the pension examiners
provided for by it were employed in aiding
instead Of embarrassing deserving Claim
ants.
After some further debate on the sub
feet Of this appropriation by Messrs
Coombs. Danis,s, Morse, Bingham. Tracey
and GrOsvenCr Mr.. Bartlett got the floor
and opened the discussion Of the income
tax appropriation. He was earnestly op-
posed to this vicious tax, he said.
Mcmillan and Bartlett.
Mr. Mcmillan defended the income tax
as a just, constitutional and democratic
measure. In the course Of a hot co.loquy
with Mr.. Bartlett of New York that fol-
lowed Mr.. Mcmillan said:
'Tn order to show the fragrant wrong
that is done by the system Of taxation IN
der which we have been living l viii call
your attention to Mr. William Waldorf
Astor. This gentleman ran for congress
once against the present governor of New
York. Mr.. Flower, and was defeated. His
defeat soUred and emOIttered him against
the government and our institutions. He
moved abroad, and, not content with what
h. me- - nd
our American Institutions, he purchased
one Of the ablest journals of Great Britain
He ives there now and his paper Is doing
its work against our institutions, The in
come Of this man, derived from property
IN New York. is more than $50, 000, 900 a
year. and he does not pay Che does pay a
state tax. county tax and a municipality
tax. 1t is true), but he does not pay the
government Of the United States, and has
not paid SO in ten years, although he has
this colossal fortune, which is protected by
our navy and defended by our navy"
Mr.. BARRETT vii. answer the gentle
man that there is no better taxpayer in
the state Of New York than Mr.. William
Waldorf Aston; no family in the state or
county OF New York that contributes more
largely to taxation purposes, state, county
and municipal, than does the Aston fam
lily.
How about the federal taxi" inquired
Mr.. Mcmillan.
IL IL De your purpose 10 prescribe the
rich" began Mr.. Bartlett. but Mr.. NcMii-
Ian quickly disclaimed such a purpose.
THE secretary of the treasury reports -
interrupted Mr.. Straus, that there viii
be a surplus Of revenue to the extent OF
$40. 10000 for the year ending June 30
1895. Now. if there should be A surplus Of
revenue, isn't the gentleman willing to
have the income tax repealed2'
II would not be- replied Mr. Mcmillan,
until you have complied with the law.
In order that there may be A surplus what
must we do2 We must. as yve have done
for three yelrs past violate the laws Of
the United States and refuse TO pay one
dollar upon the sinking fund. When you
pay up the 500. 900. 900 of debt which has
been incurred in that way, when you COM
ply with the law and pay $4,000, 900 year
upon the sinking fund-then, il we have a
surplus, I shall be ready to discuss the
question Of the repeal Of this tax. but even