The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-10
WASHINGTON, April 8

WASHINGTON, April y.
5PHE speech Of Senator Hill Dem,
n. " delivered in the senate
this afternoon on the tariff bill
u was chiefly devoted to II bitter
attack on the income-taS feature OF
the measure; bis opening remarks,
however, took wider range.
"The political revolution" he began,
(which commenced in 1899 and cul-
minated in 80, was an emphatic ex,
preston Of tie popular will in behalf
of certain governmental policies Meas
ures aud not men were largely the
issues involved in that movement
Rightly interpreted it indicated the
public sentiment in opposition to in
trenchment upon the reserved rights
of the states through olious fed.
eral election laws, some proposed
aud others then existing; it voiced
the general demand for a discontinu-
auce Of the uawise aud indefensible
financial System of silver bullion pur-
chases by the government, instead OF
the coinage Contemplated by the con-
sti ution, system equally bindrance
to the return to 6inetallism as well rs
menace to a sound aud stable cur
reucy; it m9ai,es:ed the desire for a
greater administration Of public affairs.
greater economy in governmental ex-
penditures, and the exacti)n of higher
official standards in the execution OF
public trusts; it demanded more safe,
dignifild and consistent foreign policy;
aud it condemned thut abuse or perver-
sion Of the taxing power OF tie govern.
meui which is known as the policy OF
protection for projections sake alone,
and declared in fayor Of d tariff for
revenue"
lie then took up tho foreign policy of
the administration, saying:
1t is not denied that some mistakes ave
occurred. Cur foreign policy, especially
that relating to Hawaii, it must be ad-
mitted, has hot met the expectations OF the
people. A sense of humiliation prevailed
when the project for the restoration of n
deposed monarchy was unfOlded by the
administration, aud qualification ensued
when its abandonment or failure was re-
luctantly announced, influenced largely by
au aroused public sentiment That untor-
tunate contemplated policy was a blHnder.
ana buuder is sometimes worse than q
crime.
TARIFF REVISION CRIMINAL.
He spoke of the repeal Of the federal
election law as fulnimsnt of the par
ty's pledges and 8 trial for the gust
doctrine Of state rights, and indor5ed
the repeal Of the Sherman law. Com
ing then to the main qusstlon-tariff
reform-he said that revision would be
approached with circumspection and
wltl q realizing sense OF the changed
condition Of tue couatry since 1887 and
1890 He said:
AN extreme reduction of tariff duties at
time WHtu the treasury was swollen
with sUrpiu Of hundred million dollars,
when the country was reasonably prosper
Oug, when all our industries were in
motion, and all our workingmen were
employed, assumed a different aspect and
presented a different question when pro.
posed now with a large and growing
treasury deficit instead Of a surplus star
ing Us in the face, with our industries
paralyzed, our manufactures closed, our
workingmen idle, and following upon the
heels of one OF the most disastrous financial
panics in our history. What was safe and
prudent and wise then it would be crimi-
uhl lOA4J W dbbtillNb ubWs Inc pltStuJ Is
no time for partlsanship and Democrats
and Republicans alike should strive to
solve existing problems in a spirit of
broad patriotism. In the face of the pros
tration of private industries, and in the
presence Of such a paralysis Of general
business as the treasury deficit attests and
prolongs, this bill as framed by its authors
and as passed by the house sought ia
double the deficit by discarding customs
revenue and to fill the void with an in.
come tax.
The rest of his speech was given NJ
to the income-tax question, and his
opening words defined his position.
'Against such scheme, " he said. 'un-
necessary, ill-timed, and mischievous---
suddenly sprung upon the country in
the hour of its Distress, undemocratit
in its nature and sociahstic in its ten
denotes, | enter the protest Of the
people of the state of New York. They
utterly dissent from any proposal t.
get revenue for the general govern.
ment by taxing incomes Their dis
sent is practically unanimous and alto
gether implacable.
ON ADMINISTRATION LINES.
He intimated that the tariff bill wal
constructed on lines laid down by tn,
administration that it was an anoma
lous state Of affairs when the president
should be able to give congress infor
nation as to what had occurred in &
committee Of the house, and said thai
lin these latter days the distinction,
between the functions and prerogatiye,
of the executive department on the one
hand and the legislative department or
the other do not seem to be always OBJ
served. The truth is that the first in
formation which congress had of the
alleged details of the proposed bill VIZ,
In the message itself"
An income tax is Objectionable becaus,
from its very nature it must be inuuisito-
rial in its imposition and collection. tn,
senior senator from Indiana mfr. Voor
hees) calls this allegation NOISY and re-
sounding charge" Let me tell him that Il
is not half 80 noisy as the constant vitupe
rations which we hear on every hand from
blatant demagogues who are abroad in tin,
land loudly inveighing against the wealtl
Of the country and impudently demandini
It's contiscation through every means wbicl
their devilish ingenuity can invent.
The public should not be misled into tn,
belief that only those whose incomes ex
ceed $4,000 are affected by this bill. Tha
is q mistaken idea. In the first place, al
those having incomes less than 81, 600 bu