Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-24
THE INCOME TAX
A Spirited Discussion of the Ques-
tion Expected After Recess.
Mr.. HILL TO Be In OPPOSITION
Just What Move He Contemplates
is Not Known.
ONLY A YEAR OF LIFE
ONLY A YEAR OF LIFE

Inc failure OF Congress TO pass the
urgency deficiency bill before the holiday
recess redirects especial attention to the
income tax, and, in the opinion of promi-
nent men in either house, foreshadows a
spirited discussion of that tax upon the re-
assembling in January. The urgency bill
carries an item providing money for col
lecting the income tax. and unless tkis
money is appropriated by Congress, posi-
lively without stipulation, that feature Of
the GormanWilson law will remain mop
erative.
The present status of the case is this:
Secretary Carlisle, under authority con-
ferred by Congress in the new tariff law.
has prepared regulations to guide treasury
officials in assessing and collec ting taxes
on incomes. Then Mr. HILL who tried SO
strenuously to defeat the income tax at the
last session, introduced a resolution calling
on the Secretary of the Treasury to for
ward for the Information of the Senate a
copy of these regulations. This resolution
was adopted without dissent, and when
the Senate reassembles the desired ;nfor-
nation will be laid before 1t.
Mr.. HiIPs Course Uncertain.
Mr.. Hill's further course in the premises
is not known to anybody. He has dis
has discussed the question in a roundabout
way with Senators and other people, but
never, so his intimate friends declare. to
the extent of committing himself to
given line of conduct. The best belief is
that he meditates a move of some kind, IN
modification, at least, of that feature of
the tariff law. The regulations prepared
by Secretary Carlisle have been printed.
and Mr.. Hill, 1t is understood, is not so
much seeking information by his resOlu-
tion as he is preparing a basis upon which
to offer an amendment to these regula-
tons The regulations are, of course.
amendable by Congress- and whatever Mr..
Hill may propose on the subject will be I'm
order 10 be considered and passed upon
when the income tax item of the urgency
bill comes up for final action by the Sen
ate.
Will Urge Some Notifications.
Mr.. Eill has said that. as a general prop
osition, Congress having enacted law,
should provide the money necessary for
its fair enforcement But that in some
way-either by proposition materially
amending the proposed treasury regula-
tions or by a renewed assault on the whole
provision itself-the New York Senator
meditates calling attention afreSh to a law
which he regards with such thorough and
uncompromising disfavor is considered cer-
tain. He will spend the vacation at home.
and there is probably little doubt that
while there he will take counsel of his
party friends and advisors relative to the
best course open to him. There Is already
talk in New York of carrying the whole
matter into court, and this, 1t Is suggested,
may strengthen the Senator in his resolu-
tion, and play an important part in what
he shall say to the Senate on the subject.
Different From the POpRun Bills.
The efforts to take up the popgun bills
was discouraged, on the ground that such
action would necessarily reopen the whole
tariff question and create fresh alarm in
business circles. The opponents of the in
come tax aver that no such objection lies
against their proposition to again 20 into
an examination of that feature of the tariff
law. They hold that that provision has no
legitimate connection with the tariff oues-
tion, and was most unwisely grated on the
measure. They assert, moreover, that, in
the east particularly, 1t was the income tax
that bore so heavily on the democracy in
the last elections, and that the result at
the polls then should be accepted as in
structions either to repeal the feature out
right, or else put 1t into operation in the
most inoffensive manner. They hold as
WELL that the tax cannot possibly have
life longer than year. at farthest, and
that any elaborate and expensive prepara-
ton for it's enforcement would be unwise
and the wasting Of public money.
Would Approve a Repeal
Bill.
The reference to what Is expected Of the
next Congress on the subject is accom-
panied by the statement that such a repeal
bill, even though passed by republican
Congress, would be likely to receive the
signature of Mr.. Cleveland. 1t is pointed
out that the income tax, as incorporated
into the tariff bill. did not meet with his
approval, and 1t is even asserted that 1t
added to the disfavor with which in the
end he came to regard the whole tariff
work of the Congress. His friends in New
York and throughout the east denounce
the tax, and, taking one consideration with
another, and all together, there are many
democratic leaders willing to predict that
the income tax never yields the govern
ment tithe of what was expected of it,
If, indeed, anything at all.