St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-25
WHAT CONGRESS DID.
Made a Record in Reform
Legislation Of Which the
Democratic
PARTY MAY WELL BE PROUD.
The Force Bill Repealed, and
Free Elections Are Now
Assured.
PARTY MAY WELL BE PROUD
TREASURY BEING FILLED
By the Passage Of the New
Tariff LaW--TaX on Green
backs and Incomes.

NsASHlNdfON, aug. S4.-hepT6SenLa-
tive McMiliin (Dem., Tenn.) has in
serted in the Congressional Record a
speech Intended as summary of what
the present congress has accomplished.
Mr.. McMillin's associates have deferred
to him in preparing this statement, and
1t is semi-otficial showing of what the
majority has done. After reviewing
MIR. McMillin says:
II come to few things it has done
during this administration. 1t has
repealed all force laws and left elections
free. 1t found system of oppressive
laws on the statute books authorizing
the use of troops at the polls, ana has
repealed them. In the dark days of the
republic the Republican party also en-
acted law authorizing the United
States supervisors of election and dep
uty marshals to be appointed by the
federal courts, wholly independent of
the states where the elections were to
be held. They were expected to domi-
nate. and did dominate the elections.
Thousands of men were arrested
without cause within the states of New
York, Ohio and Indiana in a sing
election, and imprisoned to prevent
them from voting. They were turned
out after it was too late to vote, without
the Formally of indictment, present.
ment, arraignment or trial. The DEM
ocratic party determined this should
not continue. To repeal it, it forced an
extra session of congress in 1879. and
passed the repeating bill. Mr.. Hayes
vetoed it. But it has kept up the fight
nearly sixth of century, and
At Last Has TrIumphed
during this administration. 1t has re-
pealed the law authorizing the presi.
dent to levy and remit taxes. It
cannot conceive of the surrender Of a
great perogative more dangerous and
objectionable than this. We denounced
it at the time in this hall. We went
forth to the people and denounced it.
We pledged them in our platform that
if entrusted with power we would take
this ancient right from the president
and give it back to the peoples repre-
sentatives. We have now kept the
promise.
"This congress has also authorized
the states to tax greenbacks and other
United States currency. For years
the exemption of these has been a
crying i'll. The law authorizing
the issue of greenbacks and treas
ury warrants under the Sherman act
exempted them from state, county and
municipal taxation. Hundreds of mill
lions thereby escaped taxation. In
dividuais escaped it by having their
funds ID bank nominally invested in
greenbacks or treasury warrants on the
day for assessment. Banks accom-
pliShed the same object in the same
way. No doubt exists that In some banks
the United States warrants were placed
to the credit of individuals on the same
day for assessment TO escape municipal
and state taxes. 1t is also charged that
certain banks would aid each other in
different states by changing their
treasury warrants deposits from one to
the other to suit the different days for
assessment existing i'll different states.
All this is stopped now. Under the
bill introduced and passed by
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.
Cooper all United States cur
reney heretofore escaping taxation will
be reached by the tax gatherer. United
States treasury warrants, known as
greenbacks, and the bills issued under
the Sherman bill amount to about half
a billion dollars, and the country owes
him debt of gratitude for his patriotic
exertion."
Mr.. McMillin next reviews the reduc-
tions OF appropriations heretofore set
forth by Representative Sayres. of the
appropriation committee. He then
continues:
lit has passed the most stringent
Law Against Trusts
ever enacted in this country. At the
same time the attorney general has in
Stituted proceedings In the courts to
dissolve illegal trusts.
1.-The amendment offered by the sena-
tor from Alabama CHR. Morgan) carries
into law the most effective means yet
devised for controlling and curbing the
power Of trusts. A law against them
was passed last congress, but it dealt
with the question in way SO mild and
gingerlv that it has not been found
sufficient TO crush these combinations
that have been fostered under pro-
lection. The Democratic party was
pledged to the enactment of more StrIn-
gent legislation against trusts. 1t has
kept this pledge and offers this as it's
fulillment. 1t has inaugurated an in
come tax, thereby taking off taxes from
want and putting them on wealth. 1t is
| true the senate amendments have
changed somewhat this feature of the
bill, and have released some that ought
| TO have been taxed. still it remains a
great benefit TO the American people.
sit found the treasury bankrupt, but
| by the tariff bill Is not only replenish-
! ing 1t. but at the same time reducing
taxes
Mr.. McMillin then reviews the repeal
| of the Sherman silver law and gives an
elaborate summary of the tariff.