The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-07
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES ARE
MARCHING on.

Democrats over the whole country re-
ioice that it is now evident the Senate
will whip the Wilson bill into something
OF a Democratic shape. 1t seems clear
that duty will now be imposed upon
sugar. coal. iron ore. lumber, and WOOL
70 that each one OF these important COM
modities shall bear its due proportion Of
The burdens OF government. The Wilson
idea OF fayoring some businesses and pun
ishng others has raised Democratic gorge
from the day il was announced. Demo
Gratis are not rewarders Of favOrites nor
publishers Of enemies Democracy demands
even and equal treatment all around, to
all men alike The Wilson doctrine OF
dispensing governmental favors to some
and turning others out to scramble for
themselves is not founded on Democratic
principles.
Why should not sugar be taxed? A tax
on it that is too trifiing to notice brings
the government an immense revenue, and
as all men use sugar. ii is paid in some
degree by all the people. The estimate
is made that the American people con-
sumo. on an average. about sixty pounds
Of sugar to the head in the course of
year. \ tax Of cent pound would,
therefore. mean sixty cents to be paid by
each individual even if each one used
the same amount. in the course Of year.
and spread out through weekly contribu-
tons. The tax on sugar was not taken
of at the demand of the people. The
people knew nothing of the tax and made
no complaint about it.
We hope the Senate will. before it sends
the bill back to the House. strip it of
every element OF the hateful Republican
doctrine Of protection. opposed. as it radi-
cally is, TO all the ideas, theories. and
traditions of Democracy. and make L a
Democratic measure that imposes the
smallest duties that will raise the reve-
nues needed and spreads those out over
all importations ratably and equally, 80
as to affect all alike.
1t is threatened that If the Senate makes
an essential modification in the Wilson
bill the House will raise objection TO It's
action as renching upon the constitu-
tional prerogative Of the House to origl-
nate all bills for raising revenue. The
constitutional provision expressly declares
that while bills for raising revenue shall
originate in the House. the Senate may
propose or concur in amendments TO
them.
1t would require a very nice dscrimina-
tion 60 determine between an Amendment
that the Senate might LAW fully mako I'M
der this authority. and ono that wholly
destroyed the bin that came from the
House and made the given measure one
originating in the Senate. But this is a
provision in our Constitution that never
had much merit. The right Of the House
Of Commons to originate all bills for rails
ing revenue was an important one in Eng
land. and was tenacously chung 10 10y the
Commons. The trainers of our Constitu-
ton put II into that instrument more be-
cause it was one of the cherished popular
institutions Of England than because they
perceived any positive good 10 grow out
OF 1t under our form Of government. But
as each body Of our national legislature
comes from the people. one directly and
the other Indirectly there Is not the
reason for the provision here which ex-
listed In legislature Of which one body
was not elected. but inherited its right
as part OF the legislature.
The country viii be very impatient If
there is much fooling by the House with
the senate's work In the direction Of uni
formty and equality. on any such ground
as this.