The advocate., 1894-01-17
AT WASHINGTON.
FURTHER REVIEW OF LEGISLATION
BY MRS. DIGss.
How the Ways and Means COMMITTEES
Failed to Catch POpuliSt Mem
bers-ImpeaChmsnt Talk,
Special Correspondence.


Of representatives" Such were the
startling words addressed to about forty
members Of the house by the officers
sent into various parts of the country to
bring back to their post Of duty the
patriots who were hiding away from the
Wilson bill. Beautiful spectacle, isn't
it. The country ia the most deplorRble
condition, even Chsuncy DepeW and
Governor Mckinley own up now, and
the men who have been elected to con-
gress to devise ways and means TO pro.
mote the general welfare 60 skulking off
in order to prevent quorum and delay
Legislation. How do you gentlemen tax
payers and sovereign voters like such
performances? A genuine republic you
have, haven't you? Only it takes you
some little time to get what you want.
THE INCOME TAX.
An, there's the rub. No sooner was
this measure carried in the ways and
means committee than there was a COM
motion second only to that over the re-
peal bill Of the special session. With
out any question the vast majority of
the people, Rs we'll as the majority Of the
members Of the house, believe in this
measure Of justice. But the very hour
that the committee voted bring it be-
fore the house, the most energetic and
persistent warfare against it has begun.
The Washington papers sprang to the
front with interviews Of prominent men
and with editorials dsnouncing it as sun
American, unjust, inquisitorial and i'm
possible" The great dsilies OF the east
ern cities with one accord piped the
same chorus. Oh, it is easy to see how
"public sentiment" is manufactured in
this country. The swift telegraph sends
the orders Of the oSpitslistic class to the
editorial fraternity just the hour that
any Of their interests are menaced by q
proposed act Of national legislation, and
with one united pen the hired writer's do
the bidding Of their masters and label
their sditorials, "The Will Of the Pso-
ple." The most comical Of all the
trashy objections yet wsged against the
income tax was enunciated by the sap
head who leads New York's social 400.
Ward McAllister says that il congress
passes this law, the best people Of this
country will be forced to 60 abroad
Gentlemen will not submit to having
their private affairs invaded. How sad
beyond expression it would be were
America to DO deprived Of the Ward No
Allisters. If the income tax is inquisi-
torisl, then all taxation is the same. By
what right does an appraiser inquire rs
to the value of mans farm? By what
right does this official snoop about the
barn to sec IL there is buggy, or about
the house to learn il there is piano or
organp Why not take q club to the next
minion Of the law who seeks
to find out if you own q watchY A man
who carries q watch possesses at least
one of the essentials Of gentleman, and
gentlemen should never submit to hsv-
ing their privacy invaded. A few years
ago, when the people were waking to the
fsct that the great beef combine was
running the farmers who had hitherto
made profit from cattle raising, q sen.
ste committee was appointed to investi-
rate the Armour beef combine. Senator