Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-03
Its Adoption Considered an Admin
istration Defeat.
bow THE RESULT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT
A Sharp Fight Expected on the
Proposition.
SENATE AMENDMENTS LIKELY

the action OF the democrats OF the ways
and means committee yesterday afternoon
in substituting an individual income tax
Of 2 per cent on all incomes over $4,000 is
a defeat for the administration. The fight
from the beginning over this question has
been extremely earnest, and as soon as 1t
became evident to the advocates of an indi-
vidual income tax that Mr.. Cleveland would
not favor that proposition the struggle be-
came one between the administration and
the anti-administration forces. 1t was not
so openly proclaimed, but the fight was
drawn up on these lines and it was under
stood that the administration influence was
being exerted against an individual income
tax. When Mr.. Cleveland in his message
announ ed in advance of the final action Of
the committee that q tax on the incomes
derived from corporations had been decided
on II excited considerable resentment on
the part OF members of the committee who
favored individual incomes and the Ques-
ton became more sharply than before one
OF following or antagoniZing the adminis-
tration and the belief is that the position
OF the advocates Of the individual tax was
strengthened by this.
Little Discussion at the Meeting.
Before the meeting Of yesterday afternoon
the matter had been fully and thoroughly
discussed on all sides and there was COM
paratively little discussion at this meeting.
The necessity for very large increase in
the Internal revenue to make up for the
reduction in the customs duty and the
difficulty in finding a suitable source of
revenue. gave the income tax advocates
an advantage which they availed them
selves OF with considerable skill. In order
to prevent the adoption of an income tax IL
was necessary for the administration men
10 ma some other means of furnishing
sumcient revenue. There was difference
OF opinion among them as to what means
should be availed of. and the advocates of
the income tax were thus enabled to break
down one proposition after another until
at their meeting yesterday the question
was reduced practically to one between an
individual income tax, such as was adopted.
ana TAX on sugar. Primarily the demo-
Gratis OF the committee believed in the
sugar tax as source OF revenue, but the
question OF policy-the fear that the res
toration Of duty on sugar would be unpop,,
iar.ied them to the avoidance Of this tax
In the construction Of the customs bill,
Mr.. Cleveland's Position.
Mr Cleveland. 1t is understood favored
In the first instances 9. AJAX Qn- Slsrar and after
the committee adopted the pikn of Keeping
sugar free and reducing the bounty grad-
ually he gave reluctant approval to IL. stiIl
holding that it would have been more
in accordance with the democratic principle
to have derived revenue from suaar. When
1t became evident that an income tax would
have to be levied in order to get sufficient
revenue II sugar remained free, the ad-
ministration men shifted back to the
proposition to avoid all new sources of
revenue and to put duty on sugar. This
being understood as the administration
proposition 1t had the support Of the ad-
mfnistration men in the House generally,
though there were possibly some excep-
tions and the committee was divided on
that line. with possible exception of one
man, who while being extremely friendly
toward the administration was utterly COM
mitted TO the individual income tax before
the issue was drawn.
Mr. Turner Settled 1t.
When the committee got together yes
terday afternoon the position Of Mr. Tur-
ner Of Georgia was still a matter of doubt
and IL was his vote being cast for the in
dividual income which won the victory
for that side. 1t is believed that at first
Turner was rather inclined to sustain the
corporation tax in preference, but while
he was uncertain about the matter a petit
| ton signed by all the other members of
the Georgia delegation, including the
Speaker. was presented to the committee in
favor Of an individual income tax, and on
his visit to G eorgia he found a strong senti-
ment there in favor of that means of rails
ing revenue Before vote was taken on
the income tax Mr.. Wilson submitted a
proposition to put tax of half a cent
pound on sugar. This secured the votes of
come tax and was defeated by ma ajority
all who were opposed to the individual in
Of one.
A Hard Fight i'm the House.
| 1t is expected that Bourke Cochran, who
Is the most determined man in the commit
| tee in opposition to an income tax, will vote
with the republicans in committee against
| it, but the other democrats will proba bly,
abide by the decision of a majority Of their
colleagues 1t Is evident that there will be
very hard fight in the House over this
question. The eastern democrats generally
will oppose the individual income tax and
| the sugar men will probably join them, since
it's defeat will necessitate a tariff on sugar.
The republicans will vote nearly If not
quite. solidly against 1t. The democrats are
counting on few republican votes from the
northwest. but it is very uncertain whether
they will get any. The popuists will prob
ably vote solidly for the income tax, and the
belief is that it will carry in the House,
though possibly by very close vote. 1t
may open the way to combinations for the
purpose of securing other changes in the
bill, and complicate the situation.
1t is believed that in the Senate there will
be very small chance of the income tax car
rying. 1t is probable that there a sugar tax
will take it's place and that there will be
very sharp fight between the two houses on
ILLS QueStiOH
The Debate in the House.
1t is the purpose Of the democrats in the
House to limit the general debate on the tar
if bill to five days. and to have a vote on
the bill on the 18th Of this month, night ses-
sions being held On the Mckinley bill the
general debate was limited to four days, and
it's consideration by the House altogether
occupied about thirteen days. A strong eff
fort is being made by the sugar men. the
iron and coal and tobacco men to have the
bill amended. but they have small hope Of
success in the House. The general belief is
that while the fight there will be sharp
and considerable division in the majority
party will be shown, the ways and means
committee will have following enough to
carry their bill through practically as 1t Is.
Petitions and protests being received
from manufacturers and their employees in
nearly every line of industry, and the fight
is being carried on with considerable vigor
all along the line.
Yesterday Afternoons Action.
At the meeting yesterday afternoon the
democrats of the ways and means commit
tee decided on per cent tax on in
fcomes above $4,000; an additional tax Of 10
cents a gallon on whisky, and tax of 2
cents a pack on playing cards.