Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-06-22
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, June %.
GENATE

| i'si''''et NioO q biii W iSS1tAitttS
main assessments in the District OF CO.
lumbia-with an amendment; also bill
appropriating $40, 900 for Investigations
and tests of American timber by the
forestry division of the Agricultural
Department; also bill making the first
Monday in September of every year
(labor day. legal holiday.
The tariff bill was then taken up, the
question being on the income tax sec
tons. An argument in favor of the
principle of an income tax was made by
Mr.. Kyle. The general depression of
business throughout the country, was
not due, Mr.. Kyle said, to fear from
democratic control of the government,
but to the past so years OF 'Shylock in
power" A few men had become i'm
mensely rich; while the millions had
grown poor; and the middle classes of
society were rapidly disappearing. And
he feared that with the present order
of things the end would not come until
the American farmers were on q level
with the Irish tenantry and until
American mechanics and tradesmen
were made the servants of the rich. In
1850, he said, the per capita Of wealth
in the United States was about the
same as in 1S90 but while the wealth
was evenly distributed in 1860, very
large proportion of it in 1890 was in the
hands of a few persons. That re-dis-
tribution had occurred, he claimed
through the pernicious laws of
Congress during that period. He
advocated the plan of a graduated
income tax and said that it had been
adopted by many nations and had
proved satisfactory to the people Of
those countries.
Mr.. Vest, on behalf of the finance
committee, presented substitute for the
amendments heretofore offered in re-
lation to mutual insurance and benefit
associations. Also an amendment re-
ducing the exemption from 81, 900 to
IS. 200 year. Also one for the reduc
ton in the assessment of banks, rail
roads and other corporations Of the
''actual operating expenses, interest on
bonded debt and losses"
Mr.. Hale inquired sarcastically
whether this latter amendment was Il
surrender to the railroad corporations
''It covers all corporations, Mr. Vest
answered.
Including railroad corporations 2"
Mr.. Hale persisted.
"Of course" Mr.. Vest answered.
"There has been, l understand, a
large assemblage of railroad people in
Washington in relation to this matter,
and I felt much inclined to know what
would come of it," said Mr.. Hale. II
therefore wanted to know whether the
amendment covered railroad corpora
tions."
81 do not know anything of an as
semblage Of railroad people," Mr.. Vest
said, with show of resentment at Mr..
Hale's remark. "The amendment has
not been offered at the instigation of
any corporations. L am influenced by
no corporation. have no connection
with any corporation. But l am en-
deavoring to make the bill on a just
p -inciple, and the amendment is the re-
sui of consultation among members Of
the committee"
The amendments were ordered to be
printed and then he made an argument
in defense Of the principle of an income
| tax.
AS to the objection of the income tax
being inquisitorial Mr.. Teller compared
it to the law for the collection of
duties on imports, under which an
American gentleman or lady might be
met on the dock by "whipper snap
PERI of custom house officer, and asked
"have you any diamonds on your per-
son? have you any struggled goods?";;
and might be taken into room and
stripped and searched. And yet no.
body complained of a tariff law en- that
account.
"Does the Senator from Colorado say
that the financial condition OF the coun-
try at this time makes it impossible to
have reduction of import duties with
out resorting to some other system Of
revenue?n Mr.. Hill asked.
81 believe" Mr.. Teller answered,
"that if there had been revision of
the tariff bill solely for the purpose of
raising revenue it could have been done
so that it would increase the revenue
over that of 1898"
"Then are we to understand that the
pending bill will not, of itself alone,
bring sufficient revenue for the support
of the government" Mr.. Hill asked.
II DO not think it WILL" was the an
swer.
81 commend that consideration
said Mr.. Hill, with contemptuous
wave of his arm toward democratic
Senators, ito the gentlemen who are
engaged in supporting the bill on this
IL e I,n nl,n m, hon. y