St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-27
WE WANT NO RIDERS

ihs tuO iidilciidulS rigniS Oh tile people.
WE WANT NO RIDERS.
The shrewd legislator who wishes to
defeat measure that apparently has
the approval of majority of his col
leagues is belligerent 10y craft. He
antagonizes the bill by indIrection
rather than by noisy opposition, and
frequently accomplshes results in spite
OF the most discouraging odds-odds
that would to the ordinary mortal seem
inSurmountable.
One of the commonest methods by
which measure popular with the ma
Jority is defeated is by giving it
rider" In parliamentary practice
rider Is proposition that lacks merit
In itself, and as an Independent bill
could not pass. Sometimes the purpose
is to enact obnoxious legislation; some
times riders are placed on bills which
themselves are popular and proper in
order to insure their defeat. Some of
the most obnoxious laws ever passed by
congress were passed as riders to appru-
priation bills. The scandalouS salary
grab, by which the members of con-
gress sought TO increase their own pay
and make the bill retroactive, was
rider Many of the infamies of carpet
bag government at the South were
forced upon the people by this means.
There is constant disposition mani
tested to saddle improper riders upon
proper bills. or vice versa, to the great
detrlment of the;public interest.
Many members of congress are today
contemplating the defeat of the pending
tariff bill by incorporating with it the
proposition to impose an income tax.
Ihey know that many members are I'M
alterably opposed TO this form OF taxa
ton. and would oppose bitterly any
measure which was designed to fasten
1t upon our system of government. The
income tax rider would cost the tariff
bill from Thirty to forty votes when the
time of final passage came. and hence
the anxiety of the enemies of tart If re-
form to show that 1t is proper as a rider
to the pending bill. On the other hand,
the bill would gain no supporters be-
cause Of its rider. The advocates of the
tariff robbery system are also the enc
mics OF the income tax, and for that
reason would be glad to have a chance
to kill tariff reform and the income tax
at one blow.
The friends Of tariff reform cannot be
too careful as to the character of the
amendments they permit in the pend
ing measure. Most of them are calcu-
lated to defeat its true purpose; some OF
them are designed to kill the bill en-
tlrely. The income tax is proper sub
Ject for legislation, but its fate should
rest upon its own merits. AS rider to
the tariff bill it would jeopardize both.
and for that reason the enemies OF both
are anxious to have them associated
Those who favor the tax make mis-
take when they imagine that they will
facilitate its enactment by such means.
The contrary is the case.
All genuine friends of the tariff bill
should unite in the effort to keep the
income tax out of the controversy. 1t
mas no proper place in that measure, If
attached TO any other bill, its legitimate
place is in the internal revenue sched-
ule. But it is unnecessary and mex
pedient that it should be forced into
ouCA d COHiGCLiOH. Ii SilOulu Travel on
its own merits, aud be dependent for its
passage or defeat upon neither of the
others. Neither should the Other meas
ureS be imperiled by connection with
the income tax. We want no riders to
the tariff reform bill by means of which
any of its supporters may be diverted
from their allegiance. The bill should
be confined strictly to its purpose, and
thouteXtraneouS Influences should be
approved or disapproved. And SO with
the income tax. 1t has its merits; there
are good reasons why its passage should
be urged. But it has more enemies than
friends. lt is an inquisitorial tax. and
offers a premium upon the practice of
perjury. 1t would be the falrest tax in
existence if it could be honestly assessed
and collected. But as long as meu are
constituted as they are at present, it can
be neither assessed upon nor collected
from those upon whom its burdens
should fall.