The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-06-21
The Income Tax His Ex-
cuse for Boiling the
Democratic Party.
SPEECH IN THE SENATE TODAY.
Angry TRADE Against the
Southern States--Pathos for
Poor New York.
Bitter Scoring Of the Sugar Trust
Senators-The Unfounded
Revenue Scare.

WASHINGTON, June 81, 1S94.-In the Sen
ate at half-past ten this morning the Tariff
bill was taken up-the pending question be-
ing on the income tax section (54 to CD.
Mr.. Hill (denl., N.Y.) addressed the Sen
ate in opposition to this tax. He said:-
.syVe have now reached the consideration
of one of the most important features OF the
pending measure: important not only be-
cause the tax which it seeks to impose equals
in the aggregate about one-fifteenth of the
whole Federal taxation of the United States
but because of the peculiar nature of the
burden as well as the vast and varied inter-
ests which it injuriously affects.
with all due respect to what has been
said in favor of this tax by several dlstln-
guished Senators who have endeavored TO de-
fend the same it is confidently submitted to
the Senate that the arguments presented IN
opposition to the necessity, justice and ad-
visibility of any such tax have never Deen
successfully answered. The arguments have
been eyaded but not refuted do not intend
to feiterate what [ have heretofore SAID, but
only to simplify few of the points then sug-
gested and to add some new observations
rendered appropriate and necessary by the
changed character Of the bill contemplated
by the committees amendments.
prudence dictated that this Congress
should not attempt to formulate new Demo
cratic doctrines to which We have never
been committed, but rather carry out the
pledges we have already made. 1t IS WISE
party which does those things which it ought
10 do and has promised to do. and leaves UNI
done those things which it ought not to do,
and has not promised to do.
TIE USUAL TTRADE.
ssPerhaps over estimate the Importance
+fN% iyncr Ivy
the binding obligations OF party pledges. L
believe that it IS the solemn duty OF polltl-
cal party to redeem the promises upon
which it obtained power, and that repudla-
tion thereof will sooner or later bring disas-
ter upon it at the hands of a betrayed and
indignant people. l regret the spectacle
which we have recently witnessed OF Demo
cratic Executive nominating and Demo-
cratic Senate confirming officials for the
Territories and for the District of Columbia,
who were non-residents thereof, in violation
of the principal OF home rule ahd the ex-
plicit provisions of the Chicago platform.
1--WE have recently seen Democratic
House of Representatives refuse to repeal
Federal tax upon State bank circulatlon-a
tax imposed under the taxing power of the
Constitution ostensibly for revenue, but IN
fact producing no revenue whatever, ana
tax utterly indefensible in principle-in-
tended to be prohibitory in effect, such re-
peal having been expressly favored in our
National platform, while the same House
went out of its way to inject Populist IN
come tax in a Democratic tariff Dill, and
the Senate is now asked to ratify a portion
of such inconsistent action. For one,
protest against the Reputation of the
Democratic party in order to adopt and
carry out the promises of the Populist party
LITTLE CRAWFIsHING.
Legislation involving different SUBJECTS,
theories and purposes should be kept dlstlnc5
eI,c cta md ~ fa
its own merits, and the approval of any
questionable scheme should not be forced by
means of injecting its provisions into an ap-
preparation or tariff bill, when otherwise
it should not be favored. 1t is unfair to
those who might desire to support the main
features of an appropriation or a tarlH
measure to be obliged to accept a question
able provision foreign to tine principal sub
iet;t matter of the bill itself or else record
themselves in opposition to the whole bill
Upon the point which | am now consld-
p ering. it is entirely immaterial whether an
income tax is right or wrong, just or IN
lust necessary or expedient but 1t is sufh-
Gent that it is not a Democratic tax, and its
support cannot properly be made a test OF
fidelity TO Democratic principles. 1t Is
enough for our present purpose to know
that It ought not to have encumbered, EN-
barrassed or delayed tariff reform bill,
and that the true enemies of tariff reform
are those who, by ostentatiously shouting
for tariff reform, yet obstinately insist with
out reason that an income tax is part and
parcel of that reform and rnuss accompany
it, be the consequences what they may
so ENGLISH, YOU KNOW.
1.-THE unfortunate tendency of the times
seems to be drifting towards the adoption Of
English laws and ideas, no matter how
antagonistic or ill-adapted they may be to
our free institutions.
esThe highest ambition of every American
dude seems TO be to ape English customs and
manners. Our civil service laws were bor-
rowed from Great Britain, and although it
was loudly proclaimed that they were to
renoyate and purify our whole political sys-
tenn, and while they have tended to establish
rermanent office-holding class, it IS ques-
fionable whether they have been productive
of any substantial or genuine reform. The
noIitical conditions of this country are SO
different from those of England that the
successful enforcement of English laws, or
laws founded upon English IDEAS must
necessarily encounter great difficulties here,
whore political parties, rather than royal
families, administer the Government and a
frequent change of parties inevitably oc-
ours.
ssThe public wants some better reason for
the adoption of an income tax than the mere
fact that England maintains one.
REPUDIATES THE PARTY.
Look at the inconsistent position Ill which
4bis n,,onosed legislation will place the Demo-
cratic party. For twenty-five years we have
clamored against war taxes; we have re,
minded the people over and over again that
they suffer from war tariff legislation; we
have invoked the patriotism OF war citizens
to obliterate every unpleasant and unneces-
sary feature that remains of that great con,
fict which can be properly eliminated; test
eaths have been abolished: general amnesty
has been decreed: past differences have been
SO far happily discarded and for
gotten that those who were conspicu 2 IN
their devotion to the lost cause IN that great
conflict are now our honored and trusted
leaders in both Houses of Congress, largely
shaping the legislation and destinies IN re-
united country. Northern capital is sesKlng
investment in Southern States, and Southern
men Of brains and ambition are find1ng
homes in Northern cities. where a cordial
5 welcome always awaits them; the paclfica-
tion of the country has been largely effected
and sectional aninosities and jealousies are
fast diving out; and yet now after 4 quarter OF
q century has passed away and the Democratic
I1arty for the first time since the war has
i3e.n entrusted with the full control of the
government one of our very first acts Is to
restore the most odious, inquisitcrial and
offensive war taxes with which 9 free peo-
1,le are ever afflicted. If this is political
wisdom, it is folly to be wise. Il this IS true
Deraocracy, want none OF it. II this Is the
best leadership which we can present III this