Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-24
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Semi-0&cial Review of It by Mr.
McMillin.
The Repeal of Election Laws and
LeEislatfOn Against Trusts
Taxing Currency.

Representative McMillin CTenn.) has in
serted In the Congressional Record a speech
intended as summary OF what the pres
ent Congress- has accomplished. Mr. Nc
Millin's associates have deferred to him in
preparing this statement and 1t is a semi
official showing. from a political standpoint,
of what the majority has done. After re-
viewing what laws 1t has heretofore framed,
Mr.. McMillin says:
Repealed the Election Laws.
Il come to a few of the things 1t has done
during this administration. 1t has repealed
all force laws. and left elections free. 1t
found a system Of oppressive laws on the
statute books authorizing the use Of troops
at the polls. and has repealed them. In the
dark days of the republic the republican
party also enacted law authorizing the
United States supervisors of elections and
deputy marshals to be appointed by the fed-
eral courts, wholly independent of the states
where the elections were to be held. They
were expected to dominate. and did domi-
rate, the elections.
Thousands of men were arrested without
cause and imprisoned without reason in the
states of New York, Ohio and Indiana in a
single election, and imprisoned to prevent
them from voting. They were turned out
after 1t was too late TO vote, without the
fCrmality of Indictment, presentment ar
raignment or trial. The democratic party
determined this should not continue. To re-
peal ii. it forced an extra session of Con-
gres in 1879, and passed the repeating bill.
Mr.. Hayes vetoed 1t. But 1t has kept up the
fight nearly a sixth of a century, and at
last has triumphed during this administra-
ton. 1t has repealed the law authorizing
the President to levy and remit taxes.
cannot conceive of a surrender Of great
prerogative moie dangerous and unpardon-
able than this We denounced 1t at the
time in this hall. We went forth to the
people and denounced it. We pledged them
in our platform that II intrusted with power
we would wrest this ancient right from the
President. to whom 1t had been Improperly
surrendered. and give 1t back to the peoples
representatives. We have now kept the
promise.
The Tax ON Greenbacks.
This Congress has also authorized the
states to tax greenbacks and other United
States currency. For years the exemption
Of these has been a crying i'll. The law au-
thorizing the Issue Of greenbacks and the
treasury warrants under the Sherman act
exempted them from state, county and mu-
nicipal taxation. Hundreds OF millions
thereby escaped all taxation. Individuals
escaped 1t by having their funds in bank
nominaIIy invested in greenbacks or United
States treasury warrants on the day for as
sessment. Banks accomplished the same
object In the same way. No doubt can ex-
fst that In some banks the United States
treasury warrants were placed to the credit
of more than one individual on the day for
assessment to escape municipal and state
taxes.
TT Is also charged that certain banks
would aid each other In different states by
changing their treasury warrant deposits
from one to the other. to suit the differing
days for assessment existing In different
states. All this Is stopped new. Under the
bill introduced and passed by the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr Cooper, all United States
be reached by the tax-gatherer, and the
country owes him q debt of gratitude for
his patriotic exe-tion."
Mr.. McMillin next reviews the reductions
Representative Sayers of the appropriation
committee. He then continues:
The LAW Against Trusts.
1T has passed the most stringent law
against trusts ever enacted in this country.
At the same time. the Attorney General has
instituted proceedings in the courts to try
to dissolve Illegal trusts.
THE amendm ent Offered by the Senator
from Alabama (Mr Morgan) carries into
vised for controlling and curbing the power
of trusts. A law against them was passed
last Congress. but 1t dealt with the question
In way so mild and gingerly that II has
not been found sufficient to crush these
combinations that have been fostered under
protection. The democratic party was
pledged to the enactment of more stringent
Legislation against trusts. 1t has kept this
piedRS ana OHefS this as It's fuff1nment. IL
has iEaugu-ated an income tax, thereby
taking taxes off want and putting them on
wealth. 1t is true the Senate amendments
have changed somewhat this feature of the
bill and have released some that ought to
have been taxed; STILL it remains d great
benefit to the American people. 1t found the
treasury bankrupt and by the tariff bill is
rot only repIenishing 1t, but 1t is, at the
same time greatly reducing taxes
Mr.. McMillin then reviews the repeal of
the Sherman sily er purchase law, and gives
an elaborate summary of the tariff.