The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-13

pension office. The Commissioner OF Pensions
had boasted that SIS, 100000 of pension mon
had been saved to the Government last year.
be mission of examiners was to secure evil
dence against, not in favor of the pensioners
and claimants. He favored an amendment that
would cut of this demand for more examiners,
and keep in the field only the regulation num-
ber 100.
Sickels 3D. OF New York, amid a roar OF Re.
publican applause, repudlated he charge of
wholesale frauds made against pensioners, and
declared his unallered opposition TO the appro.
priation unless it could be authorltaively
shown that the pension examiners, provided for
by it, were employed in aiding instead of EN-.
barrassing deserving claimants. After some
further debate on the subject OF this appropria-
tion by Coombs Daniels, Bingham, Tracey and
Grosvenor, Bartlett CD got the floor and
opened the discussion OF the income tax appro-
priation. lie was earnestly opposed to this
vicious tax. The bill he had Introduced for its
rep al. he knew would never see the light of
day, and The opponents of the tax must make
their fight against the appropriation necessary
TO make it operative. He realized that the
MAORI Y of his party were against him and that
the Republicans would not support him as
party. Yet he did not consider 1t a party qups-
ton. The Democrats had in his opinion made
fatal mistake in passing it, and that it was q
mistake had been proved within a few weeks
by the ballot-bOx. This burden would not fall
on the rich. Ultimately the poor must pay it.
MeMilin D.) of Tennessee defended The In.
come tax as a just. constitutional and Demo
cratic measure. In the course of hot col
Ioauy with Bartlett that followed Mcmillan
said: "In order to show the fragrant wrong
and misery of that system of taxation under
which we have been living will call your at.
lention to Waldorf Aston This gentl, man ran
SE the
nor OF New York. Mr.. Flower. and was de-
feated His defeat soured and embittered him
against the Government and our institutions.
He moved abroad, and not content with what
he could say against America himself and our
American institutions, he purchased one of the
abIest Journals in Great Britain. He lives there
now and his paper is doing its work against
our institutions. The Income OF this man de-
rived from property in New York is more than
So, 600, 900 year, and he does not pay (but he
does pay State tax, county tax, municipal tax
II ia true) the Government OF the United States
one cent and has not paid SO in ten years. al
though he has this colossal fortune, which is
protected by our army and defended by our
navy"
Il will answer The gentleman" said Bartlett,
"tnat there is no better taxpayer in he Stale
of New York than William Waldorf Aston; no
family IN the State or county of New York that
State. county and municipal, tn an does the
Astor family"
"aow about the Federal tax?" inquired Nc
Milin.
"If il be your purpose to prescribe the rich !"
began Bartlett, but McMilltn quickly dis.
claimed such purpose
"The Secretary OF the Treasury reporl s."
interrupted Strauss 3D. of New York, that
there will be a surplus Of revenue 70 he extent
of $40 600, 900 for the year ending June 80,
1895, Now IL there should be a surplus of
revenue is not the gentleman willing to have
the income tax repealed?
81 would not be-" replied McMillin, until
you have complied with the law. In order that
there NAV be a surplus what must we do? We
must, as we have done for three years past
violate the law of the United States and refuse
TO nav one dollar upon the sinking fund. When
you pay up the 500. oo0,0 900 of debt which has
been incurred in that way; when you comply
with the law and pay S50,oo0,o00 year on
the sinking fund.- then if we have a surplus I
/ shall be ready to discuss the question of the
repeal of this TAX; but even then j would take
taxation off clio hing and other necessaries of
life rather than off OF wealth."
Henders son of Iowa and Cochran of New
York both stated that they considered debate
on the merits OF tn. income tax Improbable.
Both hoped that the elections had furnished an
intellec ual awakening on the Democratic side,
which would r. suit in the repeal OF 'ithis obi
Gus tax" Cochran said he and bis New York
colleagues had believed that tariff reduction
meant a stimulus TO trade that would result in
increased revenues to the Government Were
| they now to be told that revenue reductions