The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-26

Sohhte.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-By a vote of
80 to II the Democrats of the House of
Representatives, in caucus this evening,
voted to make the internal revenue bill,
including the income tax, an amend
mont to the customs revenue bill now
before the House.
The caucus was held immediately
after the adjournment of the House this
| afternoon and was in session two hours.
Il was attended by an unusually large
number of Representatives, the roll call
showing 164 present, and the proceed
ings throughout were attended with
more interest and patience than those
, OF any caucus Of recent years. Mr..
Fithian, OF Illinois, at the beginning
| presented the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
caucus OF the Democratic members of
the Fifty-lhird Congress that House
bill entitled "A bill to impose tax on
corporate and individual incomes, co in
crease the tax on distilled spirits and
for other PURPOSES be offered as an
amendment to the present tariff bill
now under discussion by the Fifty third
Congress-"
This resolution was supported by
Hatch, OF Missouri; Bryan, of Nebraska;
Hall, of Missouri, and by Firhian him
self, the latter's speech being greeted
with hearty applause. Reilly, of Penn.
sylvania; Black. of Illinois; Tracey, of
New York, and Wilson, chairman of the
m m nd
the resolution. Wilson was permitted
by unanimous consent to speak twenty
minutes, although a. first tho motion to
grant him this extension of time 1.-THE
caucus was operating under tho five
minute rule) was OBJECTED TO by Living
ston, of Georgia, who subsequently,
withdrew his objection.
Wilson appealed to Fithian to with
draw his resolution, and failing in this
proposed as a substitute for it resolu-
ton to the effect that tho informal
revenue bill be taken up next Tuesday,
after the Wilson bill should have been
voted upon by the House, and two DAYS
given to it's consideration.
McMillin, me mi Der of the committee
on ways and means and author of the
internal revenue bill, advocated
Fithian's resolution. He made the
point that it would be necessary for
the Governments, as quickly as posi-
bic, to realize receipts from the various
sources OF revenue that were open to it,
AS soon as tho internal revenue bill be.
came law portion at least of the in
creased tax on whiskey would be avail.
able and it was both expedient and wise
to make no delay in the enactment of
the internal features into law.
The proposition Of Fithian was com
batted by Cultivate, of Ohio, o member
of the committee on rules, and by Bourke
Cochran, of New York, OF the ways and
cans com mittee, whose opposition to
the income tax scheme is we'll known.
The interest in the question developed
considerable heat at times. especially
while Wilson, McMilin and Cochran
were talking. They were piled with ques-
tions from many members OF the caucus
and at times 1t was almost impossible to
distinguish what was being said.
AT the close CT Cockran's remarks the
vote was taken upon Wilson's substitute
through tellers, resulting: Yeas, II;
nays, 50. On motion of Bryan, of Ne
braska, Fithian's resolution was so
amended as to provide for three DAYS of
debate upon the internal revenue part
of the bill, and it was then adopted by a
viva vooe vote. The eff, ct of this action
Is TO postpone from next Monday until
Thursday, February q vote upon the
pending measure. The com mittee on
r-les was requested to bring in the
necessary order Tomorrow
AS the members separated, Repre-
sentative Cochran shouted to the chair
man: II wish you would announce that
the vote of the caucus does not bind
anyone;" to which Representative Hol-
man, who was in the chair, responded:
ut binds every ono" But the action
OF the caucus, according to high Demo
cratic authority, does not bind any
enc, and what proportion of the II
who voted against combining the two
bills will vote against the passage of
the new measure cannot be stated.
Friends OF the income tax do not fear
that it will meet defeat, asserting that
from one to three fourths of those who
voted with Wilson tonight will be
found voting with him upon the final
passage of the bill in It's favor.
Before the caucus adjourned letter
was read from Senator German, suggest
ing that action be taken looking toward
the appointment OF Congressional