The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-01

The Secretary Of the Treasury has put
forth an unofficial. but authorized state
ment concerning the notifications and
concessions" which the Administration
proposes to affect In the already bedevilled
WILSON bill. In order, II possible. to get
that measure through the Senate.
"I regard most Of the changes now under
consideration" he Gays. "as quite unim-
portant. while the remainder are not OF such
character as substantially TO affect the
merits OF the bill a. o measure for the
reformation Of the worst features Of exist
ing legislation on this subject"
The reformation OF the worst features Of
MoKinleyismi Has the great war for prin-
clple como down to thatr
III the country lie TO walt" he goes on.
until measure is devised which is en-
tirely acceptable In ell Its parts to overy
Senator and Representative whose vote IL
necessary to pass IT, our promises will
never DO kept"
Our promises! The Democratic Secre-
tary Of the Treasury has lost either his
memory or his sense OF truth and honor
when no asserts that the Democracy's
promises TO the people were for protec-
Zionist revision OF q protectionlst tariff.
plus Popuhst income tax. When were
these "promises" made? Who made
themp Who heard themp Who was In
duced by them to vote for CLEVELAND for
President?
"I do not think" he continues. we
ought TO permit differences OF opinion upon
more matters OF detail. or in regard to
small increases or reductions of rates In
n nnx AZ nd 60 ha
demption OF our pledges to the people"
y Our pledges. again The redemption Of
our pledges to the peopler Why. the Tariff
bill as 1t now stands. without any further
protectlonist modification or concession.
would not even half redeem the pledge
which the party would have made to
the people had the Democratic National
Convention OF 1892 adopted the original
mildly protsctionist plank as proposed by
tho Platform Committee. That compromise
with expectancy was torn out OF the plat
form by Q vote OF nearly two to one. and the
pledge which stands IL O square declara-
ton against protection In any form. as
fraud and robbery. and for tariff for reve-
nue. as the only Democratic and the only
constitutional tariff. Pledges Promises
Mr.. CLKvELASD's vague rhetoric may
mouth the words. but We should not think
JoHS GRIFFIN CARLISLE. with his knowledge
OF the precise meaning OF English express
sions and his old-iashloned sense OF politi.
cal honor. would dare TO let them pass his
lips or his pen.
1t Is when the Secretary reaches the sub
jsct OF the income tax that the dishonesty
Of the trick which IL Is proposed TO play on
the people appears most clearly. No men
ton OF pledge or promise here. for Mr..
CARLIsLE knows very well that the
only Democratic pledges or promises on
record concerning the income tax are
AEainst that hateful form OF tax. and not
for ID. He says that " some OF the methods
OF ascertalning and collecting the tax are
alleged to be arbitrary and inquisitorial; !"
and adds that. In his opinion. many OF
these Objectionable provisions ought to be.
aad can be. safely omitted from the bill.
and other changes can be made. which the
advocates OF an income tax can consistent
ly accept. and which will remove the princi-
pal objections Of It's opponents. and secure
their support for the bill"
That Is to say. the principal objection to
the socialist and sectlonalist raid on the
well-to-do can be removed. in Mr.. CAR
LIsLE's opinion. by limiting the application
OF the tax TO stll fewer persons than it Was
originally intended to strike. For the
OdlOuS tax can be collected only by means
OF arbitrary and inquisitorial methods; and
to TsnOunce such methods Is to release
from plumber. 70 a great extent. those who
are not too logy or too serupulously con-
sdsntlOus 10 dodge the ineome-tax assessor.
That Is TO render the tax still more unjust.
still more inequitable. still more fiagrantly
. tax on the few for the benefit Of the many.
than even under the conditions as they
stand now In the bill.
Finally. the Secretary Of the Treasury has
the assurance TO assert. aud we believe
that he makes the assertion In a clerical
capacity. for tue dlslREsnuousness OF it is
net Ike him. that the ulain objection to an
income tax. namely. that It Is uniustlhable
IN time Of peace. and UNNECESSARY when no
tgrsAt emergency exists. "ean be fairly met
by limiting the operation 10 q reasonable