St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-12-13
HOUSE Is FOR INCOME TAX.
Motion to Strike Out Appropria-
tiOn for It's Collection Defeated.

MOtfon CO Str1k0 Out ADprODria-
tion for It's Collection Defeated.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The house
today entered upon the consideration Of
the urgent deficiency appropriation
bill. The bill contained two disputed
items-the appropriation tor special
pension examiners and the apprnpria-
tion for the collection of the income
tax. The former appropriation opened
the doors for debate on the conduct Of
the pension office, and especially the
practice or SuHmarily suSpending the
payment of alleged fraudulent pensions.
and the debate on the income tax ap-
preparation was especially lively, but
the motion to strike it out was defeated
in committee by vote of "a to I27. 1t
is probable that recOrd-making vote
Will be demanded in the house tomOr-
row.
Mr.. Bartlett Dem. N. " opened the
discussion of the income tax apprOpra-
ton, He was earnestly opposed 10 this
vicious tax. The bill he had introduced
for its repeal he knew would never see
the light of day, and the opponents of
that tax must make their fight against
the appropriation necessary tn make it
operative. He realized that the major
lty of his party were against MIN and
that the Republicans would not support
him as party. Yet he did not consider
it a party question. The Democrats
had, III his opinion. made fatal mistake
In passing 1t, and that it was mistake
had been satisfactorily proven within
a few weeks at the ballot box. This
burden would not fall OH the rich. Ul-
timately the poor must pay it. The eX-
perlencc of history was against an in
q m. Ha
gave it as his opinion that, when tested
III the supreme court Of the United
States. it would be decided to be a capi.
tatlOn. tax, and, therefore, not being
pOrtlOned among the states, according
TO population, unconstitutional. Mr.
BarthOld (Rep., Mo- wanted to know
whether, if the income tax were an
nuiled. Mr.. Bartlett would be willing 10
revise the tariff so as 10 make up the
deficiency in the revenues.
Mr.. Bartlett replied that be had al
ways been willing to vote for a tariff
for revenue. and for revenue only.
Mr.. McMulin Dem, Tenn defended
the income TAX as just, constitutional
and democratic measure.
In the course of hot colloquy with
Mr.. Bartlett On. Y.) that followed Mr..
McMIllln said: 'In order to show
the fagrant wrong that is done by the
system of taxation under which we
have been living | will call your atten-
tion TO William Waldorf Astor. This
gentleman ran for congress once against
the present governor of New York, Mr..
Flower, and was defeated. His defeat
soured and embittered him against the
government aud our Institutions. He
moved abroad, and not content with
what he could say against America
A mn
tions he purchased one of the
ablest journals III Great Britain.
lie lives there now, and his,
paper in doing its work against our in
stitutions. The income of this man de-
rived from property in New York is
more than $4,000. 600 year, and he does
not pay (he does pay s state tax. county
tax and a municipality tax, it is true)
but he does not pay the government OF
The United States, and has not paid SO
i'll ten years, although he has this coll
iossal fortune which is protected by our
army ana defended by our navy"
Mr.. BARTLETT will answer the gen.
tleman that there is no better taxpayer
in the state of New York than William
Waldorf Astor; no family In the state or
county OF New York that contributes
more largely to taxation purposes, state,
county and municipal than does the
Astor family.
"how about the federal tax9?'' in
quIred Mr.. McMilin.
ut 1t be your purpose to prescribe the
rich," began Mr.. Bartlett, but Mr.. Nc
Millin quickly disclaimed such a pur-
pose.
1.-The secretary of the treasury re.
ports" interrupted Mr.. Straus Wem.,
\. " that there will be a surplus of
revenue to the extent OF $4,000 for the
year ending June so, 1895. Now, if
there should be surplus of revenue, is
not the gentleman willing TO have the
income tax repealed?'
IL would snot be-" replied McMillin,
until you have complied with the law.
In order that there may be
Surplus what must we do?
We must. as we have done for
three years past, violate the laws of the
United States and refuse to pay one
dollar upon the sinking fund. When
you pay up the $100.000.000 of debt
which has been incurred in that way;
$50. 900. 900 year upon the sinking fund
then II we have surplus | shall be
ready to discuss the question of the
repeal of this tax, but even then | would
take taxation off clothing and other
necessaries of life rather than Off
wealth.
Mr.. Henderson Qo.) and Mr.. Cochran
IN. ~ both stated that they considered
a debate on the merits of the income
tax Improbable. Both hoped that the
elections had furnished an intellectual
awakening on the Democratic side
which would result In the repeal of
''this odiOus tax" Mr.. Cochran said he
and his New York colleagues had be-
lieVed that a 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 would depress instead of |
stimulate revenue? If so, then reve- |
nue. reform was what Its enemies termed |
it-war on industry and menace 10 the |
country'S prosperity. Republican ap- |
plause. But | am. Still believer in |
tariff reform" continued Mr.. Cock |
ran II still believe in the prin- |
clip les of taxation l believe pros
per!ty would have followed the |
enactment of the Wilson bill; that our |
imports and exports would have been |
quadrupled, and our revenues increased |
instead of diminished. If one man in /
the United States is SO strong that he |
can drive the people into a mistaken |
system he is strongerth he should be. |
Ii Mr.. Astor has been able to drive the /
flower OF Tennessee Democracy (Mr. /
into this heresy. then MIR.
Astor is more powerful in the Demo
cratic party than he ever proved him
self to be In the ranks of the oppoSi- |
lion." After short speech by Mr..