The morning call., 1894-03-29
AT THE CARLISLE.
Democrats Discuss Silver
and Taxation.
Colonel j. j. Tobin and Charles
Wesley Reed on the Political
Issues of the Day.

The Carlisle Club last night held the
second of series of meetings which it re-
Gently determined to have for the discus
sion of the political questions of the day.
The announcement had been made that
Hon. John H, Wise, Colonel j. j. Tobin
and Charles Wesley Reed would speak,
and the clubrooms at 1907 Powell street
were fairly well filed. Mr.. Wise, how
ever, did not make his appearance, as he
had Been called away by other business.
Colonel Tobln handled the income-taX
question in a general way, refraining, as
he said, from going profoundly into the
subject. He told his hearers that the pres
ent fiscal system of the United States Gov
ernment was unjust to the laboring classes.
1t weighed heavily upon the poor man
taxing the clothes that he wore, the bread
that he ate and all the necessaTies of life.
while the rich man escaped with only the
comparatively light tax upon what be also
consumed. This tax to the man who
had an income of 100000 was merely
trifle, while to the poor man it was a
heavy burden. He told his hearers that
the indirect manner in which the tax was
collected diverted their attention from it,
and that they were apt not to realize that
they we're being taxed while all the time
they were being oppressed, and their con-
ditlon constantly being made worse. The
Democratic party proposed 10 eQualiZe
taxation by imposing an income tax. In
this way $500, 10000 could be raised annu-
ally TO defray the expenses of the govern
ment.
The speaker declared that the centem-
plated measure should be amended so as
to reach incomes above $500 instead OF
above $4,000. The older countries of the
world imposed income taxes, and tound
them practical way of dividing the bur
den of taxation between the rich ana the
poor. One of the chief functions 0f gov
| ernment was to protect property. ana YET
properly was inadeQuately taxed LOT the
support of the Government.
Colonel Tobin's remarks eilclted nearly
applause from his Democratic audience.
Charles Wesley Reed faced the crowd
with an array of figures on the silver
question. He said il was dry and diff
cult subject. but was peculiarly pertinent
! as the President would be called upon to-
| day TO either veto the segnlorage Dill or
| to allow it to become law.
| The silver dollar was then discussed
| and the fluetuatOp in its value at various
times shown. The speaker argued that it
would be impossible for the United States
| To maintain silver as a money when so
! MANY countries had demonetlzed it. A
man might be ever SO strong, but he could
! NOT withstand the ombined strength of
| large number of other men, and so the
| United States, however strong, could not
uphold the value of silver when other
| countries were pressing it down.
| He attributed the panic of last wear TO
| the actiun OF The Sherman law and the
| course of the Government in paying out
gold for silver certificates issued against
| silver bullion in tue treasury vaults. and
said the administration had been COM
PEELED to do this in the face If deprecated
value OF silver in order to make good its
promise. This had taken the gold out OF the
country. and the injury bad fallen prlnci-
Dally on the farmer, and the whole thing
had been brought about by the silver
men. who had insisted that their mines
must be protected.
President n. S. Farley. at the conclu-
sion Of Mr.. Reeds remarks. said that he
| had hoped to have other speakers. but as
none others were present the debates
would have to be continued to another
meeting.