Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-06-22


income tax debate, when Vice President
Stevenson called the Senate to order
to-day. Some preliminary routine bus
iness was transacted. The tariff bill
was then laid before the Senate. AS
soon as the clerk had read the first sec
tlon OF the income provisions, Mr.. Hill,
who assumed the leadership OF the oppo-
sition to those provisions, took the
floor and delivered = carefully prepared
argument against the incorporation Of
an income tax in the tariff bill.
SENATOR HILLS SPEECH.
Senator Hill said: 1--WE have now
reached the consideration OF one OF the
most i'm portant features OF the impend-
ing measure. Important not only be-
cause the tax it seeks to impose seems
, equal to one-ffteenth of the whole fed
erai tSzStion Of the United States, but
! because OF the peculiar nature OF the
burden. as well as the vast and varisd
interests which it injuriously affects.
With all due respect TO what has been
said In favor Of this tax by distinguished
Senators II is confidently submitted 10
the Senate that the arguments present
ed In opposition 10 the necessity, jus
tice and sdvisability OF any such
tax have never been successfully an
swered. The arguments have been
evaded but not refuted. In the first
place, considered from the mere stand
point OF political expediency II was un-
/ wise 10 incorporate an income tax In
reform bill There were honest differ
ences enough already existing among
| party friends relating to the details OF
! legstimate tariff legislation which neceS.
/ sarily had TO be reconciled without go.
! ing out OF our way 10 seek fresh causes
! OF contention in any effort TO incorporate
! this tax, an experimental scheme OF
| taxation at best. upon a measure Tor the
! revision Of the tariff The Democratic
party was substantially united in favor
Of tariff revision but 1t is we'll known.
} that irreconciliabIe
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION EXISTED
concerning the proprlety OF restoring a
war tax IN time OF peace; and, yet, In
| spite OF such recognized differences, and
! in the face OF the protests OF Demo
| cratic constituencies, and against the
| advice OF public men who have never
I faitered In their devotion to true Demo-
| cratic principles, this income tax feature
has been engraited upon this measure,
| and we are persistently asked TO accept
| IL, against our better judgment, as
! condition OF obtaining any tariff legis.
| lation. Itwould have been good politics
10 have avoided this unnecessary issue.
! Prudence dictated that this Con-
! gress should not attempt TO formulate
| rfn IN uh ~
! have not been committed. Rather should
it carry out the pledges that we have
already made. Perhaps | over estimate
the importance OF party platforms and
appreciate too keenly the binding ooli-
| cations OF party pledges. believe II
! is the solemn duty Of political party
| TO redeem the promises upon which IL
| obtained power, and that Reputation
thereof will sooner or later bring disss-
ter upon 1t at the hands OF betrayed
and indignant people. For one pro-
test against the Reputation OF the
promises Of the Democratic party in
order TO adopt and carry out the
PROMISES OF TIE PoPULIsT PARTY"
Senator Hill presented petition from
a mum Der OF prominent business men OF
| New York city, asking that the Income
tax be stricken from the tariff bill. The
petition was signed by Evan Thomas,
VIM. Steinway. Louis Windmuller, j.
Edwards Simmonds, s. ID. Bsbcock. w.
Bayard Cutting, John II. lnman and
Alexa Z. Orr.
az" said Mr.. Hill, "do not wish 70
drive such men out OF the Democratic
party by our unwise legislation In the
hope OF supplying their places with
| adulators, CoXeyites, Socialists and
all the 'rag-tag and bob-taiP elements OF
the community who will be attracted TO
| US by our proposed raid upon the wealth
of the country.
This is essentially war tax. Here
tofore, we, as Democrats, have clamored
against II and others like 10. Look a.
| the spectacle which We now present III
this is true Democracy ] want none OF
IT, n this is the best leadership which
we can present In this great crisis, for
| one must decline TO follow II. / repu-
| date the spurious Democracy OF these
modern apostles and prophets, who are
part Mugwunp, part Populist snd the
least part Democratic. who seek 10 lead
Us astray after false gods, false theories
and false methods.
This is a tax, the imposition OF which
will drive New York, New Jersey and
! COnBecticut
INTO THE REPUBLICAN, COLUMN,
there TO permanently remain; . tax, the
| Individual feature Of which has not
been recommended By any Democratic
President, or Secretary OF she Treasury,
| or Commissioner Of Internal Revenue,
but tax suggested, advocated and now
persisteutly pushed by majority which
is temporarily in the saddle In this
Congress. and Is driving the Democratic
party with reckless and headlong speed
into the abyss Of political ruin"
The same reason said Senator Hill
WHY savings banks should be exempt
from this tai applies 70 the mutual In
surancs companies and he was not sure
! that the amsndmen offered yesterday
went far enough 10 this respect This
| class of insurance companies were eI-
| empt In Great Britain. He had numer-
Gus other objections 70 the income tax
he continued, objections he had pointed
out in his former spsech.its inonIsitorial
/ features and inevitable exposure Of the
| private Affairs OF business <men- None
| Of these objections hs< zen removed