The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-31
DIFFERING OPINIONS.
Discussing the Income Tax in the
National House.
BoURKE ooOKRANs ARGUMENT.
The Eloquent New Yorker Donounces the
Proposed Tax as Glass LegIslstion-Mr.
Bryan, of Nebraska, as Eioquently
Pleads for Its Justice. 5......#

Messrs. Covert and Bartlett (New York;,
Dunn IN. ~ and johnson tO.), all Demo
Gratis, presented their opposition along
with the Republicans to the proposition
TO impose a special tax on wealth. But 1t
remained for Bourke Cochran, the great
Tammany orator to eclipse with his elo-
qnence against the measure all speeches
he has ever made in congress. Mr.. Bryan,
of Nebraska, closed the debate for the
day in defense OF the income tax, and he,
too, made an eloquent speech.
Mr.. Pence (Colo.) also made an able ar
gument in support of the tax. Referring
TO General Sickles' characterization of the
income tax as war tax Mr.. Pence said:
81 glory In the great services he rendered
to the cause of the Union, and am will
ing that he should be paid not only one
salary as retired major general, but a
salary as congressman and another asa
pensioner. We do not shirk the burdens
Of the pension list, which are war bur-
dens, and we are not afraid of this tax as
q war tax"
Tom johnson Wants n Direct Tax.
MIR. johnson (O.) made rather sensa-
tonsl, theoretical arraignment Of the in
come tax proposition which gave him an
opportunity to advocate the imposition of
the Henry George land tax. II am for
any kind of n direct tax in preference to
any kind of tariff tax" said he. ANY
tax on what men have is better than a
tax on what men need, and so / support
this income tax bill But shall do so rs
q choice of evils. discrimination Is
made in this bill-a discrimination rs to
the amount of income No one here would
venture to support bill which proposed
20 tax all incomes, or even all incomes
above so small an amount az to bring the
great body Of his constituents under its
provisions. The strength of this bill lies
Ia its exemption of incomes up to $4,000.
The great feature of the exemption is
that 1t is purposely made high enough to
exempt the great mass of voters. r..
II protest as a Democrat and single
tax man, against any discrimination
against the rich, as have protested and
do protest and will protest against any
discrimination against the poor. Yon Re
publican protcctionists aud you Demo
cratic protectionists are really but social
is,s and at that socialists OF the worst
sort, for those who avow them
selves socialists wish to have the
state Interfere with production and ex-
change for the purpose of improving the
condition of the poor; but you want the
state to interfere for the purpose of add
ius To the wealth OF the rich.
VI will vote for your income tax bill il
! must, as / will vote for your tariff bill;
bat as a Democrat 1 protest against the
Que, as protest against the her, as anti
Democratic measures. involving an insult
70 ls sbor"
The Great TnmmRny Orator Speaks.
Mr. Cochran On. " spoke as the os-
pecial champion OF the Democratic oppo-
silion to the income tax For over an hour
the great TRmmauy orator poured forth
his eloquence against the income tax. He
had hoped he began, that the tariff bill
would be allowed to come to vote I'm
ytKod. undisturbed free from all danger
sf embarrassing issues.
While willing to vote for the tariff
biii, - he said, I'VE are now asked at the
bshest of party caucus TO vote for a
special tax on 81 0GO ont Of 81 600, 600 pao-
pls When a proposition goes further
than mere taxation and Is deliharat el Y de-
signed to tax a class those who believe in
equality before the law must array them
ssiyos against it. 1t strikes at the funda-
mButal principles of Democracy, at the
vssy root of the government 1t is tha
20 terng wedge in the shape of retaiia-
tory legislation in this country. 1t Is
brought in upon the assumption that the
Wilson bill will produce deficit The
whole experience of the human race dem
onstrates that the idea that the reduc-
tiOus carried by this bill will produce "A
deficit Is unfounded, false In theory and a
libel on the Democratic party"
In presenting his other objections to the
tax Mr. Cochran said 1t was essentially
uniust in Its burdens Take a man with
esJ, 900 capital II he loaned his money at
4 la s-nf,ld L.
bs drOne, but he would bear no burden
Fet the man who borrowed that capital.
who employed it in business. yenturing
his all on the risk of trade, would be
EEoopod down upon by the government
his methods exposed and his profits
uichsd by n law that leaves the drone free.
RIch Men Favor the Tax.
Gentlemen misunderstood the temper OF
thu rich II they believed the rich opposed
this measure. Not one of his acqualnt.
hnOe opposed it, or the 10, 600 votes cast
for him-and 5000 were cast by men who
who would not pay taxes under this bill
hot one had protested, but every one
would feel humiliated aud humblel il
two classes were to be created. one tax
paying class, he other participating, but
not paying, lie believed the rich would
welcome it, Why' Becuuse they knew ii
would ultimately give them greater con,
trol in governmental affairs. All labor
nad poverty could ever hope FOR was
squality before the law That was the
basic principle of this republic. The foes
NJ liberty were not those who took the
nsid against II, but who seek to destroy
sBs class by expressing the other. He
proceeded;
Men have an idea that they are going
TO make equality by creating inequality
Ihays always opposed inequality. op
posed he civil service law because it Ravt
the children OF the rich better opportu
nity to enter civil service than the chill
drsn If the poor. As oppose dtscrmina
tion against the poor so | oppose discrim
instiou against the rich"
The cheers which greeted the conclusion
sf AIR Cockran's speech continued, despit,
the efforts OF the chairman to preserve or
der, for fully three minutes. Member
crowded about the giant New York orato
to extend their congratulations, and HI
WAS ilnally forced to retire to the cloak
room, SO confusing was the demonstra
don, When order was restored Mr., Bryai
lNsb the champion of the income tax
took tha floor.
Mr.. Bryan's Argument.
In the course OF bis speech he referred t.
recent showing lhht VI per cent. OF IN
people of Che United States own only abou
20 per cent. OF the total wealth, while tn,
~aining per cent. own Il per cent. o.
the e. jal wealth. The people of the United
states who have small incomes pay on al
average more than 10 per cent. Of theil
incomes to support the federal govern
ment. while the rich pay a smaller Pc
cent. Why should not this tax be added
In order that tha hurdAns NAV he par