Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-04-19

bill it might be expected that the exemptions
would follow foreign presidents. Prussia
only tolerates an exemption of SIPS. In
e60O. In Denmark 1t is s2l5 and in Austria
sl13. and in England $780, Yet here the
proposed exemption is to be the liberal sum Of
A.OC0. figure for which there is no precedent
anywhere in the world. Mr.. Hill further con-
tended that the bill seriously affected the
rights and interests of building and loan asso-
Citations, and that the senate amendments do
not cure the defects complained of.
He asked: Whence came this recent and
unnecessary clamor for the imposition of an
income tax as the policy of the government!
Nothing was heard in its behalf on the part of
either Of the two great political parties In the
campaign Of 1892. Neither the republican nor
democratic platform proposed any such method
OF raising revenues. No prominent democrat
or republican suggested any such measure. It's
approval was limited to the platform OF the
newly-formed populist party. and its advocacy
was restricted to populist orators"
being made "a tail to the populist kite" He
further said:
This proposed tax is not advocated as
temporary expedient; there is no limitation
fixed to it's duration. but it is boldly proposed
as permanent policy of the government; its
injustice IS vigorously defended; its discrimi-
nations are heartily approved and its illy-con-
cealed sect1onallsm is unblushingly excused.
The ways and means committee OF the house.
well as the house itself, and the senate
finance committee refused to Fix a definite
term for the continuance of this tax. 1t is clear
merely, but If once enacted will stand. like
every other portion OF the bill, until repealed.
The plain issue which we are to meet is indl-
rect versus direct taxation"
He proceeded to declare his belief that the
complete substitution OF internal, direct or in
come taxes for tariff taxes would prove utterly
ruinous to the business interests of this coun-
try under existing conditions abroad, and that
partial substitution at this time would be
proportionately disastrous.
This bill,'' he said, s.proposed suicidal
policy when 1t seeks by its extreme provisions
to discard numerous reasonable tariff duties:
create deficiency in necessary revenues,
simply for the purpose of affording an OPP
portunity or excuse for the substitution of an
The substitution of internal or indirect
taxes for customhouse taxation. means the re-
duction of the wages of American workmen to
the European standards. 1t means the degra-
dalton Of American labor; it means the depri-
luxuries Of life to which they have been aNcus-
toned Deny and disguise it as We may. no
other result is possible under existing Euro
Let me not be misunderstood" he added, mot
one dollar of tariff taxation should be imposed
except what is necessary for the needs OF the
government, economically administered; but
whateverS those needs are. the necessary reven-
ues therefor should be supplied from tariff taxa
upon liquors, oleomargarine and tobacco. to
which the country has long been accustomed.
and which for obvious reasons need not be dis
turbed." No American statesman of rank ex-
cept Mr. Cleveland" he said, had ever advo-
Gated an income tax since the war, experience
having made manifest how generally odious 1t
was"
Closing his discussion Of this part OF the bill
he said:
ending it; to discard s76.OC0OO0 of annual rev.
enue In order to collect twice as much in other
dent imagined himself to he doing In his
scheme to substitute direct taxes for the tariff
taxes. which were to be reformed; to recon
struct all the schedules instead of amending
diScarding one group at time, the worst
first and each upon its own dement's; to disturb
and distress as many business men as possible.
and all at once, instead of a few at a time. Is
not the programme perfectly matured and
suited to conduct the policy and principle OF
tarln REFORM unlmpalrea 1nrougn perloa OF
and private bankruptcy.
For my own part, as democrat. prefer in
direct taxation and tariff reform above direct
taxes and tariff extinction. 1 prefer taxing
foreign products rather than taxing home
products. follow Jefferson in regarding even
the species of indirect taxation on home
products by internal revenue war taxes as not
good to be extended and the first to be rid OF
when their need is past"
Speaking of the European advisers of the
United States, he made some pungent
marks. The non migrating European feels a
parental superiority and duty toward us. Eu-
ropean professors announce to American pro-
fessors, who publish and believe it. the birth
of a brand-new political economy for universal
application. From the midst of their armed
camps, between the Danube and the Rhine,
the professors with their books, the socialists
bombs, are all instructing the people of the
United States in the organization OF
society, the doctrines of democracy and prin.
ciples of taxation Little squads of anarchists
communists and socialists cross the ocean and
would have US learn OF them 1 wonder if
their preaching can find ears in the White
House.
AN editor residing in Europe. of Hungarian
birth, in his New York newspaper advocates
an income tax designed ultimately to put upon
nine states between Cape Cod and the Missis-
Sippi a per cent. 9-ld upon New York alone 30
per cent. of the expenses of the federal govern
ment.
IF McKinleyism is socialism for the benefit
Of the rich. and income-taxing is socialism for
the benefit OF the poor. no true American demo-
crat will look to the hair of the dog to cure his
bite American democrats will reject social
ism OF both kinds
Briefly referring to the sugar tax he said:
The senate finance committee in their ef
fort to modify the house bill so to realize a
selected sugar as one of such articles deemed
proper for tariff taxation. and pro-
doe foe tbe of dy
action But such conclusion should have been
followed by an elimination OF the income tax
rendered doubly necessary ty the imposition
of sugar duty
He vigorously defended the wealthy men of
New York from the charges of marrow and
ScltiShneSS, brutal d1ctatiOn and in
science etc. which. he said had been hurled
against them by the senator from Indiana
yet to 0G learn that A" poverty s is n car
dinal virtue and that wealth is an
abominable crime All classes have their
encroach upon the other The demagogue who
seeks to stir up class prejudices and class re-
sentiments in order to win tine gratitude or the
ing who are essentially his dupeS, deserves
only excavations at the hands OF all right
minded men. y
In conclusion he said:
Il stand ready to support any reasonable
measure for tariff reform framed within the
lines and based upon the principles which
have here partially Indicated.
Mr.. President, this is an important crisis in
the history of the democratic party. The fail
ure of tariff revision at this time means the de-
feat, the decentralization, if not the division
and humiliation of our party Moreover, it
means. as we believe, injury to the best inter
ests of the country. Let those who insist upon
injecting into this bill this odious and undemo.
cratic feature of an income taxa relic OF
war legislation-pause and reflect upon
the possible consequences OF their unwar-
rantable demands. They should realize
that it means the loss of the control
of this senate, now nearly equally divided be-
tween the two great parties: 1t means the loss
of the electoral votes of New York. New Jersey,
and probably every northern state
and finally. it means the loss OF the next presi-
dency and all that that implies. They should
recollect that this income tax feature Is justly
regarded in New York and many other north
ern states as a scheme of spoliation an unwar-
ranted sectional attack upon their citizens OF
means
They should consider whether there is any
thing about an income tax so sacred, so de-
shat is so Is worth thu the RISK WhieS
they are precipitatinS. Let them remember
1860 and the ultra demands then made upon
the democratic party. to which 1t could not
honorably accede; demands which led to our
division and defeat; let them remember the
triumphs OF our opponents, the civil war that
followed. the devastation. the suffering, the
humiliation which ensued. the military and
carpet governments which hourished. the
dents of the terrible years which darkened our
party's and our eountry,s history from
1850 to 1854, when through wiser coun-
NM c0ncllilf0Fv meth