Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-25
BOW1ITCH, WEBSTER & co.
HILL TO THE FRONT.
Offers Amendment 10 the Proposed lncoml
Tax-PromptIy Voted Down.

WASHINGTON, June 24.-The half hour
usually devoted to miscellaneous business
in the senate Saturday was occupied by
MIR. Call Dem. Fla.), with a resolution
providing for a committee of five sena-
tors to investigate the election and COLI
troll OF senators by corporations. He
made a brief speech on the subject.
Mr.. Sherman said he was willing that
the investigation should be allowed. so
far as Florida was concerned. but he did
not think it was just to make it so broad
and sweeping as contained in the resolu-
ton and including the whole country
The resolution went over at 1850, and the
tariff bill was taken UP.
Mr.. Hill dem, N. ". took the floor
He said that Friday would be known in
history as Populist day. and referred TO
the speeches of Senators Kyle and Allen in
speaking for the doctrines of their party
He said that no attempt had been made
to attack the repeal of the state bank or
to enact II free coinage bill in this bill,
both of which are endorsed by many
Democrats and considered part of the
platform. while especial efforts had been
made to go outside Of the platform to in
corporate the income tax in the bill.
With regard to the charge that the
state of New York would evade the tax,
he believed there would be no more per-
jury than in other states. As matter of
fact. he believed that this tax could he
evaded without resort to perjury. He
went on to explain that man in estima-
ting his income might deduct salaries for
his wife and children :. 1t would be dis
honest practice. but it could not be de-
tected nor punished.
No other system of taxation opened
SUI h broad field for fraud and evasion
and none offered such temptations. The
collateral inheritance laws of Maryland.
said the senator. New York, Connecticut
and other states tax collateral inheritance
and gifts at an average of 5 per cent: large
amounts of money were raised by the
states from this source. But if the federal
government. disregarding its legitimate
field of taxation, stepped in and took 2
per cent more this tax would be nbear-
able
In reply to the argument of Mr.. Allen,
the Nebraska Populist, Mr.. Hill ridiculed
the mission Of the Populist party. which
he declared was helped BY and could sub
sist only on hard times He dwelt humor-
ously on the great victory achi eved by
the Populists in this bill exclusive of the
income taxi. 1t had not secured free
sugar, free coal, free iron ore, but it had
got free barbed wire.
But barbed wire, with its sharp fanrs.
was already interdicted in many states.
1t was already being discarded by the
farmers and others. 1t would not do
them any good. Yet it caught every
thing that went mp against it" and was
therefore a proper emblem of the Popu-
list party.
Mr. Hill gave way at 1915. after having
spoken almost two hours to Mr. CALM
ger (Rep. n. II }. who made an argument
against the income tax.
Mr. Hill offered the amendment limit
ing the exemption Of tax to incomes less
than $4,000, which Mr.. Vest had offered
yesterday on behalf of the finance COM
mtttee, but which he afterwards with.
drew, lost. 80 49,
Mr.. Hoar offered an amendment 20 ex-
empt from operations of inheritance tax,
that Of lineal descendants and widows.
lost 2o-33