The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-09-08
What he Present Congress Has Accom-
plishea.

REPRESENTATIVE McMillen Dem,
Tennessee) has inserted in the Con-
gressional Record speech intended
as a summary of what the present
Congress has accomplished. Mr.. Me-
MiIlin's associates have deferred to
him III preparing this statement. and
it is Il semi"fficIal showing, fir IN a
political standpoint, Of what the ma
.jOrity has done. After reviewing
what laws it has heretofore framed,
Mr.. McMillin says:
s.! come to "a few tlilngs it has done
during this administrations 1t has re-
pealed all force laws and left elections
tree. 1t found system of oppressive
laws on the statute books authorizing
the Use of troops ut the nolls and has
repealed them. In the dark days of
the republic the Republican party also
enacted a law authorizing tire United
States supervisors of electious and
deputy marshals to be appointed by
the Federal courts wholly indepen
dent Of the States where the elections
were 70 be held. They were expect
ed to dominate and did dominate the
elections.
"Thousands of men were arrested
without cause and imprisoned within
the States Of New York, Ohio and In.
diana in a single election and imnri-
soned to prevent them from voting.
They were turned ont after it was too
late to vote witt out the formality of
Indictment or trial. The Democratic
party determined this should not con-
t'nue. To repeal it. it forced an extra
session of Congress in 1879 and passed
the repeating aill. Mr.. Hayes vetoed
it. But Ii has kent up the fight near.
ly sixth of 4 century, and at last has
tiiumphed during this administration
1t has repealed the law authorizing
the President to levy and remit taxes.
Ii cannot conceive of surrender of
| great prerogatiye more dangerous aud
| nnpardonabie than this. We de-
n>unctd il at the time in this hall
We went forth to the people and de
nonnced il. We pledged them in our
platform that If intrnsted with power
we would take this ancient rite from
the Presiden. and give it back to the
peoples representatives. We have
now kept the promise.
| "This Congress has also authorized
the States to tax greenbacks and other
| United States currency For years
the exemption of these has been cry
ing i'll. The law authorizing the issue
of greenbacks and the treasury war
rants under t.,e Sherman act exempt
ed them from State. county and E,nni-
cipal taxation. Hundreds OF millions
thereby escaped all taxation. Indivi
duals escaped it by having their funds
in tank pomipally invested IN green
backs or United States treasury war
rants on the day for assessment
Banks accomplished the same object
that in some banks the United States
treasury warrants were placed to the
credit Of more than one individual en-
the day for assessment to escape mu-
ncipal and State taxes.
1T is also charged that certain
banks would aid each other in differ
ent S-ates by changing their treasury
warrant depuslfs from one to the other
10 suit the different days for assess
| iheht eAiStiuG ~ ui1ieithN fotdtes. All
this is stopped now. Under the bill
introduced aud passed hy the gentle
man from Indiana (Mr. Cooper) all
Ugited States cHrreacy heretofore es-
Gaping taxation is reached by the tax
eatherer. United States treasury
warrants known as greenhacks and
the bills issued under the Sherman
| rulIiou Durcitase law amouuts to ahout
';alf billion dollars, and the country
owes him debt of gratitude for bis
patriotic exertion.f
Mr.. McMillIn Eext reviews the re-
duction o; appropriations heretofore
set furth by Representative Sayers, OF
the propiiation committee. He
then continued