The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-01-11
DISSATISFIED DEMOCRATS.
The Party Badly Divided on the In co me

The Party Badly Divided on the In CO me
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The failure
to establish a quorum in the House
this afternoon was due, in paIt, to the
refusal of certain Democratic Repre-
sentatives to respond when their names
were called. Some of these gentlemen
were in their seats, others loitered
about the corridors while the roll call
was In progress; while others again
quietly absented themselves from the
House when the session began and re-
mained absent during the afternoon.
1t Is significant that all of the gentle.
men, possibly with one or two excep-
t1onS, are dissatisfied with the tariff
bill. There was not, so far as can be
learned, any concert Of action among
them to break quorum through fail,
ure to answer to their names. One of
the number, prominent Eastern
Democrat, said: 81 am opposed to the
tariff BILL and If such thing were
possible, L am even more opposed to
the income tax as reported by the ways
and means committee. think the lon
ger the consideration Of the tariff bill
IS delayed the worse 1t will be for the
Dill. That is why l am unwilling to
vote to make quorum. l understand
that 1t Is purpose of the committee
TO incorporate the income tax in the
tariff bill without accompanying it by
report showing the amount of reve-
nue. which will be collected and the
manner Of collection. This is not the
proper way to deal with question 90
important. | understand the commit
tee have no reliable data showing the
| amount Of tax to be collected, and |
think 1t is better to wait until this has
been laid before u.s.
Mr.. Haines Of New York, IS another
Democratic member of the House who
Is dissatisfied with the bill. IIaines is
one of the Representatives who was
conspicuously absent from his seat
during the roll call, although he was
IN and about the House during the day.
lie regards the income tax as part of a
plan to divert public attention from
the tariff bill. lie said this afternoon
that he did not believe that feature of
the bill would pass the House, nor In
his Judgment, did he believe the ways
and means committee expected it to
pass. Iaines thinks that public senti-
ment will condemn the income tax so
strongly that it will fail to become a
law, and that duty of one cent per
pound will be laid on sugar to compen-
safe for the loss of revenue that would
result from failure to levy a two per
cent tax on incomes.
While no formal agreement has been
made to that effect, Chairman Wilson,
OF the committee on ways and means,
says the Democratic members of the
committee have expressed the opinion
that 1t would be we'll for them TO re-
train from taking part in the general
debate on the tariff bill. OF course
Wilson will open the debate in gen.
eral statement, in accordance with the
general understanding on that subject.
Ihe memDerB of the committee" said
wilson, will defend the provisions of
the bill in the course of the five min
ute debate, but they are so anxious to
expediate its spassage that they will
probably not deliver formal speeches
III its support"
"Will the bill be voted on the 22nd ?"
was asked.
| we want TO reach vote at about
that date" was Wilson's response
but there are so many contingencies
which may arise in the course of the
debate that the day for taking the
vote has not been determined. 1t will
! be about the 22nd."
McMilln said that no course of ac-
tlon had been decided upon by the
members of the committee with regard
to the debate. IF take it that that is :.
m after for individual preference and
Judgment to decide" he said. "lf Il
speak 1t will probably be toward ti.e
close of the debate"
a member of the minority of the
committee said, when asked if he knew
anything about the arrangement for
Democrats not to speak: "That's the
lirst | have heard of it. 1t cannot be
carried out, however,, if it has been en-
tered into. BOurke Cochran is sure to
make speech against the income tax
feature"
Representative Catchings, a member
OF the committee on rules, said this af-
ternoon that no date had yet been fixed
for taktnga vote on the tariff bill. Ii
would, however. in his opinion, be tax
en- between the Goth and 25th instant.
After the House adjourned this af- |
ternoon, Chairman Holman, of the eau
Gus committee, issued a call for Il
meeting Of the Democratic caucus to.
morrow at o'clock to consider the |
tariff bill.