New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-04
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1T IS A STUMBLING BLOCK.
PROMINENT DEMOCRATS OBJECT TO THE
INCOME TAX.
MANY OF THEM ANNOUNCE THEIR INTENTION
TO WORK AND VOTE AGAINST IT, EVEN At
THE EXPENSE OF THE WILSON BILL
THE PRESIDENT DISAPPOINTED.
Try TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRrBUSE.I

tBY TELEGRAPH TO TfIE TRIBCNEI
Washington Jan. 3.-The decision Of a MAJ
jority of the majority OF the Ways and
Means Committee, six members out Of .
total membership of seventeen in favor OF
a tax on incomes was grave disap-
pointment, not only to President Cleveland.
but to a large number Of Democrats in the
House of Representatives, some OF whom speak
OF it as "a victory for the Populistic and Conn
munistic element" in their party. strong
effort will be cxerted to defeat the proposition
in the Committee Of the Whole and 1t is not
impossible that an attempt TO do so Will be
made in the Ways and Means Committee
itself.
If three OF the Democratic members Of the
latter committee should join with the six Re-
pubcans in opposition to the income tax II
would be defeated. Probably Chairman Wilson
could be induced by President Cleveland TO vote
against the measure and If he should do 50
Messrs Cochran and Stevens would In all prob
ability initiate his example. Indeed 1t Is not
by anv means certain that Mr. Cochran will not
vote against the tax at every stage, and against
the bill itself in case the income tax provision
is made a part Of 1t. Whether as some OF his
friends assert, he will move to recommit the
bill, with or without instructions, whenever the
time comes that such a motion can be offered, Is
as yet uncertain To a Tribune correspondent
to-day he said that he had not yet decided what
course to take 1t is generally admitted that
the prospects OF the pending bill have been con-
sideraby impaired by the action OF the ma
jorty last night That action was roundiy de-
nOunced by many Democrats to-day. -
Representative CoOmbs OF Brooklyn, sald'
is un-American and not at all adapted 10 our
organization Of society; nqusitoral, premium
perjury and onerous tax on conscience
1t is device whereby the shrewd and unscrupu'
lous go free while the conscientious pay. IL Is 2
plan Of taxation which has been tried ana
abandoned In England, where the population
Is compact. and where, If in any place, this form
OF taxation would be successful, the Chancellor
forced TO admit that not one-third OF the
tax paid."
General Black of Illinois, said: II am opposed
to the income tax. because il corrupts the public
morals 1t is inquistorial tax. Every man
who can will avoid it, and perjury awaits on
its collection. 1t is double tax. ana the Demo.
cratic party has always been against II. / DON'T
believe it will ever become a law. l should vote
for il only when il is necessary to raise revenue
to prevent the Government defauting payment
and should work for its repeal Immediately
such a crisis Is passed In my opinion there -
no such crisis confronting US"
Representative Cummings said: Il am opposed
the passage OF the Wilson bill. 1t is war
measure. and. believe. unconstitutional"
against the income tax. II Is vicious measure.
Mr. Sperry. Of Connecticut, said: Il shall
vote against it. | am not yet ready 10 surrender
my Democratic principles TO the Populist. The
Wilson bill drawn 10 make this big de-
nciency and To make an income tax seemingly
necessary. But am utterly opposed TO the tax"
The Democrats will probably find II exceed
ingly difficult to carry out their programme,
which proposes to limit general debate on the
! revenue bill to five days and 10 bring IL to a
final vote before January 20. To justify
themselves they assert that the period men,
toned is as long as that allowed by the House
for the consideration of the Tariff bill II 1890.
but they are careful not to mention the inn
portant difference that while the latter bill was
Identical In principle and in all respects essen-
TALLY i'm harmony with the existing legislation,
the pending measure is one utterly at variance
with every act of revenue legislation by Congress
for the last thrty-three years. and that 1t pro-
poses 10 suppant laws, the effects Of which are
well established and universally known. by crude
experimental legislation. mainly built upon
obsolete and exploded IDEAS and theories.