Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-08
The TAX ON INCOMES.
II Will Probably Be Knocked Out in
the Senate.
Dssiss chaacs isr TsriH siil-tsoic asd css-
fIssisas- Lsbsy working.

WAGHINGTOy. ~. u, REQ. S.-topccaai.j~
The tariR bill il in no danger Of defeat In
obe senate. It. will pass that body and
finally 60 the president built on the lines
faid down in the Chicago platform. In
some ways it will coDdemn--at least BY
omissios Asoine Of the planks OF that much
talked OF platform. The discussion OF the
tariff in the lower house accomplished alb
solutely and positively nothing, There is
NO body Of men probably in the country 80
absolutely free from sentiment as the rank
and file Of the men Of these times who come
TO congress. This is particularly true OF
the lower body OF congress. They make up
their minds to vote on this measure or that
without any reference whatever as TO the
speeches made for or against it. On any
measure except those OF national impor-
lance Congressman vote with their party.
n there is nothing Of political nature
about bill, they vote As their best friend
votes 1t is only in very rare instances
that congressman take the trouble = or,
for that matter. have the time-to look into
the merits Of measure upon which they
are called to vote.
Congressman and Friendship.
This Is The natural outcome Of our sys-
TEN ofXlegislation. With nearly 400
men in sour lower legislative branch,
It Is almost impossible that all the
thousands OF bills should be closely
scrutinized. The only wonder Is that
there is not more Of the vicious legis-
lation to point to. Congressman, as rule,
ore inclined to work together. Each man
realizes that In order to secure the passage
Of legislation beneficial to his section he
must have the assistance OF his colleagues.
He is therefore inclined to assist his neigh
Dor. In this way much legislation goes
through that should have no place on the
statute books. But with such bill as the
Wilson tariff bill It is an understood mat.
ter that friendship has nothing whatever tc
do with it, 1t was SO when the Mckinley
bill was made a law. Men voted then, as
they voted last week, In accordance with
the wishes of their constituents or from the
force of their own personal convictions.
From the vote on the bill Of such national
importance the public can obtain true
sense Of the position Of the house and sen.
ate.
The fight on the income tax has been the
most bitter of anything in recent years,
with the possible exception OF the contest
over what is known as the force bill. Handi.
capped with this income tax proposition.
some believed that the tariff bill would
meet with certain defeat. This was absurd.
The Democratic party, standing pledged tc
tariff reform and in control Of every branch
of the government service, both Legislative
and executive, could not afford to do any.
thing but pass the bill A failure would
have been political suicide, and whatever
their mistake may have been in the past
the leaders of the party are not yet ready to
knowingly commit self destruction.
The Income Tax Idea.
The tariff bill will go through the senate,
be signed by the president, and it will be-
come law, superseding the Mckinley
act on the statute books In just what
shape it will 60 through it is impossible to
say SsNhe debate has gone far enough &c
dem ate that the administration is
going to have pretty much the kind of q
bill il wants. This naturally leads one to
the belief that the income tax will be
knocked out in the senate. That is the
talkNt this time. Mr.. Cleveland was con
sideably surprised. it is said, by the adop
ton fof the income tax proposition by the
Democrats of the house. The deed had
scarcely been accomplished before the chief
executive realized the seriousness Of the
situation. He thereupon turned his atten
ton to the senate, and his friends claim he
has sufficient assurances to warrant him in
feeling that the income tax amendment to
the Wilson bill will he stricken out in the
senate.i IL
; There will be the same food Of talk in
the senate OH the tariff as was given in the
house.. The country will have to bear it,
even If it cannot grin. There is move.
ment on foot to put tax of n cent pound
on sugar. There is tremendous pressure
behind it, and from present appearances it
will go through the senate. The lobby Ia
here in great force. The lead ore people are
here with big wad of money and are
spending it freely where it will do the most
good.f They lost their fight in the house,
lead ore being put on the free list, and are
now directing all their efforts to the senate.
! si:o The Lobby at Work.
Another big lobby with another big wad
Of money will be here next week. They
will represent the coal people, who want the
rate of the Mckinley law undisturbed.
There Is likely to be n big scandal about
this coal lobby, as il is already whispered
that the money has been intrusted to a
United States senator, who = to work the
inside, while former member of the seu-
ate is to work the outside The combina-
tion is strong one and has almost unlim-
tied money, but may fail from sheer over
confidence in their ability to control mat
tiers. Their operations have already been
10 open rs to create general comment. The
senator in question is himself heavily in
terested in coal mines, and it is not unlike
ly that national scandal may be the out
come.
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