The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-22
ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.


The Sentinel has the pleasure of an
nouncing to its readers this morning that
the president has signed the Cooper bill
for the taxation of greenbacks as other
money is taxed. and that this measure is
now a law. In the accomplishment of
this end there is much cause for con-
graduation to Mr.. Cooper. 10 Indiana and
to the democratic party. Indiana is his
torically associated With it. 1t was first
proposed by the Hon. Joseph E. McDon-
aid at the time of the passage Of the bill
for the resumption of specie payment.
Prior to that time greenbacks had been
exempted from state taxation on the
ground that they were government Sc
curities. and that their current value
would be affected by taxation. but when
the government undertook, by actual re-
demption, to maintain them at par with
gold this reason ceased to exist.
Mr.. McDonald's measure was defeated,
as was also a second bill to the same
effect. introduced by him in the following
year Other bills were introduced by
other democrats in years following. but
none was able to survive capitalistic op-
position until Mr.. Cooper set his shoulder
to the wheel and Undertook TO carry out
the instructions to the Indiana delega-
ton in congress to secure such a meas
ure. which had been incorporated in the
state platform of 1892 In this work Mr..
Cooper has shown tireiess energy and
consummate skill. He has not allowed
it to sleep for moment He has met
constant opposition. especially from Rep
resentative Johnson of this state, who
has in a superlative degree the repub-
lican hatred Of every effort to make cor
porations and wealthy men pay their fair
of the country fought it. The plutocratic
press, both republican and democratic,
denounced it as an effort to impair the
credit of government securities. But Mr..
ton of seeing the bill adopted by the
house by a tremendous majority. and by
the senate almost without opposition. 1t
is a great victory for him.
1t is a great victory for Indiana demo-
Gratis. AS we have sad. it was first pro-
posed and finally secured by Indiana
democrats. When the great tax reform
law was adopted by them they found in
this exemption of greenbacks one refuge OF
the tax-dodgers which they were unable
to destroy by their own legislation, but
they proposed to leave no refuge existing.
They had undertaken to establish a tax
system which should give even and exact
justice to every man and every corpora
ton that owned taxable property. and
they did not propose to be baked by any
obstacle that could be removed. They
therefore called on their congressional
delegation to secure the removal of the
obstacle. and the delegation has respond
ed most nobly. excepting, of course. the
republican members. 1t is a great vic
tory for the Indiana democrats. Their
tax law now makes one more great stride
toward perfection.
The Sentinel may be pardoned for
claiming a share in this victory for non
esty and equality in taxation. 1t is a
law for which The Sentinel has most
earnestly contented from the first, while
outside of the state hardly a newspaper
has supported t. To every assault of the
plutocratic press The Sentinel has
promptly made answer, and has exposed
the shallow and hypocritical character of
their objections. The fight has been long,
but the triumph is worth it. 1t is with
the greatest satisfaction that The Sen
tinel now adds to the long list Of accom-
plished reform which it has championed
this important measure for the benefit of
honest taxpayers. 1t is a great victory
for The Sentinel