The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-21
INCOME TAX.


cratic party in order to adopt and carry
out the promises OF the Populist party.
prudent and upiust to engraft the income
tax provision on the tariff bill because
IL was weil-known principal
OF legislation to keep revenue and
appropriation bills free from experiment
tai and extraordinary legislation. The
provision was a fuifiiIment OF no Demo,
cratic doctrine or promise. III considered
at all II should have been introduced and
acted upon as a separate measure.
II am tempted TO suggest" continued
Mr.. Hill, "that the Democrats OF Oregon
sought to test the popularity of an in
s1d sh ssctors o%0ns she business sSss ssss
by inserting in their platform
clause favoring the tax, and awakening
TO their senses after the election, they dis
covered that their ticket was third in the
race, that their party was demoralized
stead OF dividing their opponents.
"The most disastrous defeat ever expert
enced by the Democratic party in Oregon
was the result of the effort to substitute
new-fangled Populistic principles for the
good old principles of true Democracy.
Here and now venture the prediction
that the same result will follow the same
effort everywhere"
Senator Hill presented petition from q
number OF prominent business men Of
New York City asking that the income
tax be stricken from the tariff bill. The
petition was signed by Evan Thomas,
William Steinway, Louis Windmuller, j.
Edward Simmonds, s. ID. Babcock, w.
Bayard Cutting, John III. Inman and
Alexander Il. Orr.
IL" said Mr.. Hill. "do not wish to
drive such men out OF the Democratic
party by our unwise legislation in the
hope OF supplying their places with
Adullamites, Coxeyites, Socialists and
all the ragtag and bobtail elements of
the community who will be attracted to
US by our proposed raid upon the wealth
OF the country"
In answer to the argument that England
had long maintained an income tax and
consequently 1t would be wise
policy In this country, Mr.. Hill ridi-
culed the idea that the United States
should copy its legislation from
country whose form of government,
natural surroundings and obligations
were essentially different. He maintained
also that England tolerated rather than
approved the income tax and that frauds
and perjuries under that law were
frequent,
Want None of II.
"This is essentially a war tax. Here
tofore, we, as Democrats, have clamored
against it and Others like IL. Look at the
spectacle which we now present. IL this
is true Democracy want none of it. II
this is the bert leadership which we can
present in this great crisis, /, for one,
must decline to follow 1t. l prefer to
stand with Jefferson and Jackson and
Tilden, In opposition to all income
taxes and direct federal taxation,
but in favor of a revenue for federal pur-
poses and direct taxation for State
purposes. / Irepudiate the spurious Demo-
cracy OF these modern apostles and pro-
MAJ NJ
Populist, and the least part Democratic,
who seek TO lead US astray after false gods,
false theories and false methods. objec.
TO our restoring war tax which the Re-
publicans themselves rejected years ago,
with our appreciation.
"Mr. President, the national victory of
1892 meant a reduction of the tariff; it
did not mean an income tax. Ii did not
mean invasion of State rights,
usurpation of State privileges
nor the abrogation OF State sources of tax
alton. 1t did not mean direct taxation
upon the part OF the general government.
1t meant a tariff for revenue, q reasonable
reduction In tariff duties, the substitution
OF revenue duties for prohibitory duties
wherever the latter existed, tho placing of
raw materials upon the free list and the re-
striction of the revenues to be raised TO
theactual necessities OF the Government.
This was the policy to which the party
was solemnly committed.
"The evils of the hour from which the
people are suffering arise largely from an
inadequate and disordere6 currency, and
bad financial system. dating back from
that evil day in 1873, when free bi-metal-
lie coinage ceased in the United States.
" 1t is State and local taxation from
which the people are also suffering which
is double that OF the federal tariff taxa
ton. Look at the financial condition
Of the states whose representatives
4, folx H.
substitution Of income taxes for tariff
taxes.
VIII Overthrow the Democrats.
''This is tax, the imposition of which
will drive New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut into the Republican column
there to permanently remair-a tax,
the individual feature of which has
not been recommended by any Demo-
cratic President or Secretary of the Treas
ury, or commissioner of internal revenue,
but tax suggested, advocated, and
now persistently pushed by a
saddle" in this Congress, and is driving
the Democratic party with reckless and
headlong speed into the abyss of political
ruin.
"In their mad haste to attack the rich
the champions of an income tax, either
Intentionally or advertantly assailed the
poor.
"Until the amendments relating to saw
ing banks, were offered yesterday in the
Senate, the programme of the majority
here seemed to be to place such institu-
tions OF substantially the same
level with business corporations and
to subject them to the two
per cent. tax. II there was any other
intention it was not apparent. ! have
not had time to examine those new
amendments, which are for the first time
printed and placed upon our desks this
morning, TO determine whether they con-
tain an absolute exemption of Mutual
Savings Bank or not, but from hearing
them hastily read at the secretary's desk
yesterday, fear they are not suffic iently
broad to accomplish that purpose.
"They should be made so plain and clear
that there can remain no possible doubt
OF their intention. Argument ought not
to be necessary to sustain the proposition
that mutual savings banks should be abb
solutely exempt from any income taxa
tion.
"This Government cannot afford to per-
NIT the poor to be taxed through
federal income tax. 1t would DO tho
10. t.fa ~