Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-29
DEBATING THE INCOME TAX
The Internal Revenue Bill Up in the
House Today.
Mr.. McMillfn First Advocates IL, and
He is Opposed by Mr.. Ray-Nr.
Tarsney Favors 1t.

The debate on the internal revenue bill.
including the provision for the income tax,
| began in the House today.
Under the call of committees for reports
after the reading of the journal. Mr.. Nc
Creary, chairman of the foreign affairs
committee. reported his resolution express
ing the sense of the House on the Hawaiian
situation The minority were given leave
! to submit their views.
The Internal Revenue Bill.
Upon the completion of the call the House
went into committee of the whole for the
purpose of further consideration of the
tariff bill. M. McMillin CTenn.). chairman
of the subcommittee of the ways and
means on internal revenue, was immediate
ly recognized and according to the caucus
program he offered, as an amendment to
the provision imposing tax of 81 per thou
sand upon cigarettes. the entire internal
revenue bill.
1t consists of thirty-two sections, making
thirty-seven pages, and, like any other
amendment of less pretension, 1t was sent
to the clerks desk and read.
The reading of the amendment" con-
sumed thirty-th-ee minutes When the
reading was completed Mr.. McMillin was
recognized to open the debate in favor of
the amendment
As to Points of Order.
AS he was about to begin. Mr.. Tracey On
W asked to reserve all points Of order
against the amendment
Messrs. McMiliin and McCreary contend
ed That 1t was too late to make a point of
order, debate upon the amendment having
been entered upon before the point was
made. The chair overruled the point Of
order, and Mr.. McMillin began his argu-
ment
Some Questions Asked.
Mr.. Stone Ry) asked Mr.. McMillin why
United States bonds were not taxed. and he
replied that the law of 1870 exempted them
and If they should be taxed the Supreme
Court would probably declare it a violation
Of contract
Mr.. Coomss CN.Y) asked If the internal
revenue bill would make up the deficiency,
and Mr.. McMillin replied that it would not.
but the increased business under the beuea-
cent tariff legislation would no doubt largely
increase the revenues over the estimates
toward the close of his speech Mr. Nc
sn was continually piled with questions
parried with dexterity his answers fire.
qnentiy evoking applause. When he con-
cinded there was quite demonstration on
the hoor and in the galleries.
Mr.. Ray i'm Opposition.
Mr.. Ray IN. " opened the debate in Cd
ment. In bringing in the internal revenue
features of the Wilson bill, said he, the
democrats recognize condition which ex-
lists In this country If he thoppb, ,b.v
were correct in charging this condition TO
the Mckinley law he knew his side OF the
House would concur on the Wilson bill and
the income tax. But he believed the dark
threat OF the destruction of the present
economic system had produced the present
conditions
While characterizing the course of the
democratic party. Mr.. Ray sent to the
clerks desk and had read an abstract from,
the washington correspondent of the Chi
cago Times. 1t was from a democratic
paper. he said, and he wanted his friends
on the other side of the House to under
stand what they said Of themselves and
thought of themselves The article was a
r fierce attack on the New York democracy
for its opposition to the tariff bill
1t stigmatized the New York democrac,
as the yellow dog" the "Pole-cat" and
the Traitor" OF the democracy Of the coun-
try, and read New York out of the demo-
cratic party with a picturesque impetuosity
which set the republican side to applauding
Mr.. Ray said he did not know whether III.
picture drawn in the article was a result OF
telling.
The Financial Panic
Mr.. Ray proceeded to sketch the BEGIN
ming and progress of the financial panic.
which he attributed entirely to the threat
OF a tariff change. And now said he, you
propose to bring bacl. confidence in the
business world and to restore the shaken
national credit by an income tax and an
issue of government bonds. Twenty-Five
years ago the democracy had character.
an income tax as the most odious and
most universally condemned of all taxes"
yet In time Of peace the democracy pro-
20 hob Z l..1
demned even in the stress Of war. An in
come tax, said he. the twin sister of
free trade. They went hand in hand
Burn the Wilson bill in the furnace I'M
der this Capitol said he. with uplfted
hands. land within twenty-four hours pros
perity will return, every workingman in
this country will be seen with IA full din
ner pail on his way to a day of remunera-
tive toll
Some Questions Put.
1.-THE gentleman from New York." said
Mr.. Hall (Mo.), has so far lodged the in
come tax question. 1 ask him to answer
me yes or no for the benefit of his farmer
constituents whether he is in favor OF an
income taxi
II have already answered it," replied Mr.
Ray.
"Will you answer IT again-yes or no."
LAS a rule" replied Mr.. Kay evasively.
IT am against anything that is democratic.
(ttepUpncan applauSe.D L suspect IL on &C
count of its source. / am in favor of the
Mckinley law-protection to American la
Dor and industry. Can you spell any an
swer out of that?'
Cries of mo. no." TRY again." greeted
this response. Again MIR. Hall asked for
a direct reply.
IF / have not answered" replied Mr..
Ray, II will not do So" Democratic laugh
teri.
Proceeding, Mr.. Ray declared that the
democracy of the south favored the income
tax, because only per cent of 1t would
be paid by the south. The bulk OF the tax
would be paid by the republicans Of the
north.
Mr.. Tarsney's Remarks.
Mr.. Tarsney (Mo), one of the democratic
members Of the ways and means commit
tee, followed Mr.. Ray.
The income tax was first resorted to,
said he. in the dark days of the civil war.
The system of internal revenue taxation
was the most complex in our history. Tariff
rates were raised enormously. Everything
and everybody paid the toll Of the tax