The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-29
OBJECTIONS TO INCOME TAX.
Senator Hill Files an Indictment Ol I'll
teen Counts Against 1t.
ALL But TWO SECTIONS DISPOSED OF.
MIR. Hills Motion to s.rike Out the Income
Tax Ieaturc Of the T"r'fi Bill Defeated
b,aVotc of 40 to 2S-Thc House.

i.s iOl quorum
Ih, House joint resolution to continue
a. the regular annual appropriations bills
fol- one month, after June 30th. was laid
before the Senate and received its second
reading.
ST. CockrcH. chairman Of the Com
u tce OF appropriations. moved that 1t
l. referred 10 that committee.
Nr. Hoar gave notice that when re-
.t.l back ne would move To amend II
-..r rttuung for IL the sundry civil
.,Y.ui ..auon bin for the current year.
.r ludr advocated his proposition, ana
Was sau speaking when, at 100 \. ~,
tae lIesldent interrupted MIN, ana
lad before the Senate the tariff bin.
Int motion 10 refer the joint resolution
frr t. contnuance Of the appropriations
N..t .trr therefore. without acuon.
. pending question when the senate
Iuu yesterday was Seclou op OF the
tr ..l. which requires business coIpo-
r.U..s 10 Keep fun. regular and accurate
OF accounts, which snail be, al
OIL. r.lSonabie times. open 10 the lnspec-
t1 Of internal revenue oihceISi an an
Inent mad been offered % 10 Dy AT.
SO as TO make II read reasonable
iIs between March LIST ana Aususl Isi
,aen case. ana Ar. Cnand,igr 1o,..,,,ii moySd ,,l
O. add TO Mr.. Hills amendment tHe
words. "On due order of some Ju1se OF a
tMttd States Court.
Messrs. Teller. Manderson, Alllson ana
HiI thought the endre section WAS oD-
Jectonable. and ought 10 be reformed ot
Withdrawn entirely.
tNAI.Hs s4f- Mr>DNENT.
Mr. Vest IN the hope that his action
might terminate the debate presehto1 an
amendment as substitute tor tne see
ton prepared by himself and Mr.. George.
IL strikes out the clause requires 'ne
books q be open for Inspection, ana sup
sututes for II a clause that Wheh co. &
lector or deputy collector sndH h,'cNC
that Il true and accurate re'd:l oA 'Ac
income Of a corporation has not Deen
made ne shall make an aihdaNi on salu
belief, ana OF the grounds on Whlch il
is founded and shall file 10 with the
Commissioned OF internal Revenue Mho
shall issue a request in writing 10 lhe
corporation 10 allow an eAanln tuVH 70
be maze. In case OF the refusal 81 the
corporation the collector shan MAKE an
estimate from The Information IN MS
possession, and snail add 3O per cent.
thereto, and that shall be the Ia"IuI
The discussion on the section and on
the amendments was Kept up Iof dholhtI
hour, and then on motion ol AIT. harms
Mr. Chandler amendment Was ialu on
the table-yca 81, nays H.
MIR. HOar was arguing in favor OF MI.
Inns amendment and noticing that MI.
Harris was on his feet remarked, hu-
morously, that the senator from tennessee
seemed prepared Co. move t1 lay the con-
sutution ot the United states on the
table.
II would like said Nr Harris, SEE
vercly. and ln a tone which carried con-
Ncti0n. 'to las the Senator from Massd-
chusctts on the table, II ! could Gen
cral laughteil.
Sir. Hoar went on with his argument.
and then added. and now. II our lively
and Wiieawa4e friend. the senator from
Tennessee, desires 70 make a motion
TO lay ON the table. / viii yield 10 him"
Il avail myself said Mr.. Harris, "Of
the kindly suggestion of the senator from
Massachusetts,. and move TO lay on the
fable the amendment offered by the
senator from -NeN OFh.
Alr Hnl $ amendment was laid on the
table without division.
Then the question came on the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Vest. The amend
ment was agreed 20 without division.
Then Mr.. Hil moved 10 strike out sec
u1n t6. and that motion was rejected
without q division. Ar. Hin moved 10
50 back 20 Section 56. which requires in
dividuals 20 make returns OF their in
comes. and 70 strike out the words, "By
the examination OF such per- on.
After some argument Mir Vest sugg St
ed for the sake Of saving time 10 make
the clause read, by inquiry or such
persons" but that did not entirely meet
Mr. Hills objection, and he insisted on
his amendment.
The vote was taken and the amend
ment was rejeccted-noyeasi 2; nays @5.
out of the bin. on motion Of Mr.. Vest.
Section IS was amended
SENATOR NILS FIFTEEN OBJECTIONS.
This finished all the sections relating to
the income tax ana Mr. Hi submitted
a motion % strike them all out of The
bill. lie epitOmizel his objections TO the
income tax under fifteen heads
First. An income tax has no legitimate
place tn tariff reform bill. II is unjust
10 those who desire TO support a revision
OF the tariff, but who cannot consistently
or cOnscientously favor an income tax.
II admissible at all. ii should have been
embraced in q square measure The effort
20 retain IL IN this bill has hindered de-
layel and sacrificed the cause Of the tariff
reform, and compelled the surrender of
many essential principles which should
have accompanied a genuine tariff re-
vision.
Second An income tax is neither
Democratic or a Republican principle, and
has never been approved by the people at
the polls. but IS one Of the doctrines of
the Populist party, the votes OF whose
the means Of fastening it upon this bill
and upon the people.
Third. IL is an unnecessary tax. The
debate has conclusiVelY demonstrated the
fact that the needs Of the Treasury viii
not require the proceeds OF the tax, but
that sufficient revenues viii be realized
under the other provisions of the measure.
No proper estimate has been furnished OF
the revenues expected 10 be realized from
this tax. but IL is blindly urged without |
resard 10 anticipated revenue or collec- |
Folrth. II is a direct tax within the |
true intent and meaning or the Constitu- |
-.l and not being lad in proportion 20 |
'IAItUOut II II ul4Npii9NitA tANiylldi anu NdiA-
not be enforced.
Flfth. Ii is unequal. unjust. and sec
ffaral i'm lts design and operation, and |
ls rrlncfpallv urged by the rcpreSen- |
tatiyes or those States which viii be
least affected by its provisions. II is an
attack upon the thrift, the energy and
the enterprise Of the North, rather than
an honest effort 10 reach the accumulated
wealth Of the country by constitutional
and Just means.
sixth. il is the revival Of an odious
war tax In time Of peace.
Seventh The exemption OF all incomes |
not exceeding $4,000 IS an exemption un-
precedented In the history OF incOme-tax
legislation here or anywhere in the world.
and stamps the measure as the most
G. neYfive species OF class legislation
While ostensiby aimed al the rich. it
permits one having an investment Of
80 DCO drawing interest at five per cent,
70 escape all taxation under II. Whether
II Injuries the very rich or not, IL clearly
does not help the poor. IL Is not based
upon any consistent theory. Either, sub |
stantially. all incomes should be taxed |
or none at all.
Eighth. II IS unjust and indefensible in
its determinations. IL necessarily ex-
empts the income from $685., 10000 OF Gov |
emptiOn 10 State bonds. It eXempts $A.OVO
from tho individual income Of a citizen
derived from his general business, but |
denies him the same exemption II his |
income Is derived from a corporate in |
veftment. II unnecessarily and irJuriously |
llscriminates against corpCl ate Invest
inents by individuals, especially small in
YesimCnts.
Ninth II is retroactive in its operation.
~ cOmpels tax upon incomes realized |
since January /, 1894. being at least six |
ps ,mpDnihs before the passage OF the act.