Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-06
The Senate Tariff Bill.

Mr.. VOORHEES,, Of Indiana, chairman q
,he Finance Committee Of the Ohi'e'
states Senate. made in that body last
Monday a speech OF great power discuss
Ing the tariff question in all Of It's as
poets. MI Mckinley. Of ohio, author u
the law which bears his name some
months ago took the stump in advocacy
81 that bill, and challenged all corners
IN meet him. lie thus made himself
what he now Is. the most prominent
Republican aspirant 10 the office OF PreS'-
dent Of the United States for the next
form. Mr.. Reed is In the House Of Repre-
sentativcs and has all along ondeaVorcd
10 keep himself before the people, but for
some reason has been unable TO supplant
Mr.. Mckinley as the chosen leader or
the Republican hosts. OF course NOBODY
can tel what a day may bring forth'
and there Will be many days between
this day and the one which VIII witness
the selection Of the Republican nominee
for President. Nevertheless. 40 in the
case of Henry clay in lAl-'44. and Mr..
Blaine IN his day, circumstances have
pointed out in advance Of the act OF
nomination the man whom the next Re-
publican National Convention Will pre-
sent t. the people for their suffrages
Nr. Voorhees's speech may be regarded
a5 indicating that he would be willing
e. enter the Lists against Mr.. Mckinley
ana boar aloft in 1896 the banner Of the
Democratic party. His speech is fun.
round. and COMPLETE 1t is bold, agrees
sir,. arcum.nlatiyc. and able. 1t Will be
REGARDED as remarkable for its discussion
of the income-tax. He fully realizes the
fuct that men of large incomes are men
Of large influence; but this fact does not
deter him from declaring in favor Of
taxing those nrg, incomes. lie says.
"how small in number IS the income class
in the United States, yet how potent
We quote a !itue PARAGRAPH on this tax.
Mr. Voorhees, -ail:
"The Commissioner Of Internal Rove
nur N 81 recent communication 10 the
Ways and Means Committee Of the
House estimates the present population
Of tfc United States at not less than
100000 and the wealth Of the country
al N-.D'oro0. 00U. or an average Of $1,000
por capita. If there was an equal distrl-
button. Ills further estimate. however, is
that SO arcat has been the condensation
Of capital into the ownership Of a small
and powerful class that the tax here pro-
posed on incomes OF over 5000 viii reach
only about, $500 individuals and corpora
tons out of the more than 65.oO,00 who
now inhabit this land Of boosted liberty
and equality
Mr.. VOORHEES, said that the first income
tax known to history was of higher
origin than ausht assigned TO earth. The
tax he referred to was the 1.-THE on the
chosen people one tenth Of the years
income from all sources.
Mr.. Voorhees, was not afraid TO de-
nounce the bounty paid to sugar-plant-
ors, which he characterized as 'the
meanest, the most odious, unjust, I'M
equal. un-American, and unconstitutional
tax ever known in our history" This is
strong language. and Will greatly dis
please the sugar planters Of Louisiana
and other Statesi but it is convincing
proof that Mr.. Voorhees,. whether he as
pres 10 the presidency or not, has "the
courage Of his convictions" lie says that
no such thing as absolute free sugar has
ever existed for a single hour since the
organization of this government.
But the most interesting feature Of Mr.
Voorhees, speech Of Monday is his state
ment as 10 the amount Of revenue the
Senate tariff bill viii yield. He said that
the bill provides for full and ample
revenue, largely in excess of present sup
plies, with which 20 meet all the require
ments Of the public credit, and he called
the attention Of the Senate and the coun-
Try to the great and commanding fact
that by the provisions OF this bill the
seeming paradox of reduction of taxes
and at the same time an increase Of pub
lie revenues viii be reconciled. We now
quote Mr.. Voorhees,:
"Sir. it will here be seen that the Com
mittee on Finance OF this body has taken
bond Of fate, as 1t were that no harm
shall come 10 the credit and financial
honor OF the government. The criticisms
which assailed the bill as it came from
the House because II created u deficiency
IN the treasury no longer apply We pre-
sent a measure full freighted with reve-
nue. for every call that can be made on
The republic at home and abroad. and
with surplus besides OF $29,SS9,2i5.'
In this estimate the expenses of the
government are set down at over $751;
o"oo and the revenues at over $3.50. 600. 900.
This will be cheering news to every
GOOD Democrat We confess that we were
AFRAID the revenues would fan short I'M
DER the Wilson bill. But Mr.. Voorhees,
assures US that there will be surplus.
Ana here we halt for the present.