The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-03
ITWASBYNUM'S WORK
Democrats Have Decided to Tax
All Incomes Over S4, 900.
Indiana'S ''GraSs Burner" Broke the Tie
at the Meeting of the Ways and
Means Committee.
WHISKY TO BE TAXED 81
And 2 Cents to Be Levied on Each
Pack of Playing Cards.
Joe" Reilly Doomed by Senator Turpie
for Pension Agent-MOnthly Pub
lie Debt Statement.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The "Grass
Burner did it. At the meeting of the
Democratic members of the ways and
means committee. this evening, to decide
whether to tax corporate or private in
comes. Representative Bynum cast the de-
Gliding vote. He voted for a tax upon all
incomes. The report that he was wavering
and would stand by the administration
and vote against an income tax has proved
untrue. Representative Stevens. of Nfassa-
chusetts. a Democratic member of the
committee, says that, while the House may
possibly adopt the income taxes, the SEN
ate will vote it down and that it will di-
vide and defeat the Democratic party. The
administration is up in arms against the
income taxes and the report that the COM
mittee had adopted them has created a
sensation In administration ranks.
At the meeting, tonight, Mr.. Bynum Sc
cured decrease of the tax on playing
cards. The committee had agreed to a tax
of cents pack. Upon motion of Mr..
Bynum the tax was fixed at 2 cents per
pack. Mr.. Bynum says cents per pack
would have been ruinous to all of the cheap
card manufactures like the one at In
dianapolis Mr. Bynum voted against an
right of the government to tax the whisky
in bond, and, without taxing the goods in
bond, he does not believe it will yield
immediate revenue to the government.
The eleven members of the committee
were present when the final meeting was
held at the Treasury Department, at
O'Clock. Comparatively little time was
wasted in discussion. The ground had ali
been argued and fought over time and
again, and this afternoon the issue was
joined on two propositions. One to levy
tax of per cent. against individual in
comes over 81, 600 and against the incomes
from corporations chat is the difference
between the gross income and the operat-
ing expenses, or, in other words, the new
income); and second, proposition offered
as a substitute by Mr.. Cochran, of New
York to tax the incomes from corpora
tions / per cent. and inheritances per
cent. to place a tax of 10 cents on whisky
and to restore sugar TO the dutiable list
=. y a cent per pound. The vote ON Mr..
Cockrans q substitute proposition, which
was taken first, resulted in its defeat Z to
A. as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Wilson, Cochran, Stevens,
Nays-Messrs. McMillin, Turner, Whit
ing Bryan, Bynum, Tarsney and Breckin-
ridge.
The original proposition was then SUBJ
mitted and carried by vote of to 5. as
follows:
Yeas-Messrs. McMillin, Turner, Whiting,
Bryan, Bynum and Tarsney.
Nays-Messrs. Wilson, Cochran. Stevens,
Montgomery and Breckenridge.
1t was also decided, in connection with
the latter proposition, to increase the whis-
ky tax 10 cents per gallon-that is, from 80
we'll as out of bond. Upon the representa-
tion that this increase would work undue
hardship to the owners of whisky in bond,
it was decided to extend the bonded period
from three to eight years. The tax on
playing cards, at one time fixed at cents
per pack, was reduced to cents, and the
contemplated tax on perfumes and cos
metics was discarded. No increase was
made in the tax on cigars, but the increase
on cigarettes ($l per thOuSdnd) was al
lowed to stand.
The committee estimate that the tax on
incomes from corporations and individu-
ais Corporations being treated as individu-
als) will raise $30,0OO,0OO reyenue-$l2, 0OO, 900
from corporations and $l8.00OO0o from in
dividuals. The increased whisky tax, it is
estimate, will give an addition TO the
revenue of $10 000, 900 per annum The pro-
posed tax on inheritances, which was to
be levied in case the proposition for an in
dividual income tax failed, was not deemed
necessary.
Mr.. Bynum IS preparing his tarlff speech.
He does not expect to have 1t completed
IN time for delivery under two three
weeks He will advocate the adoption of
the Wilson bill and will then enter into the
details of items OF the measure which
especially affect the interests of Indiana
Senator Voorhees,, who comes from
large whisky center, is reported to be in
favor of a very large increase of the
whisky tax up to $3.50 per gallon, the
whisky in bond to not pay the increase
of tax and also said to favor unlimited
npriO6 Senator voorhees,
said TO favor duty of one cent a pound
on raw sugar as a source of revenue. just
where he stands upon the income tax prob
lem is not definitely known.