The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-09

try before IL was sent TO the other House
to be ratified by the ambassadors OF SOW
ereign States The order did not permit
the amendment OF the bill by sections. Mr..
Reed said the House was subjecting itself
to a one-man power. Ii had grave re-
spOnsiDilty and yet il was permitting the
Senate by this rule TO be placed within the
sacred Judgment of the chair.
Chairman Wilson, answering Mr.. Reed.
said that no one was more anxious than he
possible amendments. He believed the rule
accomplished this. There was ample time
for full and instructive discussion OF the
bill In conclusion, Mr. Wilson said that
he would move amendment TO the rule,
providing that the general debate continue
throughout the present week with night
sessions, the debate under the five-minute
rule TO begin next Monday, and the final
vote to be taken on Jan. p. Mr.. Wilson
also moved that general leave to print be
given There was a ripple OF applause as
Mr.. Wilson finished his proposition for an
extension of time.
Mr. Reed announced that his associates
on the Republican side would not give their
consent TO Mr.. Wilson's proposition.
The eX-Speaker said that the Republican
side did not want to be put in the position
OF acquieScing in this or any other step on
the part of the majority Mr.. Reed then
offered a motion to recommit the order with
instructions to amend il so as TO give four
additional days for debate and TO permit
the bill to be amended by paragraphs. The
motion was lost, 0 to 1884, and the vote then
required on the adoption of the special order
Of the rules committee. 1t resulted-Yeas,
10; nays, l.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
After the vote which adopted the rules
the Speaker raped sharply for order. I'm
accordance with the special order just
adopted" said he, 1.-The House now resolves
itself into the committee of the whole for
the consideration of revenue legislation.
The gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. Rich
ardson, will take the chair
Then Mr.. Wilson rose, stepped back a
few feet in the aisle, and began his speech
with slight apology for the informal man.
should
Iect
Mr. Wilson said that no great question
had been 50 thoroughly brought out before
the American people as the question OF
tariff reform. For seven successive Con-
troversy in both houses for almost as long
a period IL had been the chief matter Of
in eUery oongress6na district. in the
schoolhouse and at the country store. Thus
thoroughly discussed both as to general
the people had finally reached a definite
judgment and had given TO this administra-
House as the immediate representative OF
the people, the only part of the federal
suffrage is the constitutional authority to
originate bills imposing taxes. The bill
about TO be considered presents scheme
ate committee of this House which 1t is
now for the House to consider and to deal
with in its own deliberate Judgment.
MUST BE A COMPROMISE
islation and dealing with so many subjects
must necessarily represent in it's details
some compromise of opinion among those
intrusted with its preparation. Any bill
passed by Congress under present condi-
TONS at least, must necessarily represent
such compromise. He did not believe that
the country would underrate the difficulties
confronting those who now attempt to re-
wise and reform our tariff system. Among
these difficulties were the dropping away of
friends whose zeal for reform in pro-
portion TO the square of the distance from
their own localities and their own indus
tries and other friends who differed In their
judgment as to the method to be pursued
So also the great commercial distress which
has in recent months come upon the coun-
try, paralyZing so many industries and
throwing so many thousands out of employ
ment, made the task of reform the more
difficult while ii made the necessity for the
reform more imperious than ever.
At what time could taxes be lessened
with greater justice and greater humanity
than at a time when thousands are strug-
CLING for the bare necessaries of life, and
when could We, with greater timeliness
and benefit strike some of the letters from
production and trade than when prcduc-
hampered by its restriction? A third diff
Guilty IN the way of reform now was the
emptiness Of the treasury. We are called
upon 10 reduce taxes at a time when the
government receipts are running so low
that daily revenues have ceased to meet
daily expenditures He believed he could
not better consume the time of the House
In opening this debate than by giving The
story OF our depleted treasury and placing
where the responsibility justly belonged.
During the four years Of the last al;
headlong from Overlooking treasury to
bankrupt treasury and that, too without
any IesSsnng of the burdens of taxation
stantiaI and oppressive Increase of the
taxes. The last report of Secretary Fair
child estimated the surplus revenue for the
Secretary Window acknowledged "a surplus
revenue for that year of SlO5,0O0,OO0 When
office on the Attn day OF March, 1859. il
turned over TO its successor an available
cash balance amounting in the form OF
years to SlS5000,000. During the Harrison
administration the form of treasury state,
ments twice changed. First by Mr..
Window, who succeeded by this cash bal
ance to conceal the surplus and later by
Mr. Foster, 10 conceal the bankruptcy OF
the treasury. The Fifty-first Congress
dealt with the treasury surplus after the
true and traditional methods of protection.
which to lessen or abolish those taxes
which pass directly and undminished from
the pockets of the taxpayer to the public
treasury and to increase those taxes which
were intercepted in their passage from the
pockets OF the taxpayer to the public treas
ury by the private tollgathersr
revenue taxes on manufactured tobacco,
abolishing special taxes on dealers and
manufacturers OF tobacco and wiped out
the duties on raw sugar which, for years
past, had been our chief revenue-produc-
ing article the customs list Both OF
these taxes were, in a just and proper
sense revenue taxes and neither of Their
should have been touched long as the
rates of duty upon clothing and other nee
essary articles of consumption were Sc
enormously oppressive. Tobacco taxes
reduced under the cry that tobacco
had become necessity for the poor as
well the rich but new and heavier
taxes were laid the wooden clothing OF
the poor man so indispensable to his health
and his productive energy. Sugar was un-
taxed so as TO give the American work
ingman a free breakfast table but new
taxes were placed on his cups and saucers
his plates and dishes. his coffee pot. his
knives and forks his food and his table
cover. In word, he was relieved from
he taxes he paid his government In or.
der that he might be made TO pay much
greater taxes TO the beneficiaries of thai
bill. These released, the taxes would have
yielded us in the interval since their omis
zion more than $l50.000,000 and would have
saVed US from any danger OF the treasury
aeficit.
HOW THE SURPLUS WENT.
1.-THE magnificent surplus turned over by
the Cleveland administration was thu.
scattered \ large portion of it usec
to purchase, at high premiums, bonds no
yet due. In the first seven months of tn,
Harrison administration s7O,OO0.OOO Of bonds
were thus purchased at premiums ranging